Skin Tag, Mole, And Seborrheic Keratosis Removal

In an ideal world, your skin would be unmarked by blemishes. No acne, stretch marks, skin tags, freckles, moles, or other irregularities would mar the texture and color of your skin. While the world we live in is filled with these imperfections, cosmetic treatments can eliminate many skin conditions and give you an even and smooth skin tone.

Skin Tags

A skin tag is a small growth of skin that hangs away from the rest of the skin. It is usually connected to the skin only by a thin stalk of tissue. Skin tags most often occur on the neck, upper chest, groin, underarms, eyelids, or underside of the breasts because these locations are prone to greater friction from skin-on-skin contact or clothing. These growths occur more frequently with age and tend to run in families.

Skin Tag Removal

Your dermatologist can remove a skin tag using one of the following methods:

• Snip excision: The dermatologist will surgically snip the skin tag off of the skin. Depending on the size of the skin tag, this treatment may be performed with or without lidocaine.
• Shave removal: The dermatologist will shave the skin tag away from the skin. Once again, lidocaine may be used depending on the size of the skin tag.
• Cryotherapy: The dermatologist may use cryotherapy to freeze the skin tag with liquid nitrogen so that it falls off.

Moles and Seborrheic Keratoses

Moles are skin growths that occur when pigmented cells grow in a cluster rather than spread out individually over the skin. Seborrheic keratoses are harmless growths derived from skin cells that may appear rough or warty. The skin may look and feel raised and dark in either of these types of spots. Many moles are benign and may darken due to sun exposure or hormonal changes. Some moles are atypical or may become cancerous (melanoma) over time. More information on moles and skin lesions can be found here.

Your dermatologist may recommend one or more methods for removal of moles or seborrheic keratoses. Here are the most commonly used techniques:

• Cryotherapy: The dermatologist uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the seborrheic keratosis, causing blister formation and resulting in the destruction of the cells. The lesion then falls off over the weeks following the procedure.
• Excision: The dermatologist surgically removes the mole. This procedure is reserved for larger lesions.
• Shave Removal: The dermatologist will shave the lesion away from the skin. Lidocaine is injected prior to the procedure to achieve anesthesia.

If you have a skin tag, mole, seborrheic keratosis, or another skin lesion for which you’d like to receive treatment, contact Colorado Skin & Vein to request a personal consult. Our dermatologist can recommend the ideal treatment for your skin tag, mole, or other skin conditions. Call 303-683-3235 or contact us online to schedule your appointment with us today.