I read that one way of removing skin tags is to put a micro-sized
rubber band around them.  The squeezing action of the rubber band cuts
off the blood flow over time and they naturally fall off.  Here's my
question:  What is the name of the tool that applies these micro
rubber bands and where can I find the tool and bands online?

Answer will only be considered complete if the following info is supplied:

1. Medical or generally accepted name of the tool that applies the rubber bands.
2. Medical or generally accepted name of the rubber bands themselves.
3. Name of the different manufacturers that offer these tools and rubber bands.
4. A link to at least two sources on the 'net where I can purchase
said tools and rubber bands.

I will provide a tip for anyone that answers the above and also
provides some background on alternate methods of skin tag removal
besides the one outlined above.

Thanks and happy researching...!

Dear johnfu-ga;

Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting
question. Your question poses a particular challenge because, as it
turns out, there really are no ?tools" or "bands" that are
"specifically" intended for this purpose. There are, however, several
relatively painless options (some less painful than others perhaps) to
remedy your skin tag problem. I have known many people who have
suffered a similar situation (myself among them) and here are some of
the solutions we used:

There are several brands of over-the-counter solutions that are
designed to chemically freeze warts, skin-tags and small growths on
the surface of skin causing them to die and fall off. Most of these
are easily attainable at your local pharmacy or retail store.

FROOGLE
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=freeze+warts&hl=en&btnG=Search+Froogle

Alternatively, there is a precision tool made by a company called
Brymill that is designed to aid in the natural (non-chemical) freezing
of skin tags.

FROOGLE
http://froogle.google.com/froogle_cluster?q=SKIN+TAG&pid=4902321726608300299&oid=17779064150279815948&btnG=Search+Froogle&scoring=mrd&hl=en

BRYMILL CRYOTWEEZERS
http://egeneralmedical.com/bm-tweezers.html

Now, here are some things that I know for a FACT work because I have
used them personally. I am not encouraging you to perform a medical
procedure without the direction of a physician; rather I am merely
explaining how I went about it. For me both of these solutions worked
PERMANENTLY and I never had to repeat the process, nor did I have a
reoccurrence of the lesions.

[ See our disclaimer at the bottom of this page: I am not offering
medical advice here since that is clearly against our policy. Below I
use the term ?you? and ?your? only in the general sense. It is always
best to consult a physician about medical issues. ]

If the skin tag lesion is small, one can get a NEW large nail clipper
for the job. It is important that the clipper be new so it will clean,
unused, and the sharpest it can possibly be. I prefer to use a clipper
with an extra grip to avoid slippage and accidental injury. If you
like, you can hold ice on the skin tag for a few minutes just before
removing it and this can dull the relatively mild sting. First,
sterilize the tool with alcohol or in boiling water for 2-3 minutes.
Then simply place the clipper over the lesion nearest the skin and
quickly (in one uninterrupted motion) clip the annoyance off. This may
sting a bit but it sounds a lot worse than it really is. If the tool
is sharp and you can maintain good control of it, the lesion will be
gone (perhaps forever) in a matter of seconds. In my case the small
lesions never returned, though other people may have varying degrees
of success.

Here is the nail clipper I used so you?ll have an idea of what I am
talking about. You might be able to get one of these at your local
Walmart, Walgreens or pharmacy (I got mine from my local pharmacy).

FROOGLE
http://froogle.google.com/froogle_cluster?q=NAIL+CLIPPERS&pid=4742850583028122608&oid=4893842121197910274&btnG=Search+Froogle&scoring=mrd&hl=en

If the skin tag is larger and you just cannot bring yourself to snip
the lesion off, simply tie (or get someone else to tie) a piece of
sterile dental floss as tightly as you can around the stem of the
lesion right at the base as closely to the unblemished skin as
possible. Make sure you pull the string VERY tightly before tying
SEVERAL knots in it (you may require assistance with this). Cut the
excess string off so it doesn?t show, and go about your business as
usual. In about 15 minutes the skin tag will begin turning blue and in
24 hours time it will have turned almost black. In less than a week
(two or three days in most cases) the dead lesion will just fall off.
Using this method the whole experience is virtually painless, though
there may be some minor discomfort or very mild pinching sensation at
the lesion site in the first few minutes or hours as you become
accustomed to the tightened string. In short order however you will
forget that it is even there and eventually one day soon you?ll notice
that it is completely gone ? string and all.

In my opinion any untreated (unflavored, unscented, etc.) dental floss
will do. It?s clean, sterile, extremely strong and easy to handle.
I?ve used this method and take my word for it - it works (in my case,
permanently too!)


