Having Skin Tag Under My Arm. Can I Try Piece Of Floss Round It Tightly And Then It Will Eventually Drop Off?

Posted on Wed, 5 Jun 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 5 Jun 2013 Answered on

Tue, 25 Jun 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : i have what i think is a skin tag under my arm. It is about the size of a pea and was very small to start with. It is connected to my body by a tiny piece of skin.

Is it a skin tag and can i do what the web ssya which is tie a piece of floss round it tightly and then it will eventually drop off

Answered by Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (4 hours later)

Hello,
Thanks for the query.
You can definitely tie a piece of thread or dental floss but you must ensure that you are dealing with a skin tag and not a skin growth.
Skin tags are generally small,slow growing and attached to skin by a fine stalk or a peduncle.They should be soft,movable and it's skin colour should be similar to the rest of skin or may be slightly darker.
Once confirmed and sure you can proceed ahead with tie by thread or floss.
You can then cut the portion above the thread with a sterilised scissor or you can leave it and it will eventually drop off.
Keep it regularly cleaned and apply local antibiotic ointment.
Consult a doctor if you feel that it has developed some infection or if it is not healing after the removal.
I hope it helps however you may revert to me for any further query.
Best of luck
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar