Skin Tag Removal: The Old Way Might Be Best

Skin tags, those small, benign growths, often pop up in spots where skin rubs together, like the neck or underarms. While they're usually harmless, they can be a nuisance or even painful if they get twisted or cut off. Doctors have tried various methods to remove them, including freezing or burning them off, but these can leave scars or light patches. Lasers seemed like a modern solution, but are they really better than the old-fashioned scissor snip? A recent study put these two methods to the test. Sixty-eight people with a total of 1, 257 skin tags on their necks or underarms were treated. Each person got both treatments, with half of their skin tags removed by scissors and the other half zapped by a 532 nm LBO laser. The results were checked at 4 and 12 weeks later.

After 12 weeks, the scissor group had a higher healing rate at 85%, compared to 71% for the laser group. Most people also preferred the scissor method for future treatments, with 63% choosing it over the laser. The scissor method also caused less pain, with an average score of 2. 6 compared to 3. 42 for the laser. The laser was faster, but it had more side effects like redness and changes in skin color. Plus, the skin tags took up to three weeks to fall off after laser treatment, which can be gross. So, while lasers might seem like a high-tech solution, the old-fashioned scissor snip seems to be the better choice for most people. It heals better, hurts less, and most people prefer it. But that doesn't mean lasers are useless. They might still be good for smaller, more spread-out skin tags, or other types of lasers could be better. More research is needed to figure that out.

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