Acrochordons, commonly known as skin tags, are common in persons over the age of 60. They are sometimes found in children and young adults as well. They show little growths on the skin’s surface, near the skin folds. They are most commonly found around the breasts, around the neck, under the armpits, in the groin folds, and over the eyelids. The remedies mentioned above are both low-cost and effective options to remove skin tags. At the end of the day, it boils down to whether you want to sweat it out at a dermatologist’s office or whether you want to try removing them at home. There are some cosmetic methods too. However, you need to read about the pros and cons of any of the methods as complications can arise from botched or incorrect removal procedures. Here are some common questions answered for you. Skin tags are usually uneven in appearance and brownish or skin-colored. To get rid of these growths, you don’t need to resort to expensive cosmetic or chemical treatments. Simple substances found around the house can be used to get rid of them quickly and cheaply. Please bear in mind that while natural treatments take a little longer than chemical treatments, they are safer. Warts, skin tags, and other similar-looking skin growths are frequently misidentified. This article will assist you in quickly distinguishing and identifying skin tags. Keep reading to know more about skin tags and how to treat them!
How To Identify Skin Tags
The funny thing is that most people are entirely unaware that they are living with these skin outgrowths. Quite often, skin tags fall off on their own due to friction and rubbing. The trouble arises when they don’t, and when they grow to a large enough size so as to cause embarrassment or even discomfort. Here are some key features to identify them:
They look like little mushrooms with their skin stalks They are pendulum-like growths They are brown or flesh-colored
It is essential to cut off the blood supply to these skin tags if you want them to die and fall off naturally. Certain home remedies can help remove skin tags naturally. Here is a list of home remedies for skin tags removal that you can try.
How To Remove Skin Tags
Get Rid Of Skin Tags At Home With These Remedies
1. Apple Cider Vinegar For Skin Tags
A few drops of apple cider vinegar Cotton Duct tape or scotch tape
Repeat twice a day. The acidity of the vinegar aids quick shedding of the skin tag (1).
2. Banana Peel For Skin Tags
A banana peel Repeat the process for a few days until the skin tag falls off. Banana peels have been shown to be effective in removing warts with their enzymes and acids. The same chemicals found in the peel can help to shed skin tags (2).
3. Baking Soda For Skin Tags
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda A few drops of castor oil
Repeat the process for 2-4 weeks, and you will notice the skin tag disappearing slowly. Castor oil and baking soda alter the pH of the affected area, which helps to remove skin outgrowths like skin tags and even warts (3).
4. Bloodroot For Skin Tags
Bloodroot paste (Black salve) Bandage Hydrogen peroxide Cotton
Change the bandage 3-4 times a day. Repeat the process of cleaning with hydrogen peroxide and applying the bloodroot paste. Use this remedy continuously for a maximum of three days only. Native to the United States and Canada, the bloodroot herb is a strong remedy to remove skin tags, moles, and warts. It is even recommended by herbalists to remove tumors (4). It cuts off circulation to the skin tag, making it fall off by itself after a few applications. Purchase black salve paste that contains only bloodroot and water. Additional ingredients can cause adverse reactions in combination with bloodroot. Do not ingest it as bloodroot can be poisonous.
5. Manuka Honey For Skin Tags
Manuka honey Band-aid
Repeat this a few times during the day. Manuka honey is a non-peroxide type of honey. Applying it to the skin tag restricts its oxygen supply, and this helps in its removal. Honey also has wound healing properties that will help to heal the skin faster once the skin tag has fallen off. It also prevents the formation of scars (5).
6. Witch Hazel For Skin Tags
Witch hazel extract Apply the extract on the skin tag and let it dry. Reapply 3-4 times a day. Witch hazel is an astringent and its pH balancing properties can help you get rid of the skin tag (6).
7. Garlic For Skin Tags
1-2 garlic cloves Repeat twice a day. Garlic is antibacterial and antifungal in nature (7). After a few days, the tag will fall off, leaving behind smooth skin.
8. Ginger For Skin Tags
Ginger slices Do this 5-6 times a day. Ginger contains a wide range of bioactive compounds that possess healing and antimicrobial properties (8). These properties have been effective to remove skin tags in some people.
9. Oils For Skin Tags
(a) Castor Oil For Skin Tags
1-2 drops of castor oil Bandage
Apply castor oil on the skin tag and cover it with a bandage. Reapply castor oil twice or thrice a day. The strong phytochemicals present in castor oil are often used to remove warts, moles, and skin tags. An additional benefit of using this oil is that it has wound healing and skin conditioning properties. Once the skin tag is gone, your skin will heal quickly and be hydrated and moisturized (9, 10).
