Written by Dr Gerard Ee, MBBS (UK), MRCS (Edinburgh), Postgraduate Diploma in Practical Dermatology (Cardiff). Founder and Medical Director, The Clifford Clinic and The Clifford Surgery, Singapore. Last medically reviewed and updated September 2026.
Skin tags, known medically as acrochordons, are small, soft, skin-coloured or brown growths that hang from a narrow stalk. They form where skin rubs against skin or clothing, most often on the neck, in the armpits, on the eyelids, under the breasts and in the groin. Skin tags are benign, are not contagious and do not become cancerous.
Patients usually request removal because the tags catch on jewellery and collars, because they are visible on the eyelid or face, or because new tags continue to appear.
Key points
- My quick answer. Most skin tags are snipped off at the base under local anaesthetic in a few minutes, with no stitches and no time off work.
- Skin tag removal costs S$300 to S$450 before GST, depending on the number of tags and where they are. Several tags are removed in one visit at one fee.
- Three methods, snip excision, cryotherapy and electrocautery, chosen by the size and site of the tag.
- Every lesion is examined first. A growth that is firm, pigmented, growing or bleeding is treated as a mole and assessed under dermoscopy.
Causes of skin tags
Repeated friction is the main cause of skin tags. They become more common with age, during pregnancy, with weight gain and in people with insulin resistance or diabetes, and they tend to run in families. Raised insulin levels, together with insulin-like growth factor, stimulate the growth of skin cells and the fibrous tissue beneath them, which explains the association with insulin resistance. A crop of new skin tags in an adult is occasionally the first sign of raised blood sugar, and I therefore ask about symptoms and risk factors for diabetes.
Skin tag removal methods
Snip excision
After the stalk is numbed, the tag is cut off at its base with fine surgical scissors or a blade. Snip excision is the quickest method, gives an immediate result and requires no stitches, and it is the method I use for most tags.
Cryotherapy
Liquid nitrogen, at minus 196°C, freezes the tag, which darkens and drops off over one to two weeks. Cryotherapy is useful for several very small tags and for patients who prefer to avoid an injection. The tag is not removed on the day of treatment, and because pigment cells are damaged at temperatures that other skin cells survive, freezing can leave a pale mark on darker skin. I therefore use cryotherapy selectively.
Electrocautery
A fine electrically heated tip removes the tag and coagulates the small blood vessels in its base at the same time, so bleeding is minimal. Electrocautery is well suited to tags on the eyelid margin and to larger tags with a broad base.
Skin tag removal cost in Singapore
Skin tag removal costs S$300 to S$450 before GST, depending on the number of tags and their location. Several tags are usually removed in one visit for a single fee. The consultation fee is charged separately and is quoted at the time of booking.
Skin tag removal on the eyelid and face
Tags on the eyelid margin are removed by cautery or snip excision after anaesthetic eye drops and a small local anaesthetic injection, with care taken to preserve the lash line. Facial tags are removed by snip excision, which gives an immediate result and leaves a flat mark.
Recovery after skin tag removal
A small scab forms and separates within a week, leaving a flat, pale mark that blends with the surrounding skin over a few weeks. Most sites need no dressing, and no time off work is required. A removed skin tag does not usually regrow at the same site, although new tags can form nearby over the years, particularly where friction or insulin resistance persists.
Skin tags and the growths mistaken for them
A growth that is firm, pigmented, enlarging or bleeding, or that has a broad base rather than a stalk, may not be a skin tag. Seborrhoeic keratoses, warts, moles and, occasionally, basal cell carcinomas are mistaken for skin tags. I examine every lesion before removal, and any lesion that does not have the appearance of a simple tag is assessed under dermoscopy in the same way as a mole. See mole removal in Singapore.
Frequently asked questions about skin tag removal
Does skin tag removal hurt?
Removal causes only a brief sting from the anaesthetic injection, after which the procedure is painless. Cryotherapy causes a short burning sensation instead and needs no injection.
Can I remove skin tags at home?
Removing skin tags at home is not advisable. Home kits and tying the tag with thread can cause infection, bleeding and scarring, and can remove lesions that were not skin tags, including skin cancers that then go undiagnosed. A clinic removal takes a few minutes.
Will skin tag removal leave a scar?
Snip excision and electrocautery leave a flat mark that fades over a few weeks. Cryotherapy can leave a pale spot on darker skin, because freezing damages the pigment cells.
How many skin tags can be removed at once?
As many skin tags as are practical can be removed in one session, commonly ten or more.
Is skin tag removal covered by insurance?
Skin tag removal is not covered by insurance, because it is a cosmetic procedure.
Book a consultation with Dr Gerard Ee
Dr Gerard Ee consults and performs skin tag removal at his practice at 50 Raffles Place, Singapore. Consultations are by appointment. Message the clinic on WhatsApp, or call 6532 2048.
Published evidence
- Vestergaard ME, Macaskill P, Holt PE, Menzies SW. Dermoscopy compared with naked eye examination for the diagnosis of primary melanoma, a meta-analysis of studies performed in a clinical setting. Br J Dermatol. 2008;159(3):669-76. PMID 18616769.
Dr Gerard Ee consults and performs skin tag removal at his practice at 50 Raffles Place, Singapore.
This page is written from published research and clinical experience in Singapore since 2012. It is for general education, not medical advice. Suitability, results, downtime and cost vary from person to person. Please arrange a consultation for advice specific to your skin.
