Skin tag removal

The cost of this procedure depends on your individual circumstances. At the time of your appointment your consultant will discuss all options with you and ensure all your questions are answered.

Our fixed-price packages include the cost of your surgery and all appropriate aftercare appointments. However, any pre-surgery diagnostic tests and your consultant’s outpatient appointment consultation fee are charged separately.

Our flexible payment options help you spread the cost of your payment across a time period that suits you.

Skin tags, or to give them their medical name, acrochordons, are small, harmless growths that develop on the body. They are common and are thought to affect 50 to 60% of people at some time in their lives.

Skin tags are made of loose collagen fibres and blood vessels surrounded by skin. They can develop anywhere but most commonly occur in skin folds or places where your skin rubs together, such as:

• Your neck
• On your eyelids
• Under your arms
• Your groin
• Around your anus (bottom)
• Between your thighs
• Under your breasts

What do skin tags look like?

• Skin tags are soft growths that can range in size from around 2mm to 5cm
• You may have a single skin tag, or several of them together
• Skin tags are usually skin-coloured but may also be darker than the rest of your skin, or pink. Some skin tags become red when irritated
• They appear as soft growths that hang off the skin. They may be fixed to your skin or attached by a stalk
• Skin tags are not painful but may cause discomfort, or bleeding if they snag on clothing or jewellery
• Skin tags are not contagious, meaning they cannot be passed to other people

Skin tags often have no known cause. In some cases, they may develop in places where your skin rubs together. Anyone can develop skin tags, but they are more common in people who:

• Have a family history of skin tags
• Are older
• Are obese
• Have type 2 diabetes
• Have certain skin disorders such as Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome
• Are pregnant

Home treatments to remove skin tags are generally unproven and may be ineffective or even unsafe. Removing a skin tag yourself is not recommended and can lead to complications such as bleeding, infection, and scarring. If you would like to have your skin tag removed, make an appointment with your consultant.

Always see a consultant if you notice any new growths on your skin. Your consultant can check any abnormal skin lesions for signs of skin cancer, or other conditions that may need treatment such as warts, or abnormal moles and arrange a biopsy if needed.

If you have a skin tag, you may decide to have it removed if it is bothering you by catching on jewellery or clothing. You may also choose to have skin tag removal treatment for cosmetic reasons if your skin tags are visible and you feel self-conscious about your appearance.

At your first consultation, you will be seen by a consultant dermatologist, a doctor specialising in conditions affecting the skin.Your consultant will ask you about your symptoms, general health and medical history. They will perform a physical examination and look at your skin tags and the surrounding area. In some cases, further tests may be needed to rule out any other skin conditions.

How is a diagnosis made?

Skin tags are normally diagnosed by asking about your symptoms and examining your skin.

Why is this first consultation so important?

At Circle Health Group, your first appointment is very important as it’s where your consultant will ask you about your symptoms, examine your skin, provide a diagnosis, and discuss possible treatment options.

Your first consultation is also where you meet your consultant, the doctor responsible for your care. Your consultant will take time to get to know you, discuss your expectations for treatment and encourage you to ask any questions you may have. It is important to us that you are as well-informed and comfortable as possible during your treatment, so please discuss any questions or concerns with your consultant during your appointment.

At the end of your appointment, your consultant will decide if skin tag removal is a suitable treatment for you and explain your treatment options. The most suitable skin tag removal treatment for you is based on factors such as the size, location and number of skin tags you have, and your general health.

Your consultant will tell you everything you need to do to prepare for your skin tag removal. If there’s anything you’re not sure about, or if you have any questions about how to prepare for your procedure, speak to your consultant or call the hospital for advice. Being well-prepared for your surgery will help to ease any anxiety you may have as well as allow your surgery and recovery to go more smoothly.

Before your surgery, tell your consultant about any medical conditions or allergies you have and any medication, including over-the-counter medicines and supplements you are taking.

Your consultant may tell you to stop taking some medications like blood thinners for a few days before and after your skin tag removal treatment. This is to reduce the risk of bleeding during and after your surgery.

There are several procedures available for skin tag removal. Your consultant will advise you on the most suitable procedure for you based on your general health, and the size, location and number of your skin tags.

Surgical excision

Surgical excision is performed under local anaesthetic, meaning you’ll be awake for the procedure, but the area will be numb, and you won’t feel any pain. This method may be recommended for larger skin tags.

During surgical excision:

• After the anaesthetic has taken effect and the area has been cleaned, your consultant will use a sharp instrument such as a scalpel, razor or surgical scissors to remove the skin tag
• Once the skin tag has been removed, your consultant will apply pressure for a few moments to control any bleeding
• The area is cleaned with antiseptic to help prevent infection
• A sterile dressing is applied to cover the surgical wound. Stitches are not normally needed.

Shave excision

This method may be used to remove small skin tags where there is less risk of bleeding. It is performed under local anaesthetic, which may be in the form of an injection or a cream.

