E-commerce giant, Amazon, has found itself in the crosshair with the Food and Drug Administration over the listing of unapproved skin tags and mole removers on its marketplace. According to The Verge, the FDA issued a warning letter to the retailer directing it to remove the products.
FDA issues warning to Amazon about the sale of skin tag drugs
The warning letter addressed to CEO Andy Jassy indicated that currently, there are no approved over-the-counter moles or skin tag-removing drugs. Interestingly, the FDA’s decision comes from a study of two offending products purchased from Amazon. The products were the “Deisana Skin Tag Remover, Mole Remover, and Repair Gel Set” and “Skincell Mole Skin tag Corrector Serum.”
The regulatory agency raised safety concerns regarding selling the products over the counter for such use. According to the agency, healthcare providers are the ones to examine moles and skin tags. Therefore people should stop trying to manage the conditions using over-the-counter products as this might cause delays in cancer diagnosis.
When there is a need for further examination of moles, a dermatologist might order a biopsy. First, the dermatologist will cut or shave the tag for examination under the microscope. According to WebMD, the procedure is quite simple. However, if the physician believes the mole could be cancerous, cutting it might not lead to the cancer spreading.
In contrast, if a dermatologist finds the mole to be cancerous, they will cut it out from the biopsy region or by cutting the entire area and surrounding skin area before closing the wound.
Skin tags are not harmful.
Most skin tags appear around the chest, neck, armpits, back, groin, and under breasts. However, they are not harmful. They are prevalent in women, more so when one gains weight, and in older adults.
It could be good if you didn’t worry about skin tags because they are harmless. However, they can be bothersome, and you will consider removing them. Experts warn that trying to remove skin tags at home can be dangerous, with the risk of bleeding, infection, and scarring. Constantly seek services from a professional.
