Self Removal of Skin Tags

[Velvetee]

Hi,

Has anyone tried the Dental Floss method of Skin Tag removal, where a piece of floss is tied tightly around the base of the tag and then allowed to dry up and fall off over the course of a week or so? If so, was removal successful and did the Tag ever return?

Thanks

[Philtaz]

I've seen this question posted elsewhere recently but failed to answer as I reasoned that some of the answer involved methods that were too laborious.

If you can stand the pain of a pin prick, you can stand the method I use. I grasp the skin tag with a pair of tweezers, stretch it almost to the point of pain but not quite then literally touch it with a scalpel blade, which again is painful for the briefest of moments.

Why wait until something as small as a skin tag is necrosed? My method requires the merest, minimal pain threshold. Others have their own methods, feel free to choose one you prefer.

[Velvetee]

Thanks, but do you have lots of bleeding and scaring after? I want to avoid scarring. I've seen a product called Dermisil, which seems to have good reviews so may try it.

[Philtaz]

Scarring almost non existant, blood loss negligible.

Apply pressure for two minutes after removal then apply a plaster.

[boxtops]

velvet, put Skin Tag in the red box at the top of this page, and search - the recent posts on this will come up.
I've done it, it's fine. Hardly any bleeding, stick a plaster on it.

[bednobs]

or just go to your gp and have it frozen off - painless

[Velvetee]

I think I wouldn't be brave enough to cut it off. I've been to my G.P and he said the NHS don't do that sort of thing and suggested I go and have it done privately. If the product I've ordered doesn't work I'll probably do that.

[bednobs]

really? My husband had 3 taken off about a month ago at the GP

[Ann]

Sqad - is this safe please?

[RATTER15]

A piece of cotton tied tightly around the base and it falls of in a few days. perfectly safe and does not leave a scar.

[Sqad]

ann.....is what safe?

All the answers given above are, in my opinion, safe and acceptable.

[Ann]

Thanks Sqad - I just wondered if the medical profession would approve of a simple home remedy like this- seems a bit barbaric, I would think the knife (if using the Philtaz method) would have to be very clean due to possible blood poisoning?

[Sqad]

ann.....Philtaz is a nurse..........I can imagine him having a sterile scalpel blade at the ready..;-)

These are skin tags....poor blood supply, so blood poisoning would be a rare complication......if at all.

[Philtaz]

That's the reason I said scalpel blade and not knife Ann.

I wouldn't recommend doing it with a bread knife, I use a scalpel blade because they're readily available in work!

I doubt I'd get blood poisoning from something not dissimilar in size and potential blood loss to a razor cut.

[Ann]

Well thats good news then - Hubby has loads now he's older and I always say he should see a doc to get them removed, they look awful. Will get the scalpel and dental floss and attack him when he's asleep! ;)

[Philtaz]

Sorry Sqad, was typing my response as you posted!

[Sqad]

Phil...no big deal ;-)

[Ann]

Handy that we have another medical person to call on then Philtaz - didn't know you were a nurse, love this site for all the free advice! :)

[Philtaz]

Several years back, in 'the good old days' surgeons would often remove skin tags for staff at the end of an operating list under local anaesthetic.

As a result of procedural correctness, documentation etc this practice has discontinued in the last decade.

I remove them myself because I've never understood why some have them removed under local anaesthetic. The injection of the local is no different pain wise in removing them in the manner I've described, but that's just me.

[Philtaz]

Sorry, just for clarification I have to point out that I'm not a Nurse, I'm an Operating Theatre Technician.

[vivandorron]

Perhaps it's it possible to cut them off with a nail clippers.!?

Ron.