During shave excision:

• Once the anaesthetic has taken effect, the area is cleaned
• A surgical instrument called a Dermablade is used to shave the skin tag off the underlying skin
• A sterile dressing is applied

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy involves spraying your skin tag with a freezing substance called liquid nitrogen. This cuts off the blood supply to the skin tag and causes it to drop off.

Cryotherapy may be uncomfortable for a few moments but should not be painful and does not require local anaesthetic. In most cases, one cryotherapy session is sufficient, but you can have more treatments if necessary.

Recovery from skin tag removal depends on the type of procedure you had as well as factors such as your general health and individual healing process.

Recovery from surgical excision

On average it takes up to two weeks to fully heal from a surgical excision. This may be longer if you have stitches.

After surgical excision:

• The treated area may be red and raised after your surgical excision. This will resolve gradually over the next few days. Applying an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a cloth can help reduce any swelling. Never apply ice directly to your skin.
• Most people experience minimal pain after skin tag removal. If you have pain or discomfort following your surgical excision, over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can help.

Recovery from shave excision

After your shave excision, you will have a dressing over your surgical wound. This will be removed at your follow-up appointment around a week after your procedure.

After around a week, your surgical wound will look like a healing graze and a scab may have formed. The scab will fall off naturally when the skin underneath has healed.

Recovery from cryotherapy

Immediately after your skin tag removal treatment your skin may sting or feel itchy. This normally resolves after around 10 to 20 minutes.

Over the next 24 hours, your skin may feel sore, the treated area may appear swollen, and a blister may form. Don’t try to pop the blister as it will heal on its own over the next week.

During the first week after treatment, any swelling and blisters will go down and the treated area will dry out and may form a scab. The scab will fall off naturally when the area underneath has healed. This normally takes between one and four weeks.

One week to one month after treatment, your skin tag will fall off, revealing new pink skin underneath. This will fade over the next few weeks.

During your recovery from cryotherapy: 

• Use sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or above on the treated area until it has completely healed
• Avoid using face or body scrubs or creams containing glycolic acids, Vitamin C, Tretinoin, or Retinol on the treated area for 7 to 10 days
• Do not pick at the treated area as this can delay healing
• Avoid swimming or using a hot tub for at least a week after treatment, or while the skin is open

How many nights will I need to stay in hospital?

Skin tag removal is performed as a day case, meaning you’ll be able to go home later the same day.

Will I be able to drive home?

Whether you can drive home after your skin tag removal depends on the type of procedure you had, the part of your body that was operated on and which medications you received during your surgery. You will not be able to drive if you were given a sedative before your procedure, or if your surgery was performed near your eyes, or any other part of your body that may affect your ability to drive. Talk to your consultant about whether or not you can drive after your procedure.

How soon can I go back to work?

How soon you can go back to work after your surgery depends on the size and location of the skin tag you had removed, the type of procedure you had, how you feel after your surgery and the type of job you do. We recommend that you rest at home for the rest of the day after your skin tag removal. Most people can resume normal daily activities, including going back to work, the next day.

How soon can I drive?

You may be able to drive straight away after your skin tag removal, or you may need to wait until the next day. Do not drive if you are taking strong painkillers that may affect your concentration and slow your reaction times, or if your surgery was performed close to your eyes and your vision is affected after your procedure.

When will I be back to normal?

Recovery from any type of surgery is different for everyone and it’s important that you take things at your own pace and allow yourself to fully heal after your skin tag removal.

You can help your recovery to go more smoothly by following your consultant’s post-operative instructions carefully. Call the hospital if you have any questions or concerns and keep any follow-up appointments given to you by your healthcare team.

Recovery from skin tag removal is usually quick and most people are able to resume normal activities within a few days and are fully healed within one to four weeks.

Skin tag removal is a generally safe procedure with a low risk of complications, however, there is a small risk that complications may occur. Your consultant will explain any possible risks and complications before your surgery and answer any questions you may have.

It’s important that you are as well-informed as possible about any potential risks and complications to allow you to make an informed decision.

Possible complications of skin tag removal include:

• Bleeding
• Scarring
• Skin discolouration
• Infection

At Circle Health Group, we have the experience and expertise to ensure the best possible care and outcome for our patients. As a patient with Circle Health Group, you can expect the highest standards of care including:

• Flexible appointment times and locations that are convenient for you
• The freedom to choose which hospital and consultant suit your needs
• Personalised, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Comfortable and safe private facilities maintained by expert multidisciplinary teams
• Private ensuite rooms as standard
• A range of delicious healthy meals
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help you spread the cost of your care

If you would like to see a consultant or learn more about skin tag removal, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0808 189 5499.

Content reviewed by Circle in-house team in November 2024. Next review due November 2026.
¹ Skin tags NHS
² Skin tags, why they develop and how to remove them American Academy of Dermatology Association 
³ Skin tags (acrochordons) Science Direct  
⁴ Skin tags National Library of Medicine