Clipping or Cutting
If you have a skin tag, there are two main ways to remove it: clipping or cutting.
Clipping is the simplest and most common way to remove a skin tag. First, use a clean pair of sharp scissors to cut off the tag as close to the skin as possible. Then, apply an antiseptic, such as rubbing alcohol or peroxide, to the area and bandage it with a clean cloth. The site should be checked regularly for signs of infection.
Meanwhile, cutting involves more work than clipping—you have to make an incision in the skin to reach the tag itself. But cutting is often cheaper and less painful than other options, and it’s not uncommon for people who’ve had skin tags for years to decide on this method.
To make an incision, use a sterile blade like those found in medical packs. It should be extremely sharp—grabbing one out of your medicine cabinet (even if it’s new) can lead to cuts that become infected more easily. Also, ensure the blade is completely clean before using it on yourself.
Take a cotton swab and soak it in rubbing alcohol or peroxide solution. This will clean the skin around the base of your tag, so it doesn’t get infected later on. Then take a pair of tweezers and pull out any hairs growing from the top or bottom of your skin tag (if there are any). Try trimming them with scissors, so they’re shorter before pulling them out.
However, note that you should only use these methods with your doctor’s approval. If you have a skin tag causing discomfort, leave it alone as long as possible.