I hope you find that my research exceeds your expectations. If you
have any questions about my research please post a clarification
request prior to rating the answer. Otherwise, I welcome your rating
and your final comments and I look forward to working with you again
in the near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.

Best regards;
Tutuzdad ? Google Answers Researcher


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SEARCH TERMS USED:

Skin tag

Removal

Tips

Hints

Methods

Techniques

Tools

You don't need micro-sozed rubber bands.

Same trick works if you tie a small peice of string around them. Get
someone to sit ya down and tie them up really really tight, double
knots. After a few days they should all fall off if they've been tied
tight enough.

baz :)

My doc uses a little cryo unit. Grab the tag with a tissue forceps,
hit it with LiqOx (or whatever it is he uses) and awaaaay it goes.

Do I really need to point out that this should only be done by a
physician? DON'T go buying that wart remover stuff and trying it!

I will confirm the tight thread system works a treat. You need a
strong thread and a get down low, close to the body- pull the know
really tight and tie a second or third if necessary. No blood, drop
off in a few dyas.

If the tags are small (less than 2mm at the base) you can even nip
them off with a pair of sharp scissors. Make sure you have a bandaid
at the ready - sometimes you might get a drop of blood. Very little
pain, quick result.

I think you are being messed with.

We used to use this method for "docking" (casterating) sheep when I was a kid.

http://www.kvvet.com/KVVet/productr.asp?pf_id=86145&RefCode=Froogle&URLCheck=1

I don't think that you could get or handle a rubber band that would be
simultaneously tight enough to do the job, and small enough to fit
right.

The ones for sheep are about the same size as a Cherrio or Froot Loop.

The nail clipper idea sounds safer, faster and easier.

Oh, and "Naturally Falling off" is a nice way of saying that it dies
from lack of blood flow, dries up and breaks off.

Dan

>>>"I think you are being messed with.<<<

Well, you're wrong. Search for "skin tag", "acrochordon" and "ligation":

GOOGLE:
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=%22acrochordon%22+%22ligation%22

"Other methods of removal include cryotherapy and ligation with a
suture or a copper wire; however, freezing of the surrounding skin
during liquid nitrogen cryotherapy may result in dyschromic lesions.
Taking hold of the acrochordon with forceps and applying cryotherapy
to the forceps may provide superior results."
EMEDICINE
http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic606.htm

"In cases in which a skin tag is irritated or cosmetically unwanted,
treatment may be done by freezing the tag with liquid nitrogen, tying
off the tag with a thread or suture so as to cut off the blood supply,
or cutting off (excising) the tag with a scalpel or scissors."
MEDICINE NET
http://www.medicinenet.com/skin_tag/article.htm

I guess it's true - you CAN learn something new everyday.

tutuzdad-ga

It works! I had two skin tags right on the ouside of my left eye..
probably a notch over a 1/2 inch away from my eye.  Reading all these
message boards about skin tag removal from less sentive areas with
nail-clippers had me nervous.

I did it anyway, because I had this really ugly skin-tag just above my
eye when I was a teenager, and I remember ripping it off in
desperation one day (you know how teens are..)  I wouldn't do that
ever again, but it left no scar either.

So I bought flat-edge toe nail clippers that were packaged and some
rubbing alcolhol.   Disinfected the clippers then washed them off.  I
closed the clippers just over the tag, got reallly scared then SNIP!

It didn't hurt a bit.   I had two, one bigger than the other.   The
large one bled a bit, but I just pressed a swab on it for a few
minutes and it was fine. I'm very happy.  I had a couple of these
removed a few years back to the tune of $80.00 each (they froze them
off.)

Just thought I'd write my experience for those more afraid of clipping
these ugly suckers off the face area.

I also wanted to comment that the nail clipper thing works. I
disinfected the area and the clipper with some alcohol and snipped it
off. It didn't hurt, leave anything behind, or create a problem.
Thanks tutuz for giving me the courage to try it at home :)

You're all very welcome. Styptic powder (that you can acquire at the
pharmacy when you buy the new nail clipper) is a product that is
commonly used to stop the bleeding of minor shaving nicks. Applying
some of this powder to the area afterward should stop any minor
bleeding almost immediately.

E-HOW
http://www.ehow.com/buy_13271_styptic-powder.html

Note: My suggestions are not intended to replace medical advice. It is
my opinion that people with blood coagulation problems, compromised
immune systems, or those taking blood thinners should NOT attempt this
option and should ALWAYS have their lesions attended to by a
physician. Be sure to read and follow the directions on this product
and all first aid products before use.