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DERMATOLOGY DEPARTMENT

GUIDELINES FOR THE PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER

SKIN TAGS

A. HISTORY: N/A

B. PHYSICAL:

1. Skin Tags, also called papillomas or acrochordons, are soft, flesh-colored tags of skin seen in the middle-aged or elderly. Often they are pedunculated.
2. Occur in clusters around neck, upper chest, axillae, inguinal fold and eyelids.

C. DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP:

A clinical diagnosis.

D. THERAPY:

1. After cleansing skin, grasp apex of tag with forceps and cut the base with sharp scissors level with the normal skin. No anesthesia is requried and bleeding is controlled with pressure.
2. Liquid Nitrogen can be used to freeze small skin tags. They will dry up and fall off in about one week after treatment.

E. DERM CONSULT:

None necessary.