The safest way to get rid of skin tags is to have a doctor remove them. A dermatologist can snip, freeze, or burn a skin tag off in just a few minutes. Home creams and cutting it yourself can lead to burns, bleeding, and scars.
Key Takeaways:
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You're getting dressed, and your necklace catches on that little flap of skin. Or your razor nicks it, and it bleeds far more than something so small should.
That small piece of skin is likely a skin tag. Many people want to know how to get rid of skin tags, and it's a common question for skin doctors. Skin tags are not harmful, and a doctor can remove them easily. But some home methods you see online can burn your skin or leave a scar while trying to get rid of skin tags.
In this blog, we will discuss the safe ways to remove skin tags. We’ll also cover which home methods to avoid, and when to see a doctor first.
What is a Skin Tag?
A skin tag is a small, soft piece of skin that hangs off your body by a thin stalk. The medical name is acrochordon.
Most skin tags are very small, about the size of a grain of rice or smaller. They can be the same color as your skin or a little darker. They often grow where skin rubs against skin or clothing, like the:
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neck
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armpits
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groin
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eyelids
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area under the breasts
| Good To Know: Some people call them tag moles. But a skin tag is not a mole. A mole is a spot made of pigment cells. In rare cases, a mole can turn into skin cancer. A skin tag carries very low or no cancer risk.1 |
Here's how to tell them apart:
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Skin tag: Soft, moves easily, hangs from a stalk
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Mole: Firmer, usually round and darker, doesn't hang
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Wart: Rough and bumpy, caused by a virus
Why Am I Getting Skin Tags All of a Sudden?
Doctors don't know the exact cause. But some things make skin tags more likely.1 These include:
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Rubbing: from skin folds, tight collars, bra straps, or jewelry
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Age: they become more common after 40
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Extra weight: more skin folds mean more rubbing
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High insulin levels: this is called insulin resistance, when your body doesn't respond well to insulin
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Pregnancy: hormone changes can cause new tags
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Family history: skin tags often run in families
Note: Skin tags are not contagious. You can't catch them from someone else or spread them by touching them.
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Lots of new skin tags? Having many skin tags has been linked to insulin resistance, a problem with how your body uses sugar. It doesn't mean you have diabetes. But it's worth asking your doctor if a blood sugar test, like HbA1c, makes sense for you. |
How to Get Rid of Skin Tags: What Doctors Do
For a confirmed skin tag, having a doctor remove it is generally the safest choice. It's also quicker than home methods, since it's done in one visit. Whether you call them skin tags or tag moles, doctors remove them the same way. Most visits take only a few minutes.
First, the doctor checks that the growth really is a skin tag. They may numb the area with a cream or a small shot. After that, they use one of these methods:
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Method |
What happens |
Best for |
Things to know |
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Snip excision |
The tag is cut off at the base with clean, sharp scissors |
Most skin tags |
Some bleeding, which stops quickly |
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Electrocautery |
Heat burns the tag off and seals the spot |
Small tags, or several at once |
May leave a small mark |
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Cryotherapy |
The tag is frozen and falls off in 1 to 2 weeks |
Small tags |
Can leave light or dark spots, more often on brown or Black skin |
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Laser |
A beam of light removes the tag |
Many tiny tags |
Costs more, and the skin may stay red longer |
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Is laser better? Not always. A 2025 study compared scissors and laser on more than 1,200 skin tags. Scissors removed about 93% of the tags. The laser removed about 84%. People also healed with less redness after scissors, and most said they'd pick scissors next time. |
How to Remove Skin Tags at Home: What's Safe and What Isn't
Removing skin tags at home is cheaper and doesn't need an appointment. But not every skin tag remover you find online is safe.
Please avoid: Skin tag removal creams, gels, and pens.
The FDA has not approved any skin tag removal cream. Many contain strong acids like salicylic acid. FDA researchers found 38 cases of burns, open sores, and lasting scars from these products. 2
Freeze Kits for Skin Tags: Use with Care
Some at-home freeze kits are FDA-cleared for small skin tags in adults. They may not always work, and they can blister nearby skin. Never use them on your face.
