Home / Services / Skin Tag Removal

Skin Tag Removal

Skin Tag Removal at Urgent Care: Cost & What to Expect

Skin tags are among the most common minor skin concerns our providers see — and one of the most satisfying to treat. They’re harmless, but they can catch on jewelry, irritate clothing, or simply bother you every time you notice them. The good news is that skin tag removal is a quick, straightforward procedure that can be done in a single walk-in visit at Midwest Express Clinic.

If you’ve been putting off dealing with a skin tag because you weren’t sure where to go or what it would cost, here’s everything you need to know.

Walk in to any Midwest Express Clinic location for skin tag removal — no appointment needed, open seven days a week.

What are Skin Tags?

Skin tags — medically called acrochordons — are small, soft growths that hang off the skin on a thin stalk called a peduncle. They are made up of collagen fibers and blood vessels surrounded by skin. Skin tags are entirely benign; they don’t spread, don’t become cancerous, and don’t cause any health problems on their own.

They most commonly appear in areas where skin rubs against skin or clothing:

Neck — especially around the collar area
Armpits
Under the breasts
Groin and inner thighs
Eyelids — though these require specialist care
Around the base of the neck or upper chest

Skin tags are more common with age, weight gain, pregnancy, and in people with diabetes or a family history of them. They affect men and women equally and are more prevalent in individuals who carry extra weight, as skin folds create more friction.

Why Do People Get Skin Tags Removed?

Since skin tags are harmless, removal is almost always elective — meaning it’s done by choice rather than medical necessity. Common reasons people come in for removal include:

The tag is in a location where it gets snagged by jewelry, bra straps, collars, or shaving
It becomes irritated, inflamed, or bleeds from repeated friction
It’s in a visible location and causes self-consciousness
It has grown larger over time and feels more noticeable
Multiple tags have appeared and the patient wants them addressed at once

Some people notice a skin tag has changed in appearance — darkened, grown quickly, or developed an irregular border. If that’s the case, it’s especially important to have it evaluated by a provider rather than attempting home removal. Changes in a skin lesion can sometimes indicate something other than a simple skin tag.

Check-In

Can You Get Skin Tags Removed at Urgent Care?

Yes. Midwest Express Clinic offers skin tag removal as a walk-in medical procedure at our locations. Our providers are experienced in minor skin procedures and can evaluate the growth, confirm it’s a benign skin tag, and remove it safely the same visit — without a dermatologist appointment or a long wait.

Walk-in skin tag removal is a good fit for tags on the neck, armpits, trunk, and other common locations. Tags on or very close to the eyelid typically require evaluation by an ophthalmologist or dermatologist and are outside the scope of urgent care.

How Is Skin Tag Removal Done?

There are three primary methods used for clinical skin tag removal, and the approach your provider recommends will depend on the tag’s size, location, and characteristics:

Cryotherapy (Freezing)

Liquid nitrogen is applied to the tag, freezing the tissue. The tag typically falls off within one to two weeks as the area heals. Cryotherapy is quick and effective for smaller tags and usually causes only brief stinging or discomfort.

Excision (Cutting)

After numbing the area with a local anesthetic, the provider uses sterile scissors or a scalpel to remove the tag at its base. This method is effective for tags of most sizes and produces immediate results. The small wound is typically closed with a bandage and heals within a week or two. You may feel the injection of the anesthetic, but the removal itself is painless.

Cauterization (Burning)

An electric current is used to burn through the base of the skin tag, removing it and sealing the tissue in one step. Cauterization is particularly useful for larger tags or those with a thicker stalk.

Your provider will choose the most appropriate method based on the specific tag being removed. Most procedures take only a few minutes from start to finish.

What Does Skin Tag Removal Cost at Midwest Express Clinic?

Because skin tag removal is considered an elective cosmetic procedure, it is not typically covered by health insurance. It is generally a self-pay service. Cost at Midwest Express Clinic varies depending on the number of tags being removed and the removal method used.

Minor

Fewer than 5 skin tags

$ 75

Major

5 or more skin tags

$ 125

For context, skin tag removal at urgent care is generally significantly less expensive than a dermatologist office visit for the same procedure. We accept most major insurance for the clinical evaluation portion of your visit, even when the removal itself is self-pay. Ask at check-in for current pricing at your location.

