Can I remove acrochordons at home with standard household scissors?

Home Removal of Skin Tags with Scissors: Not Recommended

Do not remove skin tags at home with household scissors—this is unsafe and risks infection, bleeding, and improper diagnosis. Skin tags should be removed by a healthcare provider using sterile technique and proper instruments to ensure safety and accurate diagnosis.

Why Professional Removal is Essential

Risk of Misdiagnosis

• Skin tags in children may actually be basal cell carcinomas, particularly in nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, making biopsy essential for any acrochordon-like lesions in young patients 1
• Household removal prevents histopathologic examination, which is critical to exclude malignancy 1
• What appears to be a simple skin tag could represent other pathology requiring different management 1

Infection and Bleeding Risks

• Non-sterile instruments and technique significantly increase infection risk
• Household scissors lack the precision of medical-grade instruments, leading to excessive tissue trauma
• Proper hemostasis cannot be achieved without medical equipment or training 2

Professional Removal Options

Standard Office-Based Techniques

Surgical excision with sterile scissors or scalpel is the gold standard, performed after appropriate anesthesia 2:

• Tangential scissor excision after local anesthesia provides immediate removal with minimal scarring 2
• The procedure extends only into the upper dermis when performed correctly 2
• Hemostasis is achieved with electrocautery or chemical styptic agents 2

Anesthesia Options

• Ethyl chloride spray provides fast, painless anesthesia for skin tag excision with micro-scissors and is well-tolerated by patients 3
• Injectable local anesthesia can be used for larger or multiple lesions 3
• Topical anesthetics may be applied prior to the procedure 2

Alternative Methods

• Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen can be repeated every 1-2 weeks until resolution 2
• Mechanical occlusion devices (adhesive patches that apply pressure to the base) achieve 90% success for lesions up to 1mm and 76% for lesions up to 2mm, with excellent cosmetic outcomes 4
• Electrocautery after local anesthesia provides immediate destruction 2

Important Clinical Context

When to Suspect Underlying Disease

Skin tags may indicate metabolic abnormalities requiring evaluation:

• Association with diabetes mellitus is statistically significant (p=0.0073), with 1.8 times greater risk of developing diabetes in patients with skin tags 5
• Patients with acrochordons have significantly higher rates of metabolic syndrome, including elevated fasting glucose, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension 6
• Consider screening for diabetes and metabolic syndrome in patients presenting with multiple skin tags 5, 6

Red Flags Requiring Biopsy

• Acrochordons in children (distinctly uncommon and may represent basal cell carcinoma) 1
• Rapidly growing or changing lesions
• Lesions with irregular pigmentation or bleeding
• Any uncertainty about the diagnosis

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Never use household scissors or non-sterile instruments for skin tag removal
• Do not attempt removal without proper visualization and lighting
• Avoid crushing or traumatizing the tissue, which increases infection risk and prevents histologic examination if needed
• Do not ignore skin tags in children—these require biopsy to exclude nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome 1