Skin Tag Removal Singapore

Skin tags, medically known as acrochordons, are soft, harmless growths that tend to form where skin rubs against skin, such as the neck, armpits, and groin. Although they pose no health risk, many people choose to have them removed for cosmetic reasons or to ease the irritation caused by friction from clothing, jewellery, or movement.

The exact causes of skin tags are not fully understood, but several factors clearly contribute to their development:

Friction

Constant rubbing of skin against skin or clothing damages and stretches the surface, causing it to grow extra cells and tiny blood vessels that bulge out as a soft skin tag. This is why they form most often in friction-prone areas such as the neck, armpits, groin, eyelids, and under the breasts.

Genetics

The genes you inherit shape your skin's structure and how easily it forms growths, so skin tags often run in families. If your parents or close relatives have them, your skin is likely to develop them in the same way, sometimes from a younger age.

Age

With age, the skin loses collagen and elasticity and repairs itself more slowly, so years of friction gradually allow more skin tags to build up. This is why they are most common in middle-aged and older adults.

Obesity

Excess body weight creates more skin folds that constantly rub together, and it raises insulin levels that drive skin cell growth, both of which fuel skin tag formation. For this reason, people who are overweight or obese are more prone to them.

Hormonal Changes

During pregnancy and other hormonal shifts, higher levels of growth-promoting hormones make skin cells multiply faster, which can form new skin tags. This is why many women notice them appear or increase while pregnant.

Insulin Resistance and Diabetes

When cells stop responding to insulin, levels rise and act as a growth signal that makes skin cells multiply, which is why skin tags often cluster in people with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. A sudden increase can be an early clue about your metabolic health, as the same insulin resistance often brings higher blood pressure and cholesterol that strain the heart over time.

Our doctor can examine your skin tags and review these markers, but for a closer look at your heart health, you may want to consider seeing a heart specialist.

Skin tags can be removed through a minor surgical process using either topical or local anaesthesia. Typically, they're either clipped off or burned off (cauterised). These surgical techniques ensure complete removal, but the area might stay red and form a scab for about 10 days afterwards.

It is crucial not to attempt removing skin tags on your own, but rather to consult a doctor for this procedure. Removing skin tags without proper training can pose several risks, including:

• Infection: Unsterile equipment or improper technique can lead to bacterial infections at the site of removal.
• Scarring: An untrained approach can cause unnecessary damage to the skin, leading to scarring.
• Bleeding: Incorrect removal can result in excessive bleeding, especially if the skin tag is in a sensitive area or has a larger base.

Skin tags can resemble other growths such as cysts, milia, moles, and warts, so an assessment rules out anything more serious that may need further attention.

Generally, the recovery period will normally take between 1 to 2 weeks. After your treatment, you may also resume most day-to-day activities, including showering and exercising. However, it's crucial to avoid swimming and direct sun exposure initially to prevent potential complications like delayed healing or pigmentation issues. Applying light makeup is generally acceptable a few days after the procedure.

Our doctor and staff will provide you with detailed, tailored aftercare instructions to ensure a smooth and effective recovery.

Owing to the regulations of The Ministry of Health (MOH), we are unable to publish before and after photos on our website. However, you may view these photos during your consultation with our doctor to understand more about the treatment you seek.

The expected cost of your skin tag removal surgery is expected to range from $50 to $750, depending on the number of skin tags and difficulty. We have broken down the prices as follows for full transparency and better budget planning.

Treatment	Price*
Consultation	From $38.15 to $70.85
Removal of Skin Tag	From $109
Triamcinolone Injection	From $163.50
Stitching	From $381.50

*Prices are NETT and inclusive of GST.
All patients are required to undergo a consultation with our doctor to assess his or her suitability for the relevant treatment(s).
Keen on skin tag removal? Talk to our doctor, let us better understand your concerns. Our Toa Payoh clinic is located a sheltered 3 minutes walk away from Toa Payoh MRT.