Removing Skin Tags and Warts With Cryotherapy

Although skin tags and warts are normally harmless, many individuals prefer to have them removed to make their skin looks smoother and more attractive. Although they are usually painless, sometimes they can become irritated or sore when they come into contact with fabric or other skin. People look for ways to remove them that are easy, fast, and inexpensive. Freezing skin tags and warts is a cure to this skin problem.

Cryotherapy or cryosurgery involves using an extremely cold substance, such as liquid nitrogen, dry ice, or argon to freeze the skin tag and kill the cells. It carries minimal health risks, although freezing skin tag removal at home may cause a bit more scarring. In the doctor’s office, the freezing skin tag removal is begun giving the patient local anesthesia.  Then, a cotton swab is dipped in liquid nitrogen, or another extremely cold substance, and supplied to the skin tag. The skin tag will quickly freeze, which kills the growth cells, and the tag falls off. Depending on the size the tag, it may need a second pass with the freezing liquid. The cryogen may also be sprayed directly onto the skin or a used with tool that has been frozen with a cryogen and applied to the skin. These methods can take from five seconds to over a minute to freeze the wart or skin tag.

Cryotherapy is simple, fast, and easy. It has fewer risks than surgical incisions, and is effective for elderly patients who cannot tolerate invasive surgical procedures. In fact, it has been shown to stimulate the immune system and boost immunity to fight malignant growths. The healthy skin around the treated skin tag site is not injured during these procedures.

If you wish to try freezing a wart or skin tag at home, you will find many products available at your local grocery store, pharmacy, and online for which you do not need a prescription. Most use salicylic acid as their main ingredient, although each product has its own list of ingredients and methods of application. Be sure to follow the instructions of the product you choose carefully, and to call a doctor if there are any complications.

Skin tags that are flesh-toned or light brown are normal; however, if you spot one that is purple, red, pink, brown, black, or a combination of these colors, call your doctor or dermatologist and schedule a consultation.

Freezing moles and skin tags is an easy, fast way to get rid of the annoyance and embarrassment of these little flaws.

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