How to Remove Skin Tags: Treatment Options and Costs

Skin tags are noncancerous skin growths and typically harmless. If you have one or more of these fleshy growths, you're in good company — as many as 60% of adults will develop at least one skin tag in their lifetime.¹

If a skin tag's location makes it prone to irritation or it's in an obvious area and you want it gone, there are a few ways to get it removed.

How to Get Rid of Skin Tags

Skin tag removal is best left to professionals, especially when it comes to larger skin tags or those in delicate areas. Below are six ways that medical professionals can do it:

1. Cryotherapy

The doctor applies liquid nitrogen to freeze the skin tag, causing it to fall off within 10 to 14 days. Multiple cryotherapy treatments may be needed.²

2. Excision

This is the surgical removal of a skin tag which can be performed in-office. The doctor numbs the area and then uses either a blade or surgical scissors to cut off the skin tag.²

3. Cauterization

With this procedure, the provider burns the skin tag off at the base with a small instrument.² This can be done using electrocautery, which uses an electrical current to remove the skin tag.⁵ But the preferred and most commonly used method is radiocautery, which uses high-frequency radio waves.¹

4. Ligation

A provider may use surgical thread to tie off the skin tag at the base. This cuts the blood supply to the skin tag causing it to eventually fall off.⁵

5. Laser therapy

Smaller skin tags can sometimes be removed with laser therapy. The targeted light beam removes the skin tag, leaving behind a small wound that heals on its own.¹

6. Fibroblast plasma therapy

Some providers offer fibroblast plasma therapy for skin tag removal. The device used produces a current of plasma energy via a needle over the skin to zap the skin tag and break it down.³ The treatment has a possibility of causing hyperpigmentation and scarring — even in experienced hands — and isn't recommended for skin tag removal.⁴

How Much Does Skin Tag Removal Cost?

Skin tag removal costs on average between $100 and $2,000, varying significantly between the different types of treatments, along with several other factors. Here's a summary as to what the various medical skin tag removal procedures typically cost:

Factors that can significantly impact the cost of professional skin tag removal treatments include:⁸

• Type of procedure used
• Number of skin tags being removed
• Number of treatments required
• Provider's location
• Provider's expertise and credentials
• Facility where the procedure is performed (office, hospital, surgical center, etc.)

These are some associated costs that you may also have to pay depending on the type of treatment:⁸

• A consultation with a dermatologist
• Anesthetic
• Pathology fee for the skin tags removed
• Medication
• Follow-up appointments

Is Skin Tag Removal Covered by Health Insurance?

Skin tag removal done for purely cosmetic reasons isn't typically covered by health insurance, as is the case for any cosmetic procedure. It may, however, be covered if it's medically necessary. To have it covered, you would need to meet your insurance provider's requirements and have documentation proving that removal is required for medical reasons.⁸

It is considered medically necessary if the skin tag is in an area of high friction that causes regular irritation and bleeding or if its appearance is suspicious for cancer. In these cases, your doctor would remove the skin tag and send it to a pathologist for analysis.⁸

Common Questions About Skin Tags, Answered

Curious to know more about skin tags? We're answering some of the most common questions about them.

What are skin tags?

Skin tags, medically known as acrochordons, are small, harmless growths caused by skin rubbing against itself. They look like little blobs of skin that extend off a tiny stem.⁹

What causes skin tags?

Skin tags are caused by the production of extra cells in the skin's outer layers. They tend to grow in skin folds and areas where movement causes your skin to frequently rub against itself.⁹

Your risk of developing skin tags increases with age as your skin loses elasticity. Other skin tag risk factors include:¹

• Genetics
• Type 2 diabetes
• Obesity
• Cardiovascular disease
• Hormonal imbalances

What are the signs and symptoms of skin tags?

Skin tags are usually the same color as the rest of your skin but can sometimes be darker. They can range in size from just 1 millimeter to a few centimeters. They most often grow in these areas:⁹

• Armpits
• Under the breasts
• Neck
• Groin or inner thighs
• Eyelids
• Genitals

Skin tags can look like moles, warts and even certain types of skin cancer, so it's a good idea to have any new skin growth checked by a dermatologist just in case.⁹

Are skin tags cancerous?

Skin tags are not cancerous. That said, a skin tag can look similar to skin cancer and other skin conditions, so it's a good idea to show it to a dermatologist before removal to be sure.⁹

Can you cut off a skin tag?

It's not recommended to cut off a skin tag yourself because of the risk of injury, bleeding and infection. Skin tag removal is best left to a doctor.²

Can you use wart remover on skin tags?

Wart removers and freeze kits meant for warts shouldn't be used on skin tags. These products use powerful chemicals, such as nitrous oxide or a combination of dimethyl ether, isobutane and propane, which can irritate and damage the surrounding skin.²

CareCredit Credit Card Financing for Dermatology

The CareCredit credit card makes it easy to pay for dermatology visits, over-the-counter treatments and prescription medications at locations within the CareCredit network.* Start enhancing your skin today and find a dermatologist near you that accepts CareCredit. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to dermatology, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for other cosmetic procedures, dentistry, pet care, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a writer who has been covering health and lifestyle for almost two decades. Her work has appeared in Healthline, Insider, Medical News Today and more.