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Home skin tag removal stories? (Panicking!)

57 replies

ThanksMateThanksMate · 19/09/2023 14:21

I've had a skintag on my left nipple for 20 years. All DC breastfed so putting it down to this. I don't have tags elsewhere.
It's never been sore but I HATE the sight of it and have always been a bit self-conscious of it.
STUPIDLY...
STUPIDLY!!!!.....
Last night, fortified by Aldi's bargain Cava, I decided to look up home-removal techniques. Then I decided to ignore all the advice to leave well alone. Then I grabbed dental floss and tied the mother of all knots around it.

Now I'm panicking. I know it's a process I have to see through (I did try and take the floss off without success).

There's a bit of pain and huge regret.

Please chip in if you've any advice or a similar experience - I feel REALLY stupid.

OP posts:
Pegsmum · 19/09/2023 14:45

Stop panicking-all will be well!
I did this to a skin tag on my shoulder, it went black and dropped off (never found it!!!). Just try and forget about it if you can.

Dfg15 · 19/09/2023 14:47

I cut one off with a really sharp pair of nail scissors, it bled a bit but was fiine

PollyAmour · 19/09/2023 14:49

I've got one on my thigh, it looks horrible and I am definitely going to tackle it during the winter. I'm too much of a coward to use scissors though, I think I'll go the dental floss route.

Zimunya · 19/09/2023 14:50

OP, I've taken loads of skin tags off by tying them up. As @Pegsmum says, they go black and drop off. Takes a few days though. Hang in there!

1990s · 19/09/2023 14:51

I’ve been thinking about doing this but haven’t yet been fortified by cava enough to actually do it. Mine is nipple too.

I went to the GP and explained I wanted it off, who referred me to the breast clinic who gave me an excellent thorough check up but did not remove it.

So now I am left with your option… let me know how it goes 😬

ThreeBearsPorridge · 19/09/2023 14:51

Use tea tree oil twice a day until it shrivels up . I’ve done it many times.

modgepodge · 19/09/2023 14:53

I bought a removal kit on Amazon which is basically the posh version of what you did - tiny elastic bands and a device to get them on the tag. After a week or so they drop off. No pain, no scarring. I think it should be fine!

mine are mostly under my arms though and virtually impossible to attach the elastic band (or dental floss!) to as it has to be one handed and it’s really awkward. Might try this tea tree tip!

ThanksMateThanksMate · 19/09/2023 14:57

Oh my goodness, thank you!

Maybe the queasiness I'm feeling today is the Cava and not the thought that I might end up at a doctor with super red face and a sore boob.
My partner came in from nightshift this morning like "right, spill - something's up!" Haha - said he'd never even noticed it before!

OP posts:
WhiskersPete · 19/09/2023 14:58

It will be fine. Can we have progress pics?

ThanksMateThanksMate · 19/09/2023 15:04

Have also today learned that dental floss takes 80 YEARS to bio-degrade!

OP posts:
Cowlover89 · 19/09/2023 15:06

WhiskersPete · 19/09/2023 14:58

It will be fine. Can we have progress pics?

Hmm
mrswhiplington · 19/09/2023 15:25

A dab of tea tree oil for a couple of weeks got rid of mine.

ThanksMateThanksMate · 19/09/2023 15:36

WhiskersPete · 19/09/2023 14:58

It will be fine. Can we have progress pics?

Hehehe I've put a big elastoplast on it and there's no way I'm ripping that off my poor nipple on a regular basis!

OP posts:
WhiskersPete · 19/09/2023 15:39

Ha sorry. Completely missed where it was in the OP! Better not have pics after all.

OneForTheRoadThen · 19/09/2023 15:40

Oh lord. I couldn't face doing this. I went to the salon with mine and had it frozen with the cryopen. It gradually went tiny and black over 2 weeks as all the cells died and then fell off. Was a bit grim but I couldn't face the DIY method!

LadyLolaRuben · 19/09/2023 15:46

I tied one up with cotton last week. It went black and dropped off by day 5. Can take up to 10 days. You'll be fine

DinnaeFashYersel · 19/09/2023 15:58

Please update.

If it goes well I may copy you.

Mindymomo · 19/09/2023 20:09

My DH had a skin tag over his eye, it was getting longer and effecting his sight through this. He made an appointment at a local private skin clinic. 30 minutes before leaving it must have just come off in the shower. He still went for the appointment but they didn’t charge him and said if it returns they will cut it out, which hopefully will stop it returning.

minipeony · 19/09/2023 20:11

Don't use the home freezing kits on your nipple. But your method should be fine. Perhaps get some cotton dor next time

EdithStourton · 19/09/2023 20:12

I know someone who had one on her boob. She cut it off. Minimal blood, healed fine, no issues since.

I have one on my arm I am gearing up to snip off with sharp scissors.

IslandAngle · 19/09/2023 20:14

I painted over mine with clear nail varnish remover (I think I read it on here - starves it of air). It worked, it fell off. Totally painless.

DyslexicPoster · 19/09/2023 20:19

I have tied one off myself. It was fine but I didn't get as much off as my gp did when he tied one off for me.

I also cut one off with nail scissors next to my eye. It was tiny and hurt like hell but better to get rid before it got too big I think.

You will be fine. The floss is the stiffest option

crochetmonkey74 · 19/09/2023 20:20

I got rid of 4 of mine with tea tree oil

TheNinjaWife · 19/09/2023 20:20

As @IslandAngle says,
I did this with 3 skin tags on DH during lockdown. Cotton and clear nail varnish. I did them one at a time. They only took a couple of days to drop off, and didn’t return.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 19/09/2023 20:25

The Amazon kits are good. Tea tree oil worked for me as well, but I did apply it twice a day for about a fortnight on a tiny one, not sure if it would have worked on a bigger one.