I've done the odd bit of "bloke" DIY surgery in my time, removing toe nails close to becoming in-grown, digging out warts etc but now I have a skin tag and want to get rid but not sure of the best way.

So, do I...

a) just cut it off and be ready to mop up the blood.
b) tie a piece of cotton round it and wait for it to drop off.
c) See a doctor.
d) Leave it well alone.

Err, are you sure its a skin tag? My wife would be devastated if I cut mine off

see a doctor as your paying for the service if you use it or you dont.

regards

Agriv8

quote:

---

Originally posted by balidey
Err, are you sure its a skin tag? My wife would be devastated if I cut mine off

---

ok how a about a dremmel ?

there must be a tool for it in homebase

see a doctor man! why are the other options even considered!

b)

either that or a red hot poker

[Edited on 28/7/09 by Mr Whippy]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mr Whippy

quote:

---

Originally posted by balidey
Err, are you sure its a skin tag? My wife would be devastated if I cut mine off

---

?! its that small, you'd mistaken it for a skin tag?

---

cider vinegar a plaster and 1/2 a aspirin and the thing will go

Some of them are more painful than others, but they will safely and successfully get you rid of your skin tags.

Skin tags can be removed using some herbal extracts like Dermisil for skin tags which is used as a topical treatment. It is a very gentle treatment that attacks only the tissues of the tags to destroy them without harming any other parts of the healthy skin.

One other way to remove a skin tag is to tie a thin string around its base for a couple of days until the skin tag falls off. By doing this, you cut off the blood supply to the skin tag causing the death of its tissues. For this purpose, you can use a sewing thread, a dental floss or a fishing line.

You can also remove a skin tag by using some fingernail polish. You completely cover the tag with it twice a day. As the fingernail polish starts to dry out, the skin tag will start to shrink and then disappear within 2 weeks.

Another more drastic way of removing skin tags is to use disinfected scissors or a pair of disinfected nail clippers to cut them off. Apply a good amount of rubbing alcohol to the skin tag and to the scissors or nail clippers and then snip the tag from the base. Then you should be ready to apply some peroxide along with pressure to the tissues to stop the bleeding.

I have used nail clippers in the past, if you get it right and clip the tiny bit of skin holding the tag on it doesn't hurt much or bleed much.

But this is only my experience!

going by some gross photos on flicker of DIY surgery, there's little in the way of nerves to feel it and it doesn't bleed much at all.

I asked my quack and they were quite non-committal.
I think if you're sure it's a skin tag then self-harm is OK but I've been referred to a dermatologist for my lumps, bumps and marks...
That was two months ago, appointment is next month
Better be safe than sorry?

Waiting on the outcome as I could do to remove a couple. I have heard that the doc is reluctant to remove as it is classed as cosmetic surgery, you have to lay it on thick that it is rubbing and causing severe man pain!

Steve

On another note is it worth asking Chris for another forum folder, Locost Surgery?

Freezing them off with a wart removal kit from Boots works well --- takes about 2 weeks repeated applications needed completely painless.

Cutting off is OK for small ones but bigger ones can bleed more than you might expect.

The cutting off the blood supply with notted thread works but is tricky to do especially single handed.

Angle grinder!
(Can't believe I'm the first to suggest that!)

Just done one of these myself. Went to the quack who told me just to leave it, or make an appointment to have it frozen off, which would be painful.

I asked her whether I should just tie cotton around it and was told that she wasn't allowed to recommend it, but there should be no problems.

So that's what I did. Took about 2 weeks, and had to constantly make the cotton tighter. Mine was on my back so I had to get the Mrs to do it. It's a bit uncomfortable when the cotton is first pulled tight, but it goes within a few minutes. Eventually it fell off when I was drying my back after a shower. Didn't even realise until I wondered what was on the floor. Looked like a small raisin, lol.

Disclaimer: I'm not a medical professional, and accept no blame if anything bad happens!

Chris

I went to see doc. He did it straight away. Just used a hot wire knife. Was remarkably (almost) pain free. I wouldnt think of DIY now i know how simple it is.

Anyone tried tying string to base of a skin tag that is (eg) under an armpit???

Wow, didn't expect so many replies to such a bizarre thread.

Since posting this my colleague (who is also an accomplished DIY surgeon) reminded me of the time that he had a skin tag on his eyelid which he chose to pull off about an hour before we were due to interview a suspect. Imagine turning up to be interviewed in relation to some crime and find the interviewers are two massive skinhead blokes, one of whom has blood pouring out of his face.

Mind you, this is the same guy who was once interviewing a very very pretty witness and had a massive droplet of snot fall out of his nose and land on his notepad in full view of the girl. He was gutted!!

i had two removed from under my arm as Darren says, doc did it there n then with hot wire knife,
pain free but smelt a little, lol

HTH Mitch

I'd just use some fine-tipped tweezers and a clean scalpel blade, wait for the bleeding to slow, then stick some superglue over the hole to seal it, clean occasionally with some 6% hydrogen peroxide.

Certainly not a blood-free venture, but I've used similar tactics in the past with good results.

I bet one of those high powered soldering irons would work. Wrap some thickish copper wire around the end and get it hot. Pull tag with pliers and whip it off with knife.


Might smart a bit. Have tissue at the ready (to wipe your tears away as well as your mate's tears helping you who will be in fits of uncontrollable laughter at your demise)

Freezing them is painless only stings a bit

quote:

---

Originally posted by mds167
I asked my quack and they were quite non-committal.
I think if you're sure it's a skin tag then self-harm is OK but I've been referred to a dermatologist for my lumps, bumps and marks...
That was two months ago, appointment is next month
Better be safe than sorry?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mds167
I asked my quack and they were quite non-committal.
I think if you're sure it's a skin tag then self-harm is OK but I've been referred to a dermatologist for my lumps, bumps and marks...
That was two months ago, appointment is next month
Better be safe than sorry?

---

That's pleased SWMBO! finally an LB question she can answer (its her job )

Apparently most docs wont be interested and refer you to a nurse anyway, way below them...

best practice is (as has already been suggested) tie some cotton VERY tightly round the base of it. probably will be uncomfortable at first but should fall off in about a week.

she did this for me a while back, simple and straight forward

Shimples