Skin tags are one of the most common reasons people visit a dermatologist. They are harmless, but they catch on necklaces and collars, get irritated by shaving, and show up in places you would rather they didn't. The good news: removing them in the office takes minutes, and at Sergay Dermatology it is included in a standard visit.
What Is a Skin Tag?
A skin tag (the medical name is acrochordon) is a small, soft, skin-colored or slightly darker growth that hangs from the skin on a thin stalk. They range from the size of a pinhead to about the size of a grape and are almost always benign.
Skin tags most often appear where skin rubs against skin or clothing:
- Neck and collar line
- Armpits
- Eyelids
- Under the breasts
- Groin and upper thighs
They become more common with age, and they are more likely in people with excess weight, insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes, during pregnancy, and in families where other members have them. In Florida's heat, friction and sweat in skin folds can make existing tags more irritated.
Is It a Skin Tag, or Something Else?
Several other growths can look like a skin tag at first glance, including moles, warts, seborrheic keratoses and, occasionally, skin cancers. A dermatologist can usually tell the difference on sight, often with a dermatoscope (a lighted magnifier). If a growth bleeds without being injured, changes color, grows quickly, or looks different from your other spots, have it examined rather than removed at home.
How Dermatologists Remove Skin Tags
The right method depends on the size and location of the tag. All of them are quick:
- Snip removal — the tag is numbed if needed and removed at its base with sterile surgical scissors. This is the most common method and works well for tags of almost any size.
- Freezing (cryotherapy) — liquid nitrogen freezes small tags, which then dry up and fall off over one to two weeks.
- Electrodesiccation — a fine electric current seals and removes very small tags with minimal bleeding.
Most patients have several tags removed in one visit. Afterward you may have a small scab for about a week. Keep it clean, apply petroleum jelly, and cover it if it rubs on clothing.
Why Not Remove Skin Tags at Home?
Drugstore freezing kits, removal bands, creams and online "tag removers" are tempting, but they carry real risks:
- Bleeding — even small tags have a blood supply and can bleed more than expected when cut.
- Infection and scarring — non-sterile tools and harsh acids can leave wounds and scars larger than the tag.
- Missed diagnosis — removing a spot at home means no one checks what it actually was.
- Unapproved products — the FDA has warned consumers against using unapproved mole and skin tag removal products, which have caused burns and scarring.
Never try to remove a growth near the eye at home. Eyelid tags need precise technique to protect the eye.
Does Insurance Cover Skin Tag Removal?
Usually not. Most insurance plans treat skin tag removal as cosmetic unless a tag is repeatedly bleeding, inflamed or causing pain, which is why many people end up with surprise bills elsewhere.
At Sergay Dermatology, you don't have to guess. Skin tag removal is one of the minor procedures included in our $195 office visit, along with the consultation and treatment plan. See our pricing page for the full list, or read why we use transparent direct pricing.
Will Skin Tags Come Back?
A tag that has been removed rarely grows back in the same spot. New tags can still form over time, especially in friction areas, so many patients come back every year or two to remove new ones, often during a routine skin cancer screening.
Skin Tag Removal in South Tampa
Dr. Amanda Sergay, a board-certified dermatologist, removes skin tags at our office at 3216 W Azeele St in South Tampa. Every visit is with Dr. Sergay herself, and if anything looks unusual during your visit she can check it at the same time. Browse our other dermatology services or book an appointment online.
