Here’s why you shouldn’t remove skin tags at home

When you search Google for skin tags, numerous sources pop up detailing different methods of skin tag removal. “While the removal of skin tags is usually not medically necessary, they can be aesthetically undesirable and bothersome [if they] become irritated,” dermatologist Amelia K. Hausauer, Aesthetx’s Director of Dermatology, explained to ELLE. However, professional skin tag removal isn’t always cheap or convenient, which is why so many people end up seeking an at-home solution.

According to Healthline, many people believe the acid found in apple cider vinegar can cause skin tags to fall off naturally. Others opt for self-removal skin tag devices, or other at-home methods, but before you start exploring ways to remove your skin tags in the comfort of your own home, it’s vital to understand why you should never actually do that.

DIY skin tag removal comes with several risks

Most dermatologists recommend against trying skin tag removal at home, even if you’re thinking about doing it naturally, as Healthline points out that apple cider vinegar can actually harm or even burn skin due to its acidic properties. Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist and author of The Skincare Bible: Your No-Nonsense Guide To Great Skin, told Refinery29 that DIY skin tag removal can also lead to infection or bleeding. “Infection is a risk, traumatizing the skin is a risk, bleeding is a risk,” dermatologist Laurel Naversen Geraghty warned Allure.

Ifeoma Ejikeme, aesthetic medicine doctor at Adonia Medical Clinic, adds that self-removal skin tag devices are the same. “I would err on the side of caution when considering at-home self-removal devices,” he explained to Refinery29. “As well as bleeding, removing skin tags can lead to scars if done incorrectly. Scars can take the form of ulcers or dents in the skin or increased pigmentation after removal. This can usually be prevented by an experienced doctor.”  

Ultimately, if you want to remove a skin tag, the safest thing to do is make an appointment, and have a qualified dermatologist to do it.

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