What Makes Skin Tags Bleed?
There are several different reasons why skin tags may start bleeding:
- A skin tag catches on something
- There is too much friction on the skin tag
- The skin tag is cut or removed unsafely
Skin tags can bleed for a long time because they consist of tiny blood vessels covered by the skin. It is shocking how much skin tags can bleed because they are typically small.
The reason is that many little blood vessels lead to bigger blood vessels. It is unusual for a skin tag to bleed on its own with no apparent cause; therefore, a doctor should examine it if that happens.
A bleeding skin tag is likely to be a painful skin tag.
Cutting Off A Skin Tag With Scissors
The most common reason for an excessively bleeding skin tag is because someone decided to cut or pull the skin tag off themselves. Nobody should ever cut off their skin tag or pull the skin tag off, even if using surgical scissors.
Skin tag removal should be taken very seriously, and you should do it in a medically approved way.
Although it is too late to take medical advice on removing the skin tag, there are ways to stop a skin tag from bleeding.
Process Of Stopping Bleeding After Skin Tag Removal
If you have cut off a skin tag and it won’t stop bleeding, you will need to:
- Stop the bleeding
- Apply antibiotic ointment
- Cover the wound to protect it from infection
Treating A Bleeding Skin Tag
For any minor bleeding, hold a cotton ball on the area for 15 to 20 minutes or until it stops bleeding.
Make sure to clean the area properly when you finish and apply an antibiotic ointment. It is important to cover the area with a bandage to avoid infection.
If the blood seeps through the cotton ball, or you have to use multiple cotton balls for longer than 15 minutes, treat the bleed as if it is a major bleed.
Switch to using a towel instead of a cotton ball.
Use A Towel For Major Bleeding From A Skin Tag
While applying pressure to the wound, put ice in a zip-lock bag and wrap it with a smaller towel. Replace the towel you were using with the smaller towel holding the ice.
The cold will constrict arteries causing the bleeding to slow down or stop, and will also help with the pain associated with the bleeding area. Once the bleeding stops, apply an antibiotic ointment and cover the area with a bandage.
What To Do After 30 Minutes
If the bleeding does not stop after 30 minutes, keep applying pressure with the towel. Also, you really should go to the hospital. Do not remove the towel, as blood will gush everywhere.
It will help if you continue applying pressure, so you don’t lose too much blood. You likely cut deeper than just the skin tag, and you should investigate the need for stitches to close the hole and seal the source of the bleeding.
You should also see a doctor if your skin tag begins bleeding for no apparent reason, as that can be a sign of more severe problems or if the skin tag is not a skin tag but possibly a mole, wart, or another type of skin growth.
