Why won't the NHS remove my skin tag?
If your GP has told you they can't remove your skin tag, you're not alone. The NHS says: "You cannot get your skin tag removed on the NHS because it is considered cosmetic surgery."
Why the NHS doesn't remove them
Skin tags are harmless. NHS resources go to treatments people need for their health, so removing something harmless for how it looks or feels isn't funded. The same usually applies to milia, seborrhoeic warts, blood spots and facial thread veins.
When your GP should still see you
The NHS advises seeing a GP if a skin tag:
- gets bigger
- becomes painful
- starts bleeding
- leads to lots of new skin tags
If you're unsure about any mark on your skin, see your GP first. That's always the right starting point.
Don't try to remove it yourself
The NHS also says: "Do not try to remove a skin tag yourself unless a GP recommends it," because of the risk of infection, bleeding and scarring. Read more about removing skin tags at home
Your private options
If your skin tag is harmless but bothers you, private treatment is the usual next step. At Skin Tag Removal Tyneside, a registered nurse can remove your skin tags at City Aesthetics Clinic in Newcastle city centre:
- £150 per 30-minute session, however many are treated
- free consultation, with no obligation
- most people have all their skin tags treated in one visit
- free top-up within 8 weeks if needed
How skin tag removal works · Prices
Source: NHS: Skin tags. NHS quotes checked October 2026.