Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery uses extreme cold to kill skin tags. It works by freezing the blood vessels that supply the tag, which causes it to die and fall off. This can be a fairly painless procedure by a doctor in a medical office or clinic.
The process starts with cleaning the skin with an antiseptic, then applying a numbing agent to the area for about 15 minutes before freezing. The actual freezing happens when the applicator is pressed against the skin tag, resulting in a quick blast of cold air that freezes up to the top layer of the skin.
This freezes both blood vessels and cells and kills them off almost instantly. The tag usually falls off within days or weeks of treatment, but you may have some scabbing on your skin while it heals. You may also experience pain and redness during this time, which should disappear once your skin heals if you keep it clean and dry.
Cryosurgery can be used on most parts of your body, but not all doctors offer cryosurgery as a treatment option for skin tags. If you want to get rid of your skin tags through cryosurgery, talk to your doctor about whether it’s right for you.
