How to Get Rid of Skin Tags: A Step-by-Step Guide Based on Science

Introduction

Skin tags, while not dangerous, can still annoy you and affect how you look. They often occur when your skin rubs against skin or clothing¹. Even though they are harmless, many people want to remove them for aesthetic reasons or because they can get irritated. 

This article will cover all you need to know about skin tags. You’ll learn what they are, why they appear, and the risk factors. We’ll discuss about home remedies and other products you may buy to remove skin tags, coupled with safety measures to follow. You’ll also learn when to reach out to a doctor and explore professional skin tag removal options. Lastly, we’ll go over how to care for your skin after the skin tags have been removed and steps to avoid future formation of skin tags. 

Understand and Identify Skin Tags

Skin tags are harmless growths that usually don’t cause health issues, but can still bother you. Before starting any removal process, it’s key to understand what skin tags are and correctly identify them. 

What are Skin Tags?

Skin tags, also called acrochordons, are small, soft lumps of skin that arise when skin rubs together. Usually, they are between 2 and 5 millimeters in size but can grow much larger. Skin tags can appear anywhere on the body but are often found near skin folds, like the neck, underarms, torso, eyelids, and inner thighs. They are often the same colour as your skin or darker, and usually don’t hurt unless irritated². 

Causes and Risk Factors

We don’t know the exact cause of skin tags yet. Still, several known factors can increase your chances of getting these skin growths, which are listed below.  

• Hormone imbalances 
• Carrying excess weight² 
• Having diabetes²
• Certain infections, especially human papillomavirus (HPV) 
• Genes² 
• Getting older 
• Hormonal changes related to pregnancy² 

Home Remedies for Skin Tags

Before taking a swing at home remedies, be sure that it’s a skin tag and not something more serious. Ask a health professional if unsure. We’re about to list a few common home remedies for skin tags, how to use them, and the safety measures to bear in mind. 

Safety Considerations: Keep in mind that removing skin tags yourself comes with risks like infection, bleeding, and scarring. If you feel discomfort in any way during or after applying home remedies, get in touch with a healthcare professional immediately. It’s vital to follow all guidelines and to only use clean, sanitized tools when trying these remedies. 

1. Tea Tree Oil

This oil is known for its antiviral and antifungal traits and may prove to be a useful home remedy³. 

How to apply?

• Mix a few drops of tea tree oil in a carrier oil, like coconut oil. 
• Softly rub the mixed oil over the skin tag using cotton. 
• Cover the spot with a bandage and let it be overnight. 
• Keep doing this every night until the tag dries up and falls off. 

Precautions

Don’t use pure tea tree oil and test it on a small bit of your skin before using it on a skin tag to check for allergies this is known as a patch test. Stay away from the eye area with this oil. 

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

This vinegar is known for its acidic nature, which some say may help skin tags to shrink and drop off⁴. 

How to use? 

• Soak a bit of cotton in apple cider vinegar. 
• Put the wet cotton on the skin tag and secure it with a bandage. 
• Leave it on for 15-30 minutes, then wash it off. 
• Keep doing this every day for a couple of weeks. 

Risks and precautions

Be careful with apple cider vinegar as it can irritate the skin or cause burns. Be sure not to put it near the eyes and look out for signs of skin reactions while using it.  

3. Garlic

Some think garlic’s anti-inflammation might make skin tags look better⁵. 

Application and precautions

• Mash up a clove of fresh garlic to get its juice out. 
• Put the mashed garlic on the skin tag. 
• Cover with a bandage and leave it overnight. 
• Wash the area in the morning. 
• Keep this up until the skin tag shrinks and vanishes. 

Note, the strong smell of garlic might put some people off. And be careful if you have sensitive skin, as garlic can cause irritation. 

4. Vitamin E

Vitamin E is known for its antioxidant traits, which may fend off wrinkles and keep skin healthy⁶. Rubbing liquid vitamin E onto a skin tag might make it fall off in a few days. 

Usage and benefits

• Gently massage the liquid vitamin E over the skin tag and its surrounding area. 
• Let the oil soak into the skin. 
• Repeat daily until the skin tag falls off. 

Ensure that you do not have an allergy to vitamin E before using it on your skin. Also, know that using vitamin E near the eyes can be irritating. 

5. Banana Peel

Some say banana peels have antioxidant traits, which might help dry out skin tags⁷. 

How to use? 

• Cut a small triangle of banana peel and put the white side on the skin tag. 
• Fix the peel with a bandage and let it sit overnight. 
• Repeat every night until the skin tag drops off. 

Benefits

Using banana peels to remove skin tags costs little and is not invasive. Still, there isn’t much scientific proof that it works. So, you’ll need a lot of patience with this method, as it may take some time before you see any results. 

Recently I came across a study that suggested skin tags can sometimes indicate a higher risk of heart and blood vessel problems. This is because people with skin tags often have other health issues like being overweight, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and increased inflammation in their bodies¹¹.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)

Over-the-Counter Products

For those not into home remedies, there are many over-the-counter (OTC) products to help you remove skin tags. Remember though, it’s best to talk to a health professional if you doubt using OTC products. 

1. Removal Creams

These creams can be found in loads of stores but may work better for some than others. It’s key to buy a cream that won’t irritate your skin. Be wary of creams holding salicylic acid and tea tree oil, as these might cause your skin to get red. 

2. Freezing kits

Such kits, or cryotherapy kits, use deep cold to kill unwanted skin tissue. These kits can be found in most drugstores and need to be used carefully so as not to hurt the surrounding skin. Always keep to the kit’s instructions and watch the skin area where you have applied the kit for bad reactions. 