Oils and Home Remedies for Skin Tags: No Proof They Work
Wondering what oil dries out skin tags? Tea tree oil is the one most people try. But there's no proof that it works on skin tags, and it can cause skin redness or irritation.3 Apple cider vinegar can burn your skin.4
Cutting or Tying Your Skin Tag Off: Don't
Skin tags have their own blood supply. Cutting one off can cause heavy bleeding and infection.
When to See a Doctor First About a Skin Tag?
Some skin growths only look like skin tags. A mole, a wart, or in rare cases a skin cancer can look similar. Removing it yourself could hide a problem that needs treatment.
See a doctor before you remove anything if the growth:
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has changed in size, shape, or color
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bleeds when nothing has caught or scratched it
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feels hard, hurts, or doesn't move when you touch it
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is very dark or has more than one color
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has an uneven or blurry edge
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is on your eyelid, lips, genitals, or anus
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showed up suddenly along with many others
Some people should not try any home method. Skip it if you:
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have diabetes or poor blood flow
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have a bleeding disorder
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take blood thinners
For these people, a small wound can heal slowly or get infected more easily. It's safer to have a doctor do it.
The Bottom Line
Skin tags are harmless. When it comes to how to get rid of skin tags, the safest choice is to have a doctor remove them. It's quick, and it usually heals with little or no scar.
Skip removal creams and don't cut a skin tag off yourself. If you notice lots of new tags, get your blood sugar checked.
Have a skin tag that's bothering you? If a skin tag bothers you, or you're not sure what a growth is, a dermatologist can check it and explain your removal options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What are skin tags a warning for?
A few skin tags are normal. Many of them can be a sign of high blood sugar or insulin resistance. 5 If you have lots of tags, ask your doctor for an HbA1c blood test.
Q2: Do skin tags go away on their own?
Most don't. A tag may fall off if it gets twisted and loses its blood supply. Tags that appear during pregnancy often shrink after the baby is born.
Q3: Can you remove a skin tag in one night?
Not at home. Home methods take days or weeks, and many don't work at all. Only a doctor can remove a skin tag in one visit.
Q4: What is the quickest skin tag remover?
A doctor's snip. The tag is gone before you leave the office.
Q5: Which is the best skin tag remover?
There's no single best option for everyone. Removal by a doctor is usually the safest choice, because they can first confirm it's really a skin tag. Some at-home freeze kits are FDA-cleared for certain skin tags in adults. But they can still blister or injure your skin. If you use one, make sure the growth has been checked first, and follow the label exactly.
Q6: Can I remove a skin tag myself?
It's risky. Cutting or tying it off can cause heavy bleeding and infection. You might also be removing something that isn't a skin tag.
Q7: How can you naturally get rid of skin tags?
No natural remedy has been proven to work. Some, like apple cider vinegar, can burn your skin.
Q8: How do you get rid of skin tags on the neck?
The same way as anywhere else: a doctor can snip, burn, or freeze it off. While it heals, avoid necklaces or collars that rub the spot.
Q9: Can you prevent skin tags?
You can't stop every skin tag, but you can lower your chances of getting new ones:
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Wear loose, soft clothes that don't rub.
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Skip tight collars and heavy necklaces.
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Keep skin folds clean and dry.
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Work toward a healthy weight and healthy blood sugar.
Q10: How do you get rid of tag moles?
Tag moles is another name for skin tags. For tag moles removal, a doctor can snip, freeze, or burn them off in a few minutes. Have it checked first, since a real mole needs a different kind of care.
References:
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Pandey, A., & Saleh, H. M. (2025). Skin Tag (Acrochordon). In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/books/NBK547724/
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Konkel, K., Reyes, M., Diak, I. L., Cao, K., & McCulley, L. (2023). Serious skin injuries following exposure to unapproved mole and skin tag removers. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 16(1), 14. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9891211/
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Tea Tree Oil: Usefulness and Safety. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH), updated April 2025. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/tea-tree-oil
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Bunick CG, et al. Chemical burn from topical apple cider vinegar. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2012. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22980269/
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Tamega, A. D. A., Aranha, A. M. P., Guiotoku, M. M., Miot, L. D. B., & Miot, H. A. (2010). Association between skin tags and insulin resistance. Anais brasileiros de dermatologia, 85, 25-31. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20464083/
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical concerns or conditions.