(b) Coconut Oil For Skin Tags
Organic coconut oil Apply coconut oil on the skin tag and leave it on. Repeat every morning and night. Coconut oil contains lauric acid and alpha-tocopherol that help to remove skin tags in a matter of a few weeks (11).
(c) Tea Tree Oil For Skin Tags
1-2 drops of tea tree oil 1-2 drops of olive oil or coconut oil
Dilute the tea tree essential oil in the carrier oil and apply the blend on the skin tag. Repeat this 2-3 times every day until the skin tag sheds. A multifaceted essential oil, tea tree oil dries up the skin tag and helps in speeding the shedding process. It is also antimicrobial in nature. This means that it will protect the skin from infections once the skin tag has come off (12).
(d) Oregano Oil For Skin Tags
2-3 drops of oregano oil 5 drops of coconut oil Cotton swab
Mix the oils and apply the mixture on the skin tag. Do this 2-3 times daily. Oregano oil has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. It is often used for treating skin conditions like acne, eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea. It is also used to remove skin tags and warts (13).
(e) Jojoba Oil For Skin Tags
1-2 drops of jojoba oil Apply in the morning and at night, before going to bed. The exact mechanism of action of jojoba oil on skin tags is still not known, but it has helped a lot of people to easily shed off their skin tags in a matter of just 7-10 days.
(f) Lavender Oil For Skin Tags
A drop of lavender essential oil 1-2 drops coconut oil
Apply a mixture of the oils mentioned on the skin tags. Do this twice a day. Lavender essential oil, apart from being soothing for the skin, has antiseptic properties (14). It is a good remedy for skin tags and other skin ailments.
(g) Lemon Oil For Skin Tags
Lemon essential oil Apply this oil on the skin tags and leave it on. Repeat this 2-3 times a day. Lemon oil is an astringent and removes the excess oils and water from the skin tag site (15). This causes the skin tag to shed by itself. Do not expose the skin to sunlight after applying this oil. It can lead to sunburns as lemon essential oil is photosensitive.
(h) Neem Oil For Skin Tags
1-2 drops neem oil Bandage
Apply neem oil to the skin tag and cover with a bandage. Replace the bandage every few hours, accompanied by the reapplication of the essential oil. Neem oil contains essential fatty acids and other bioactive components that will help in easily removing the skin tag without any surgical procedure (16).
(i) Peppermint Oil For Skin Tags
2-3 drops of peppermint essential oil 2-3 drops of castor oil
Repeat this every night, before going to bed. Peppermint oil has antiseptic as well as anti-inflammatory properties. In combination with castor oil, it not only removes the skin tags naturally but also soothes the skin and reduces any swelling that may develop (17).
(j) Almond Oil For Skin Tags
Almond oil Keep applying this oil every few hours. Almond oil is rich in vitamin E (18). It hydrates your skin and speeds up the healing process once the tag has fallen off. It also eases the process of decay and death of the skin tag and keeps your skin nourished.
(k) Clove Oil For Skin Tags
2-3 drops of clove oil 2-3 drops of rosehip oil Cotton swab
Repeat this once or twice a day. The potent phytochemicals in clove oil will cut off circulation to the skin tag and cause it to shed (19).Rosehip oil will help the skin heal quickly without any scars once the skin tag has been shed (20).
(l) Cinnamon Oil For Skin Tags
Cinnamon oil Cotton swab Band-aid
Reapply the oil twice a day. Use a fresh band-aid every time. This folk remedy for skin tags and warts is actually worth giving a try. People have been able to get results in a couple of days with regular usage of this essential oil. Cinnamon oil is an antiseptic agent as well (21).
10. Juices For Skin Tags
(a) Lemon Juice For Removing Skin Tags
Lemon juice Cotton ball
Do this twice or thrice a week. The citric acid in lemon juice removes the dead cells (22). In 2-3 weeks, you will notice that the skin tag is slowly decomposing.
(b) Pineapple Juice For Skin Tags
Fresh pineapple juice Keep applying this juice every 2-3 hours. Repeat for a few days until your skin tag becomes invisible. Pineapple juice is also known to work on moles and warts, apart from skin tags. The proteolytic enzymes dry up the skin tag, causing it to fall (23).
(c) Fig Juice For Skin Tags
A few fig stems Repeat the application 2-4 times a day until the skin tag falls off. Figs are widely used for their laxative properties, but very few people know about their ability to shed skin tags and similar skin outgrowths naturally. Ficin, a proteolytic enzyme found in the stem juice, causes the skin tag to shed by itself (24).
