Skin Tag Removal


skin tag Cheshire


Skin tags are small flesh coloured or brown growths that hang off the skin, they can look a bit like warts. They are very common and harmless.

Skin tags are usually a few millimetres in size, although can be as big as 5cm.

They are usually found on the neck, in the armpits, around the groin or under the breasts. They can also grow on the eyelids and under the folds of the buttocks.

The medical name for skin tags is Acrochordons.


Why skin tags occur

Anyone can develop skin tags, but they are particularly common in older people. Some people develop them for no apparent reason.

It is thought skin tags grow where skin rubs against skin or clothing. This would explain why they tend to affect overweight people who have excess folds of skin and skin chafing.


When skin tags can be a problem

Skin tags are harmless and do not usually cause pain or discomfort.

However, you may want to consider getting them removed if they are unsightly and affect your self-esteem, or if they snag on clothing or jewellery and bleed. You will usually need to pay for this procedure privately.

This is because the removal of skin tags is regarded as cosmetic surgery, which is rarely available through the NHS. Generally, the NHS will only carry out cosmetic surgery procedures if the problem is affecting your physical or mental health.

Sometimes, skin tags fall off on their own if the tissue has twisted and died from a lack of blood supply.


Removing skin tags

Skin tags can easily be surgically removed or frozen off in a similar way to how warts are removed.

If your skin tag is small with a narrow base, your GP may suggest you try removing it yourself by:

  • tying off the base of the skin tag with dental floss or cotton to cut off its blood supply and make it drop off
  • cutting it off with fine sterile scissors

Do not attempt to remove large skin tags yourself because they will bleed heavily.


Dr Teri Johnson removes skin tags using either

  • Electrocautery – the lesion is excised using a fine electrical cutting tip instead of a scalpel.
  • Cryotherapy – uses liquid nitrogen spray to create a ball of ice in the tissue, which freezes and destroys the lesion.

For multiple skin tags it is quicker and more cost effective to use liquid nitrogen.

For single skin tags or very large skin tags electrocautery is preferred.

Check out Dr Teri Johnson’s prices for skin tag removal here.

As this is a cosmetic procedure you do not need a referral letter from your GP.

Your treatment can often be performed on the day of your consultation but if you have lots of skin tags or they are in an unusual position we recommend you phone us to arrange a telephone consultation with Dr Teri before you book in for a consultation/treatment appointment.


Here is a photo before and immediately after a skin tag treatment near the eye area

This image demonstrates the appearance of the skin before and immediately after an electrocautery skin tag removal treatment close to the eye area. Two skin tags have been removed in the centre of these images a larger skin tag and a smaller one.

As you can see with electrocautery the response can be seen immediately, however the surrounding skin may look red and inflamed for a few hours to a few days later.
You will see a scab form at the treatment site and some dry shriveled skin where the lesion was located the area will soon recover and it is usually fully healed within 7 days.


before and after skin tag removal Cheshire


Complications are rare after this treatment however infection, reaction to anaesthesia, lesion recurrence, skin atrophy, skin ulceration, skin discolouration and the formation of a scar can occur.


skin tag removal Cheshire