Can I Remove a Skin Tag from My Eyelid?

Skin tags are very common. They’re soft, benign growths that form on a thin “stalk” of skin. They’re extremely vascular and can appear on any part of the body—including the neck, groin, armpits, beneath the breasts, and on the eyelids.  

The answer to “Can I remove a skin tag from my eyelid?” is yes, but it should always be done professionally. Although there are many products available that claim to make removal easy, the risks on such a delicate area of the body are many. What is, essentially a simple procedure when done correctly could lead to unwanted complications if you go down the DIY route.

Everything You Need to Know About Removing a Skin Tag from the Eyelid

• Reasons to get a skin tag removed
• Dermatologist vs. eye doctor
• A quick word on the dangers of DIY skin tag removal kits

Reasons to get a skin tag removed

If a skin tag on your eyelid is small and doesn’t bother you, then it’s fine to leave well alone. Most are very small, but they can be large enough to cause irritation or obscure your vision.

Reasons for removal include:

• It causes difficulty with eyelid mobility.
• It falls into your line of sight.
• It irritates when you blink.
• It catches on to things, such as clothes or jewelry.
• You don’t like its appearance.

 Dermatologist vs. eye doctor 

Both dermatologists and eye doctors who perform eyelid surgery (ophthalmologists) can remove skin tags. It’s generally a quick, easy procedure. It can be done manually, using a scalpel—a process known as an excision— or by tying the stalk to stop the blood supply (ligation). Another method, known as cryotherapy, involves freezing the tissue with liquid nitrogen. The tag then falls off over the next couple of weeks.

Whichever way it’s done, the procedure is either pain-free or, at worst, only mildly uncomfortable. If it’s solely a skin tag removal, then either type of doctor can assist you. However, if this is combined with another eyelid procedure, such as the removal of a pinguecula or pterygium growth—or perhaps a blepharoplasty to improve the appearance of the eyelids and surrounding area—then you’ll need the services of an ophthalmologist.

A quick word on the dangers of DIY skin tag removal kits

Any online search about skin tag removal will return a whole host of home kits. These should be viewed with extreme caution, especially for skin tags in delicate areas, like the eyelids.

They should never be used without consulting an experienced medical professional. There are risks involved with anything that involves tissue removal. Inexpert application can cause:

• Uncontrolled bleeding.
• Scarring.
• Tissue damage to the surrounding area.
• Infection.
• Pain.

There’s also the danger of overlooking a growth that’s potentially more harmful. While the vast majority of skin tags are benign, mistaking a growth that needs further expert medical care can have serious, unintended consequences.

Professional removal of skin tags on the eyelid (and, indeed, anywhere on the body) virtually eliminates any of the above risks.

Get Answers to “Can I Remove a Skin Tag from My Eyelid?” and Other FAQs at the WBEC

The West Boca Eye Center is an academic-grade facility that provides advanced ophthalmology services for everything and anything to do with eyes and vision. This includes eyelid skin tags and other eyelid-related issues. Eyelid surgery is performed in our state-of-the-art facilities, usually on an outpatient basis. Skin tag removal, for example, is a really quick process—you can even fit it into your lunch hour! 

Whatever your query, we’re here to help. Visit https://www.westbocaeyecenter.com/ for more information and call our friendly team today.