Can I cut a skin tag off my eye

Can I cut a skin tag off my eye

Skin tags can appear around several different parts of your body as you get older, but while they can be annoying, they’re nothing to worry about. When they appear around your eyelids, they can make washing your face, applying make-up, and even blinking annoying, so you can have them removed to make it easier for you to carry on with your life as normal.

But you’re advised not to remove skin tags yourself, especially those around your eyes, as there are some risks involved. Let’s take a look at how to remove skin tags and where you can get them removed safely.

What are skin tags?

Skin tags are small soft growths that hang off the skin from certain parts of the body. The exact cause of skin tags is not known; however, they can appear in places where you have folds of skin and where you have skin-to-skin contact, such as:

• Your eyelids.
• Your neck.
• Under your breasts.
• Under your armpits.
• Between your buttocks.

As we age, our skin loses its elasticity, so more wrinkles and skin folds form. This is why skin tags tend to show up when we reach our forties and fifties, although they can appear at any age.

Skin tags shouldn’t be confused with moles, which can appear at any time and anywhere on the body, although most commonly in areas that are directly exposed to the sun. Skin tags are usually skin-coloured, whereas moles can be a different colour to your skin tone, usually appearing darker.

Being overweight or obese is one of the main causes of skin tag growth, as you’re likely to have more folds in your skin, especially on your neck and under your arms. However, you may also be more likely to grow skin tags if:

• You have type 2 diabetes.
• You are pregnant.

Insulin resistance and hormonal changes may be contributing factors to skin tag growth, so if you have skin tags appearing before your 40s, are a healthy weight and are experiencing symptoms of pregnancy or diabetes, you should see your doctor about the potential cause. Otherwise, skin tags are not a health concern and nothing to worry about. However, they can, of course, be annoying to live with, so you may want to consider having them removed.

How to remove a skin tag

The removal process for skin tags is relatively simple, but you shouldn’t try to do it yourself. A specialist will use one of the following methods to remove a skin tag for you:

• Applying heat to the root of the skin tag to cut off its blood supply.
• Freezing the skin tag to cut off its blood supply is known as cryotherapy.
• Cutting the skin tag off with a scalpel or surgical scissors.

The preferred method of removing the skin tag depends on which specialist is removing the tag and where it is on your body; however, heat treatment is often preferred as it’s quick and easy and reduces the chances of the area scarring. All of these methods are safe when done by a professional and permanently and effectively remove the skin tag.

Some people recommend tying off the skin tag with a piece of cotton to cut off the blood supply, but this is less common nowadays and takes longer for the skin tag to fall off, so dermatologists and other medical professionals who remove skin tags are more likely to cut off the blood supply with heat or extreme cold, so the skin tag falls off right away and you can leave the clinic without it.

Can you remove skin tags yourself?

You shouldn’t remove skin tags yourself, as there is the risk of the wound becoming infected if it’s not removed or cleaned properly, as well as an increased risk of scarring in the area. Specialists can cut a skin tag off your eye as they have the appropriate equipment to do so; surgical scissors and scalpels are significantly thinner, sharper and more sterile than any kitchen knife or nail scissors we have at home, so they are the best tools to remove skin tags.

Specialists will also be able to apply the appropriate ointments to clean the wound and help it heal with minimal scarring, which you’re unable to do from home, so you should not cut a skin tag off your eye.

You should also avoid putting apple cider vinegar on skin tags, as it has not been proven to work in removing the skin tags, and putting vinegar near your eye is very risky. If the vinegar gets in your eye, it can cause a burning sensation and make your eye bloodshot. If you have tried this, rinse your eyes immediately with water.

Where can you get skin tags removed?

Previously, you could have had skin tags removed by your GP, as it’s a relatively simple procedure. However, as GPs are overworked, and there have been cutbacks in the NHS, skin tag removal is considered a cosmetic procedure, and therefore cannot be done for free on the NHS. To have your skin tags removed, you’ll, therefore, need to see a specialist.

Dermatologists can remove skin tags from most places of your body as they specialise in skin complaints and can appropriately remove the skin tag from its location, whether that’s under your breast or on the sensitive skin on your bottom.

For skin tags located on or around your eyelids, you should see an ophthalmic specialist. Ophthalmologists specialise in eye conditions, so they’re able to easily and safely deal with any issues surrounding your eyes. Some eye skin tags can be located on the very delicate skin on the very edge of your eyelid in between your eyelashes, so it’s better to see an eye specialist to have this removed, as they can be careful of the surrounding eyelashes, glands which secrete oil to prevent dry eyes, and your eyes themselves.

Do skin tags grow back?

Once they have been removed, it’s very uncommon for skin tags to grow back. However, as we age and develop more and more wrinkles and folds in the skin, it’s more likely to develop skin tags. So, while you may have some removed, others may form in a similar location as well as other parts of the body.

Why get your skin tags removed?

However, just because skin tags aren’t a health concern, that’s not to say that you should simply leave your skin tags be. They are harmless and don’t cause any health issues; however, skin tags on your eyelids can still greatly affect your life. From changing your appearance to making blinking and wearing make-up feel strange or even obstructing your vision, skin tags on your eyelids can be inconvenient.

Skin tags can grow up to around 5 cm (which is roughly the length of a matchstick!), which can be very irritating anywhere on your body. When skin tags on your eyelids become large enough that they appear in your field of vision, this can greatly affect your ability to perform everyday tasks and be hugely bothersome.

Large skin tags are also more at risk of being caught by clothing, jewellery or even your fingers and fingernails, and ripping off or being cut accidentally. Not only can this be painful, but it can cause the skin tag to bleed, scar and even become infected. The best way to deal with annoying skin tags, especially around your eyes, is by visiting an eye specialist and having them removed safely.

The Eye and Dental Clinic

At the Eye and Dental Clinic, we understand how irritating skin tags can be, which is why our team of experts in our eye department are happy to remove them for you!

Our ophthalmologists can also treat minor eye conditions, including:

• Chalazion.
• Blepharitis.
• Conjunctivitis.

Located in Bury, we’re open from Monday to Sunday, with emergency appointments available on weekdays for our dental practice, and appointments available all week, which you can book online, call us, or contact us on our website.

For more information on our services or to learn more about your condition, either ophthalmic or dental, you can take a look at our latest news.

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