What to Expect During Your Visit

A skin tag removal visit at Midwest Express Clinic is one of the quickest procedures we offer. Here’s the typical flow:

Walk in or check in online — most patients are seen within 15 to 30 minutes
Your provider examines the growth to confirm it’s a benign skin tag and not a mole, wart, or other lesion that requires a different approach
The removal method is chosen and explained — you’ll have a chance to ask questions
For excision or cauterization, a local anesthetic is applied to numb the area; you’ll feel a brief sting from the injection, and then very little during the removal itself
The tag is removed; the site is cleaned and bandaged
Your provider gives you aftercare instructions and lets you know what to watch for during healing

Most skin tag removal visits — including check-in, evaluation, and the procedure — are completed in under 30 minutes. If you’d like multiple tags removed at the same visit, let us know at check-in so your provider can plan accordingly.

Aftercare: What to Do After Skin Tag Removal

Skin tag removal sites are small but still need basic care to heal cleanly:

Keep the area clean and dry for the first 24 to 48 hours
Apply any antibiotic ointment your provider recommends and keep the site covered with a bandage while it’s healing
Avoid scratching or picking at the healing site
Watch for signs of infection: increasing redness, warmth, swelling, or discharge after the first day or two
If cryotherapy was used, the tag may take one to two weeks to fall off — this is normal
Protect the healed area from sun exposure to minimize scarring

Most sites heal cleanly with minimal or no visible scarring. Walk back in if you notice any signs of infection or the site doesn’t seem to be healing as expected.

Can You Remove Skin Tags at Home?

We strongly advise against home skin tag removal. Over-the-counter ‘freeze off’ products, dental floss ligation, and cutting are common at-home approaches — and all carry real risks. Without proper technique and sterile conditions, at-home removal can lead to infection, significant bleeding (skin tags have a blood supply), incomplete removal, and scarring. Additionally, it’s easy to mistake a mole or other lesion for a skin tag — and removing a mole improperly can complicate what might need proper medical evaluation.

Walk-in removal at Midwest Express Clinic is quick, inexpensive relative to a specialist visit, and done the right way the first time.

When Should a Skin Growth Be Evaluated Before Removal?

Not all growths that look like skin tags actually are. Come in for evaluation before any removal attempt if the growth:

Has recently changed in size, shape, or color
Is dark brown, black, or has multiple colors
Bleeds without being irritated
Has irregular or asymmetric borders
Is painful without any apparent cause

These features can be associated with skin conditions that need proper diagnosis before removal. Our providers will evaluate any skin growth before proceeding and will refer you to a dermatologist if further evaluation is needed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does skin tag removal hurt?

For excision or cauterization, a local anesthetic numbs the area first, so the removal itself is typically painless. You’ll feel the anesthetic injection — a brief sting — but nothing significant after that. Cryotherapy may cause a brief cold, stinging sensation during application. Most patients are surprised at how quick and comfortable the procedure is.

How many skin tags can be removed in one visit?

Multiple skin tags can often be removed during a single visit. Let our team know how many tags you’d like addressed when you check in so your provider can plan appropriately. This can be addressed per consultation with the provider, depends on location and size. Provider will review any other medical conditions that may affect how many can be removed at one time.

Will the skin tag grow back after removal?

Once a skin tag is properly removed at its base, it does not grow back in that same spot. However, new skin tags can develop elsewhere if the underlying factors (friction, weight, hormones) remain. Some people are simply prone to developing them over time.

Is skin tag removal covered by insurance?

Skin tag removal is generally considered a cosmetic procedure and is not covered by most health insurance plans. It is typically a self-pay service. Your visit and evaluation may be partially covered by insurance even if the removal itself is not — ask at check-in for details.

How is a skin tag different from a wart or mole?

Skin tags are soft, flesh-colored, and hang off the skin on a stalk. Warts are typically rough-textured, flat or raised, and caused by the HPV virus. Moles are pigmented, flat or raised skin lesions that may be any shade from tan to dark brown or black. If you’re not sure which you have, a provider can evaluate and advise before any removal is attempted.

Get Your Skin Tag Removed Today

Midwest Express Clinic makes skin tag removal easy — no dermatologist referral, no weeks-long wait, no appointment needed. Walk in to any of our 50+ locations across Chicago, Chicagoland, and Northwest Indiana, seven days a week. Most procedures are completed in under 30 minutes.

Find your nearest Midwest Express Clinic and walk in today — skin tag removal available same day, no appointment needed.

This post is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Skin growths should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider before any removal is attempted. Not all growths that appear to be skin tags are benign — seek professional evaluation if a growth has changed in appearance, bleeds unexpectedly, or has irregular borders.