❄️ Freezing Skin Tags: A Doctor's Guide to Cryotherapy (A Safety Warning)
❄️ A Doctor's Guide to Freezing Skin Tags (Cryotherapy vs. DIY Dangers) ❄️
❗ CRITICAL HEALTH AND SAFETY WARNING: You must NEVER attempt to freeze a skin tag at home using an over-the-counter kit. These kits are not precise and can cause severe damage to the surrounding healthy skin, leading to burns, scars, and discoloration. Skin tag removal is a medical procedure that must be performed by a qualified doctor.
Freezing skin tags is a very common and effective medical procedure. However, the rise of at-home cryotherapy kits has created a dangerous situation. People are attempting a medical procedure without the proper tools or diagnosis. This can have serious consequences.
This guide will explain the safe, professional method of freezing skin tags. We will also detail the significant risks of trying it yourself. Let's clear up the confusion about this common treatment. ✅
🤔 First, What is the Professional Method Called?
The medical procedure for freezing skin tags is called cryotherapy. It is a very quick and common in-office procedure performed by a dermatologist. It is one of the safest and most effective ways to remove a variety of benign skin growths.
During cryotherapy, a dermatologist uses liquid nitrogen. This is an extremely cold substance. They apply it with a high degree of precision directly to the skin tag. This is usually done with a special spray device or a fine-tipped cotton swab. The intense cold instantly freezes and destroys the cells of the skin tag.
- What Are the Serious Dangers of At-Home Freezing Kits?
The over-the-counter kits you can buy at a pharmacy are not the same as what a doctor uses. They are far less precise and carry significant risks.
- They Lack Precision: The applicators on these kits are large and clumsy. It is almost impossible to freeze only the skin tag without also freezing and damaging the healthy skin around it. This can lead to painful blisters, permanent scarring, or changes in skin color.
- The Risk of Misdiagnosis: This is the biggest danger. The growth you think is a harmless skin tag could be something more serious, like a mole or an early skin cancer. Only a trained dermatologist can tell the difference. If you freeze a cancerous growth, you are delaying a proper diagnosis and life-saving treatment.
- Risk of Infection: An improper procedure can lead to an open wound that can easily become infected.
- What Should You Expect During a Professional Treatment?
Professional cryotherapy is a very simple and fast process. The doctor will precisely apply the liquid nitrogen for just a few seconds. You will feel an intense cold and a brief stinging sensation, similar to a bee sting. That's it.
After the treatment, the skin tag will swell slightly. It will then turn dark and form a small scab. Over the next 1 to 2 weeks, the scab and the dead skin tag will fall off on their own, revealing new, healthy skin underneath.
⭐ What is the Bottom Line?
The message is clear. While a skin tag is harmless, its removal is a medical procedure. The safe and effective method for freezing skin tags is cryotherapy, and it must be performed by a doctor. It is a perfect, quick procedure to get done during the autumn season here in Bursa, as the treated area will be less exposed to intense sun. 🍂