A skin tag that has been completely removed usually does not grow back in the same spot. However, new skin tags can develop nearby, especially if you are prone to them or the area experiences repeated friction.
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Skin Tag Regrowth After Removal
When a skin tag is completely removed, it is unlikely to grow back in the same spot. If some of the tissue remains, however, the skin tag may return.
New skin tags can also develop in the same general area, which can sometimes be mistaken for regrowth. People who develop skin tags may continue to get new ones over time, but removing an existing skin tag does not cause more to form.
Why New Skin Tags Develop
Skin tags, also called acrochordons, are benign growths that commonly develop where skin rubs against skin, clothing, or jewelry. They frequently appear on the neck, under the arms, beneath the breasts, around the groin, and in other skin folds.
Several factors may make skin tags more likely to develop, including:
- Repeated friction
- Age
- Genetics
- Pregnancy
- Body weight
- Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
For some people, skin tags continue to appear over time even after previous ones have been removed. This does not mean the removal was unsuccessful.
When Skin Tag Removal May Be Recommended
Most skin tags are harmless and can be left alone. Removal may be considered when a skin tag becomes irritated, uncomfortable, or bothersome because of its location.
You may want to consider removal if a skin tag:
- Frequently catches on clothing or jewelry
- Becomes irritated during shaving
- Twists and becomes painful
- Repeatedly bleeds
- Interferes with vision because of its location
- Is in a visible area that bothers you
Not every skin growth that resembles a skin tag is actually a skin tag. A growth with any of the following features should be examined before anyone removes it:
- More than one color within the same growth
- Irregular or ragged edges
- Growing over a period of weeks
- Bleeding on its own, without being rubbed or caught
- Firm rather than soft, or flat against the skin rather than on a stalk
If a growth does not look like a typical skin tag, the removed tissue can be sent to a pathology lab (a lab that examines the tissue under a microscope) to confirm what it was.
Why Professional Removal Is Recommended
Removing a skin growth at home can cause bleeding, infection, skin damage, or scarring. There is also a risk of treating a mole, wart, or another type of growth as a skin tag without knowing what it is.
Professional skin lesion removal allows the growth to be examined first and the appropriate removal method to be selected based on its size and location. The removal method can also be selected based on the type, size, and location of the growth.
Wart removers should not be used on skin tags. These products are formulated for wart tissue and can damage the surrounding skin.
Skin Tag Removal at ASI Medical Spa
At ASI Medical Spa, our skin lesion removal technique is designed to remove the entire lesion while minimizing damage to the surrounding tissue. Dr. Dhaliwal carefully plans the removal based on the size and location of the growth.
Two methods are used. Small tags are snipped off at the base with sterile instruments. Others are removed with electrocautery (a small heated tip that takes the tag off and seals the base at the same time). We do not freeze skin tags. Numbing (a small injection of local anesthetic) is used when it is needed.
Skin tags are removed by Dr. Dhaliwal or our nurse practitioner. Any growth that looks atypical is removed by Dr. Dhaliwal. Eyelid skin tags can be removed here as well.
Tell us before your visit if you have a pacemaker. In that case, snip removal is used, because we do not use cautery around one.
Most skin tags need no stitches. Some mark is always possible. The risks are minor bleeding, a small chance of infection, a scar or a lighter or darker spot at the site, and regrowth if the base is left behind.
Healing After Skin Tag Removal
The spot may feel irritated, tender, or red for a few days, and a small scab usually forms. Our post-treatment sheet gives the numbers.
- Clean the area gently 2 to 3 times a day
- No hot showers for 48 hours
- No swimming for two weeks
- Let the scab fall off on its own
- Pinkness can last 3 to 8 weeks while the skin heals
When to Call Us
Call us for bleeding that does not stop with 15 minutes of firm pressure, spreading redness, pus, or fever.
Schedule a Skin Tag Removal Consultation
A completely removed skin tag usually does not return in the same spot, although new skin tags can develop over time. If a skin tag catches, bleeds, becomes irritated, or simply bothers you, we can evaluate it and discuss removal.
To schedule a skin tag removal consultation at ASI Medical Spa, call (425) 553-3223 or visit us at 6505 226th Pl SE, Ste. 101, Issaquah, WA.
FAQs About Skin Tags
Is it OK to pull off skin tags?
No. Pulling off a skin tag can cause bleeding, pain, infection, and damage to the surrounding skin. If a skin tag is bothering you, it is safer to have it evaluated and professionally removed.
Can a skin tag become cancerous?
Skin tags are benign and do not become skin cancer. However, other skin growths can sometimes resemble skin tags, which is why an unusual or changing growth should be evaluated.
Why did my skin tag turn dark or black?
A skin tag can become dark if it twists and its blood supply is reduced. A growth that suddenly changes color, becomes painful, or starts bleeding should be evaluated.
How can you tell a skin tag from a wart?
Skin tags are usually soft and may hang from the skin by a narrow stalk, while warts tend to have a firmer or rougher surface. Because skin growths can sometimes look similar, an examination is the most reliable way to identify one.
Does skin tag removal hurt, and how long does it take to heal?
The removal takes a few minutes per tag, and numbing is used when needed, so discomfort is brief. Afterward the spot is tender for a few days and a scab forms. Pinkness can last 3 to 8 weeks.
