Overview
About skin tags
Skin tags are small, soft flaps of skin that develop where skin rubs against skin or clothing. They are completely benign — never cancerous and never developing into anything serious — but many people find them uncomfortable, irritating or simply unwanted.
They commonly appear on the neck, eyelids, underarms, under the breasts and in the groin. Some are barely noticeable, others hang on a thin stalk and catch on necklaces, collars and seatbelts.
Causes
Why skin tags appear
Skin tags develop where there is friction — areas where skin rubs against itself or clothing. They become more common with age, are more likely during pregnancy or at times of hormonal change, and can run in families.
Weight gain and certain underlying conditions can also encourage them. They are not contagious and are not caused by anything you have or have not done.
A few seconds of precision cryotherapy is often all it takes — no stitches, no scarring and no waiting around for an appointment to come back through.
The treatment
How cryotherapy works
A precise blast of ultra-cold gas is applied directly to the skin tag for five to ten seconds. The freeze damages the tag at its base, cutting off its blood supply so it dies back and falls away naturally.
Most skin tags clear after a single session. Several can be treated in the same appointment, and we will assess each one to confirm cryotherapy is the right approach.
Your visit
What to expect
During treatment
You will feel a brief, mild sting as the freeze is applied. Each tag is treated in seconds and there is no need for anaesthetic or stitches.
In the days that follow
The treated tag will darken, scab and gradually fall away over one to two weeks. The skin underneath heals smoothly with no visible mark in the vast majority of cases.
Aftercare
Very little is needed. Avoid picking at the tag as it dries up, and apply sun protection if it is on an exposed area. Full written aftercare is provided after every session.
Common questions
Frequently asked
Will the skin tag grow back?
Once a tag has lifted away cleanly, it will not grow back in the same place. New tags can sometimes appear elsewhere, particularly in friction-prone areas, but they are individual lesions rather than recurrences.
Can you treat tags on the eyelids?
Yes, with extra care. Tags around the eye area are treated using a finer, more controlled freeze to protect the delicate skin and eyelid margin.
How many can be treated in one session?
Several at once, depending on size and location. We will discuss the plan at your consultation and confirm what fits comfortably into a single appointment.
Will it leave a mark?
Scarring is rare with cryotherapy. Most areas heal with no visible mark; in a small number of cases a slightly lighter or pinker patch may remain for a few weeks before settling.
Is treatment safe during pregnancy?
We generally recommend waiting until after pregnancy for cosmetic treatment of skin tags. We will assess each case at consultation and advise on the safest option for you.
