Skin tags, also known as papilloma or polyps, are generally harmless benign growths on the surface of the skin that occurs mainly in areas such as the face, chest, neck, nose, armpits, and inner thighs among others. These fleshy outgrowths, which are very small in size and appear deformed in shape, often due to underlying medical conditions that require rigorous treatment and are primarily considered a cosmetic problem.
When skin is rubbed around skin folds and creases, blood vessels and collagen accumulate in the thicker parts of the skin thus leading to skin tags. They occur in both men and women (but more prevalent in people who suffer from obesity, diabetes, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), etc.) and can easily be removed through simple home remedies.
7 Best Home Remedies for Skin Tags
#1 Tea tree oil
It addresses a wide range of skin conditions, including skin tags and is a painless way to remove such from your body. This oil boasts or has antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties that work to dry out skin tags ensuring they eventually fall off on their own.
Soak a clean cotton swab in water then add to two and three drops of tea tree oil to it. Using soap and water, thoroughly clean the skin tag area and ensure the area is completely dry. Gently massage the skin tag area, in a circular motion, using the cotton swab that has water and tea tree oil. Repeat this twice a day until the skin tag disappears. It is worth noting that, it is important that water is used in this case so as to dilute the tea tree oil or else you risk skin irritation.
#2 Dandelion Stem Juice
Apparently, the dandelion juice is effective in healing both liver and skin diseases such as skin tags, warts, moles, eczema, etc. To extract the juice, take a dandelion with stem and squeeze the stem for the juice, which is a milky liquid. Apply the milky liquid directly to the area of the skin tag then use a Band-Aid as a cover to keep it in place. Repeat this process between three to four times a day, ensuring that you thoroughly clean and the dry skin between every application.
This works to darken and then dry out the skin tags which eventually falls off. Importantly, people who are allergic to plants such as daisies, ragweed, marigold and other similar plants are likely to be allergic to dandelion and, therefore, caution must be taken when handling such plants. Or alternatively, you may want to check with you physician before using dandelion on your skin.
#3 Oregano oil
It contains thymol, carvacrol and p-cymene, which are components of phenolic terpenoids. These three types of phenolic terpenoids components contain powerful antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-melanotic and anti-oxidative properties that potentially cures the skin faster, between two and four weeks and on average takes about a month.
A mixture of four to six drops of coconut oil and 2-3 drops of Oregano oil applied gently to the skin tag area at least thrice a day does the magic of drying the skin tag so that it falls off on its own as expected. When using Oregano oil, caution should be taken so as not to use it close to the eyes. Also, there should be a carrier oil to dilute the Oregano oil, unless you want to risk redness and irritation on your skin.
#4 Apple cider vinegar
It is one of the most popular and effective remedies for skin tags and other skin diseases such as warts, acne, and even moles. It has the ability to completely destroy skin tag tissues, therefore, making it go away completely. Soak a cotton swab with two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and apply it to the skin after cleaning and completely drying the skin. Ensure that you gently massage the skin tag, while squeezing the vinegar-soaked ball of cotton so as to saturate the skin tag with the vinegar. This should be repeated thrice a day until the skin tag disappears.
It worth noting that due to the acidic nature of the apple cider vinegar, there could be cases of mild itching and stinging for a few minutes while taking this treatment. It is, therefore, important that the vinegar is diluted before doing this treatment.
#5 Lemon Juice
It contains citric acid which helps dry out skin tags through the process of cell decomposition and is also a powerful antiseptic.
Soak a cotton ball with the juice of a fresh lemon and apply this directly to the skin tag, leaving it on without washing it off. Repeat this, at least, three times a day, continuing the routine till the skin tag falls off (probably within two to four weeks).
It is important to know that after applying the lemon juice, it is not recommended that you step out into the sun as this may give you a bad tan. However, if you have to go, please ensure that every trace of lime juice is washed off your body.
#6 Garlic
Garlic, though hot in nature, is a wonderful treatment for skin related diseases such as skin tag. Fresh garlic has superb antibacterial and antifungal properties that are important in improving skin health as well as dry out skin tags.
Take fresh garlic cloves, ground these up to pasted and apply directly to your skin while placing a bandage to hold the paste in place. Repeat this till the skin tag disappears while ensuring that you thoroughly clean and dry the skin between applications.
#7 Aspirin
Take a cotton ball and soak it a cup of water in which aspirin is dissolved. Dab this onto the skin tag area and use a band-aid to hold it in place. The aspirin mixture, in this case, soaks in and fade the skin tag causing it to fall off. It is important that you use aspirin only and not substitutes for this treatment.
Important treatment considerations
When you choose to administer treatments yourself, you should take into consideration the possibility of complications arising, for instance, development of skin tag infection. This can be painful and dangerous. Therefore, despite settling for home remedies for the treatment of skin tags, things may not go according to plans hence leading to discomforts and possibly the need for expensive medical help in the future.
