Skin Tag Removal Cost: Everything You Need to Know

• Skin tag removal costs $150–$200 per growth for professional removal and $3–$40 for at-home methods
• Cost factors include your location, use of anesthetics, doctor fees and follow-up appointments
• Skin tags that are removed for cosmetic reasons are not covered by health insurance

Skin tags, also called acrochordons, are small, benign, flesh-colored growths 2–5 mm wide. They’re usually found in skin folds or areas and develop when skin rubs against itself or clothing such as the eyelids, neck, armpits and groin. Most skin tags are harmless but some people have them removed for cosmetic reasons or when they cause irritation. Skin tag removal cost will depend on the number of growths being removed and whether you do so professionally or at home.

How Much Does Skin Tag Removal Cost?

The cost of skin tag removal depends primarily on whether you choose to do it professionally or at home. With a few exceptions, skin tag removal is not covered by health insurance. 

Professional cosmetic skin tag removal costs approximately $150–$200 for a single growth, regardless of the removal method used, including doctor and exam fees. Most dermatologists will give a discount for having multiple tags removed at the same appointment. 

At-home skin tag removal cost ranges from $7–$40. Although these options are more affordable, they carry some risk of infection, bleeding and scarring.

How Does a Dermatologist Remove a Skin Tag?

There are three main dermatological removal techniques; cryotherapy, excision and cauterization. All three typically take 2–3 weeks to heal and will leave small scars that will fade with time or will be small enough to be virtually unnoticeable.

To prevent discomfort, your dermatologist may use a local anesthetic in the form of an injection, topical numbing cream or spray.

Having a medical consultation with a dermatologist will confirm that a growth is indeed a skin tag and not a mole or wart; these can be mistaken for skin tags and require different removal methods.

Cauterization

The cauterization method utilizes a surgical cauterizing tool, a small needle heated by an electric current, to burn off the skin tag and seal the wound closed. 

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy involves applying liquid nitrogen with a cotton swab or as a spray to the skin tag. The liquid nitrogen freezes the skin cells, leaving behind a small scab that falls off after a few weeks. This treatment typically does not cause bleeding. 

Excision

Larger skin tags are usually surgically removed. A local anesthetic is injected just beneath the growth to reduce any discomfort, and your dermatologist will then use a small scalpel or surgical scissors to cut off the skin tag. Larger skin tags may bleed after this treatment and will need to be cauterized. 

At-Home Skin Tag Removal Cost

Over-the-counter (OTC) kits and home remedies for skin tag removal are less expensive than professional removal options. Although these treatments are more affordable, they carry a risk of infection, chemical burns, bleeding and scarring. 

Over-the-counter kits

OTC kits can be found in most pharmacies, grocery stores and online. They either consist of  medicated bandages, cotton swabs that mimic cryotherapy or tiny rubber bands that cut off the blood supply to the growth, causing it to fall off. These products range from $7–$40.

Dermatologists do not recommend using OTC kits, as they are not always effective and carry the risk of bleeding or infection.

Home remedies

Common at-home remedies for skin tag removal include repeatedly coating the affected area with apple cider vinegar or tea tree oil. These products cost from $3–$40 but can cause skin irritation, blisters or chemical burns and are not considered safe or effective methods of removal.

Another at-home option is using nail clippers or scissors to cut off the growth yourself. This method is also inadvisable due to the risk of infection and uncontrollable bleeding.

Does Insurance Cover Skin Tag Removal?

Skin tag removal is considered a cosmetic procedure and is therefore not covered by health insurance. However, skin tag removal may be considered medically necessary if signs indicative of cancer develop, such as:

• Dramatic changes in size, shape or color
• Frequent bleeding
• Infection

Unless your skin tags meet these criteria, you can expect to pay all costs. 

Is It Worth Removing Skin Tags?

Skin tag removal is relatively inexpensive, painless and a low-risk procedure when performed by a professional.

Skin tags can cause irritation as well as affect self-esteem, and their removal can resolve these issues. 

When looking at removal carried out professionally, the more you remove at one sitting, the more cost-effective it will be.

Can I pull off my own skin tags?

It is not recommended to pull off your skin tags. Pulling or ripping could result in tearing off more than just the growth, resulting in bleeding, infection or scarring.

Do skin tags grow back?

Skin tags usually do not grow back, but new ones can form in the same area.

Takeaway

Skin tags are benign, flesh-colored growths that usually develop in skin folds and where the skin rubs against clothing, such as the eyelids, neck, armpits and groin. 

The cost of removal varies greatly depending on whether you choose a professional or at-home treatment option. The procedure is only covered by health insurance if your dermatologist suspects a growth is cancerous.

Professional removal costs around $150–$200 for a single growth. Although the number of growths removed will increase your overall cost, discounts are often available for multiple removals at the same appointment. At-home removal, including home remedies, costs between $3–$40 dollars but carries a risk of bleeding, infection or scarring.