3. Skin Tag Removal Bands and Patches

Skin tag removal bands, also known as ligation bands, work by cutting off the blood flow to the skin tag. This method takes time but might cause problems like infection, bleeding, and scarring. On the other hand, skin tag removal patches hold medicines that make the skin tag dry up and fall off. Results vary, and these patches could irritate the skin for some people. 

• How do they work? 

Bands are wrapped around the base of the skin tag. This stops blood flow which kills the cells in the tag. The skin tag then dries up and falls off. Skin tag removal patches usually have medicines that slowly break down the surrounding tissue. This leads to the skin tag falling off. 

• Risks and precautions 

Removal bands and patches may work, but DIY removal has risks. Be sure to keep everything clean and follow all instructions to lessen the risk of infection, bleeding, and scarring. Also, monitor the affected area for any unusual signs. If you have any bad reactions, talk to a health professional straight away. 

To my knowledge, skin tags are way more common than you think. It has an estimated occurrence ranging from 50 to 60% among the general population¹².

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

When Home Methods Aren’t Appropriate?

While home remedies and OTC products may help some people, there are times when it’s better to get help from a professional. Here are some such situations, described below.  

1. When to See a Doctor?

Make sure to see a doctor if the following happens.  

• You’re not sure if your skin growth is a skin tag or something else. 
• The skin tag is in a sensitive area like the eyes, genital regions, or anus. 
• The skin tag is unusually large, hurtful, or prone to bleeding. 
• Any skin tag or mole changes in colour, shape, or size.
   

It’s crucial for a health professional to check and confirm that your skin growth is a harmless skin tag and not a more serious skin issue. 

2. Situations Requiring Professional Help

There are some situations when home remedies and OTC products are a no-go. Ask for professional help to remove a skin tag if: 

• You have a health problem or infection that could get worse with home remedies. 
• The skin tag is deeply rooted. This makes self-removal hard or risky. 
• There’s a chance of major bleeding or staining if the skin tag is left as it is. 
• You’re afraid of scarring or having a bad reaction to home remedy methods. 

It’s not widely known that skin tags, typically associated with humans, can also manifest on our furry friends, such as dogs. While common in older canines, these skin tags can present in various forms and are generally harmless. Yet, if you observe any alterations in their size, shape, or color, or if they cause discomfort to your pet, it’s advisable to seek evaluation from a veterinarian promptly.

Dr. Smita Barode, B.A.M.S, M.S.

3. Professional Skin Tag Removal

If home remedies and OTC products don’t suit you, or if you want a quick fix, professional skin tag removal could be best. Health professionals offer different surgical methods to remove skin tags safely and swiftly. 

• Excision: Excision means cutting away the skin tag with a small knife or surgical scissors. This method causes little discomfort and recovery time and is typically used for smaller skin tags. Your healthcare provider will make sure the wound heals well to avoid infections and may tell you how to cover and protect the wound while it heals⁸. 
• Cauterization: Cauterization burns off the skin tag using heat. Your healthcare provider may use a special device that burns tissue (electrocautery) for this. A local anesthetic is put on the area before the procedure to ease any discomfort⁹. 
• Cryosurgery: Cryosurgery freezes the skin tag using liquid nitrogen. Your healthcare provider will put the liquid nitrogen right on the skin tag, which will make it freeze and fall off in about 10 days. Note that this method may cause brief burning during the procedure¹⁰. 

4. Removal Aftercare Tips

After removing a skin tag professionally, you need to care for the area well to promote healing and stop infection. 

• Wound care: Your healthcare provider will tell you how to care for your wound after skin tag removal. This involves keeping the area clean and dry, washing it gently once or twice a day, and patting it dry. For excisions, you may have to keep a bandage on for several days. In some cases, your healthcare provider may advise leaving the wound uncovered. 
• Avoiding infection: To reduce risk of infection, you may be asked to put an antibiotic cream on the area and cover it with a bandage, like you would with a cut. Look out for any signs of infection, which include redness, swelling, drainage, or pain that increases. If any of these occur, talk to your healthcare provider immediately. 
• Monitoring for any signs of complications: Keep an eye on your wound and the surrounding area while healing. If you notice any unusual symptoms such as increased pain, redness, swelling, or a sudden change in the appearance of the wound, reach out to your healthcare provider for a check-up. 

Skin Tag Causes and Tips to Reduce Their Risk

If you understand why skin tags appear, you may try steps to lower their chances of forming. 

• Lifestyle factors: Things like carrying excess weight, being pregnant, or having diabetes can trigger the growth of skin tags. Skin tags often arise in areas of the body where skin rubs against itself, like skin folds. Keeping a healthy weight and controlling health problems, such as diabetes, through a suitable diet and exercise may help lessen the chance of getting skin tags. 
• Possible health conditions associated with skin tags: In some cases, skin tags may be linked with special health problems, such as hormonal imbalances, certain infections like HPV, or genetic factors. It’s important to see your healthcare provider if you’re worried about skin tag growth or if you notice any changes in their appearance. 

Conclusion

Skin tags are harmless but sometimes vexing lumps that crop up at several body parts. If you decide that it’s needed, there are many home remedies, OTC products, and professional methods available to remove them. Don’t forget to be careful and follow safety measures when trying home remedies. For the best results and to keep risks low, consider asking a healthcare professional for skin tag removal. Aftercare is crucial to avoid infection and healing well. Knowing potential causes and risk factors for skin tags may help you take steps toward stopping them from forming. 

Also Read: Healthy Skin Tips: Research-Backed Strategies for a Glowing Complexion

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

References

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