(d) Aloe Vera Juice For Skin Tags
Aloe vera juice or gel Do this thrice a day. The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound healing properties of aloe vera can help to get rid of skin tags and heal the skin quickly (25).
(e) Onion Juice For Skin Tags
2-3 onion slices 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup water Cotton ball
Repeat this 2-3 times a day. Use fresh onion-soaked water every day. Often used to treat adamant warts, this remedy will work wonders for simple skin tags (26). Rich in sulfur-containing compounds, this commonly used vegetable also contains plenty of antioxidants and helps to heal scars (27, 28).
11. Shea Butter For Skin Tags
Organic shea butter A drop of oregano essential oil
Use this remedy twice a day. While the oregano essential oil will make the skin tag detach itself in due course of time, shea butter will ensure that the skin remains hydrated. It contains healthy fats that nourish the skin and heal and prevent scars (29).
12. Epsom Salt Bath
1 cup Epsom salt Warm water Bathtub
Alternatively, add half a teaspoon of Epsom salt to two tablespoons of water. Soak a cotton ball in this solution and place it on the skin tag for 15 minutes. It is recommended to soak your body in Epsom salt water every alternate day. However, you can place the soaked cotton ball on the skin tag twice a day. Epsom salt rebalances the pH of the skin and draws out all the toxins. It dries up the skin tag, which causes it to shed easily. An Epsom salt bath is also very relaxing for the muscles (30, 31).
Now that you know how to remove skin tags easily, what are you waiting for? Do not fear skin tags as they are unobtrusive and painless. There is a popular misconception that the removal of skin tags causes them to grow right back. There is no medical evidence that links removal with reappearance. So, go ahead and use the remedies mentioned in this article. Dr. Sanusi Umar, MD, FAAD, says, “No matter how minor, surgery should never be performed by just anyone. If you have a skin tag that bothers you, you should go to a surgeon or a dermatologist to get it removed.” Never try to remove them by surgical means or by castration at home as this may cause infection and make it worse. Try these simple home remedies instead to get rid of them.
What causes skin tags? It is generally believed that skin tags occur more after midlife. They occur in both men and women. They are parcels of collagen and blood vessels bunched together under layers of skin, and should ideally be removed after they have made their appearance. The combination of weight and age usually leads to increased growth of skin tags. Hence, you need to control your weight to ensure that your skin stays firm, smooth, and healthy. One of the most common causes of skin tags is obesity. Obese people have more skin folds and creases than normal people. Pregnant women too are susceptible to skin tags. This may be the result of the hormonal changes they go through. Diabetic people also develop skin tags. The use of illegal steroids also causes skin tags. How to care for skin tags after removal? • Avoid scratching the area or rubbing it with pressure. • Clean the area twice a day with an antibacterial soap. • Use a good moisturizer to keep the skin nourished. When stepping out in the sun, always use sunscreen with an ample amount of SPF as the skin is already sensitive in that area. It needs all the nourishment and protection it can get. Is it normal for skin tags to get bigger? Depending on the underlying cause, it is not unusual to see the skin tags getting bigger in size. These are generally benign growths and are nothing to worry about, apart from their cosmetic appearance. Why do skin tags bleed so much? A skin tag is essentially an extra growth of your own skin. When it is cut off or removed, there will obviously be bleeding, as with any other wound or cut. Usually, the bleeding is minimal or even none. However, when the location of the skin tag is close to a vein, it can bleed more than usual. Always use an antiseptic to clean the area and put on a band-aid to minimize the bleeding. What is the fastest way to get rid of skin tags? Professional skin tag removal methods are the fastest way to get rid of skin tags. Consult your healthcare provider to consider an excision, cauterization, or cryosurgery. Is Vaseline good for skin tags? Vaseline or petroleum jelly cannot remove skin tags. However, it can be used along with other removal techniques to protect the surrounding skin. You can also use it after the removal to cover the wound to protect it from infections. Can you remove skin tags with toothpaste? Possibly not. While there are a few anecdotal reports suggesting that toothpaste may be an effective skin tag removal method, there is a lack of evidence supporting this claim. Can you cut off a skin tag with fingernail clippers? It is not recommended to remove skin tags using clippers as they are blunt and may lead to scarring and bleeding. Can you remove skin tags with nail polish? Possibly. However, it is not recommended as the chemicals present in nail polish may harm your skin. How do you remove skin tags with dental floss? Wrap the floss around the skin tag and gently pull on it daily. The skin tag should completely dry out and fall off after a few days as the blood flow is restricted.
