Neck skin tags affect millions of people. Here’s how to remove them safely.
Did you know that 25% of the world’s population develops skin tags at some point in their lives? That’s a lot of people dealing with unsightly growths on their skin. While skin tags aren’t painful, they can certainly be irritating and unsightly. Thankfully, it’s easy to get rid of skin tags, though there is some bleeding to be expected. But if you want to know how to remove neck skin tags WITHOUT a lot of blood, here are a few tricks to try:
- String Method – This is the most common method to deal with skin tags, but it will take a bit of time (1-2 weeks) to remove the growth. If you’re not worried about removing it quickly but want to minimize pain and bleeding, this is the best option. Wrap thread around the skin tag—tight, but not so tight it hurts. Every day, pull the string a little tighter. Eventually, the string will cut off the blood supply to the skin tag, causing the skin cells to die off. As you pull, you’re essentially cutting the skin tag off at the base. The skin tag should fall off within a week or so.
- Heating – People have been cauterizing wounds for centuries, so you know it works. You will need to apply heat directly to the skin tag (consider anesthetic cream to reduce pain). It’s best to go the dermatologist route, but you can cauterize it at home. The heat will burn away the skin tag and cauterize at the same time. It will make it much easier to remove the skin tag.
- Super Freezing – A bit of liquid hydrogen will freeze the skin tag solid, making it easier to remove without bleeding. You definitely don’t want to try this removal method yourself, but you should have your dermatologist do it for you. This will reduce your risk of injuring yourself with liquid nitrogen, and will ensure the skin tag is removed as efficiently as possible.
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- Scalpel – Your dermatologist may recommend simply cutting the skin tag off. There will be a little bit of bleeding, but no pain thanks to the anesthetic the doctor will apply to your neck. Once the area is numb, your doctor will be able to simple cut the skin tag off using a scalpel. This is only recommended for very large skin tags that can’t be removed via the other, easier methods.
- Tea Tree Oil – This is a unique method that can reduce bleeding and lead to efficient skin tag removal. The tea tree oil will dehydrate the skin tag and the skin surrounding it, and will cut off the supply of blood to the skin growth. Eventually, you will be able to pull or cut the skin tag off (this method is particularly popular for neck skin tags), or the tag will simply fall off on its own. Application of tea tree oil will also help to reduce bleeding and speed up the healing of the wound.
Skin tags can be a bit unsightly, but the good news is that they’re pretty harmless. You won’t have to worry about a skin tag turning cancerous (like moles or freckles). Of course, they can be annoying if they rub against your clothes, skin, or jewelry, so it’s a good idea to consider having them removed. Talk to your dermatologist about the most effective way to remove them. It may be a bit pricey to undergo the simple cosmetic surgery, but when you’re dealing with the blood vessels in skin tags, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
