Key takeaways
Skin tags are common, noncancerous growths that affect 60% of American adults.
Age, genetics, obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, and pregnancy are contributing factors.
Cutting, tying off, or applying various substances can increase the risk of infection and scarring and are not recommended.
It is best to have skin tags removed by a healthcare provider.
You probably don’t think about skin tags until you randomly spot one. Known medically as acrochordons, these tiny, harmless flaps of skin pop up in areas where skin rubs together or against clothing, such as your neck, armpits, chest, or groin. At first glance, you may fear it’s a symptom of psoriasis, eczema, HPV warts, or skin cancer—but skin tags are common, noncancerous, and essentially harmless. In fact, they affect up to 60% of adults of all genders and races. Contributing factors include obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and pregnancy.
While skin tags don’t cause harm, many people want to get rid of them for cosmetic reasons. Using an over-the-counter (OTC) remedy may sound tempting, but most home remedies are not proven to work. Additionally, they can cause risks, such as infections and scars. Discover OTC and professional treatment options, plus professional pricing and ways to save.
Nine home remedies for skin tags
If a skin tag pops up out of nowhere, it may be tempting to try to remove it on your own. They aren’t a medical issue—and don’t actually need to be removed—but healthcare providers recommend having a healthcare provider remove them.
DIY options come with risks and are often ineffective. Here’s what experts say about nine common home remedies for skin tags.
1. Cut it off
Dr. Mary Alice Mina, a dermatologist in Georgia and host of The Skin Real podcast, recommends not cutting off skin tag. That’s because scissors or nail clippers are likely not sterile or sharp enough. What’s more, skin tags often have a central blood supply, so cutting it can cause bleeding or an open wound that’s vulnerable to infection and scarring.
2. Tie it off
If a skin tag is big enough that you can tie a string around it easily, a healthcare professional should examine it to see if further investigation by a pathologist is needed. “You want to make sure it’s not actually a mole or something else… like neurofibromas, which can resemble skin tags,” Dr. Mina says.
3. Use a cryotherapy kit
The OTC cryotherapy kits, which you can purchase at the drugstore, might not get cold enough to effectively remove skin tags. Additionally, this method has the potential to scar or discolor the surrounding skin. “You can actually destroy the little melanocytes in the skin, leaving white marks on the skin,” Dr. Mina says.
4. Try patches
Skin tag removal patches are generally small, adhesive patches that contain salicylic acid or essential oils, but most of them are larger than the skin tag and will affect nearby areas of skin. They can cause skin irritation or conditions like dermatitis.
5. Soak with apple cider vinegar
Taping a vinegar-soaked cotton ball over a skin tag to “burn” it off might sound easy, but it is not backed by science. In fact, the harsh acid is highly likely to cause contact dermatitis (an itchy, red skin rash).
RELATED: Health benefits of apple cider vinegar
6. Apply raw garlic
Garlic has many health benefits, but applying a chopped up clove of garlic to a skin tag can cause harm. “You’re likely to get skin irritation when you put it on, not just on the skin tag, but on the surrounding skin,” Dr. Mina says, adding that this method is ineffective.
7. Try a banana peel
While a nightly banana peel bandage is one of the gentlest home remedies for skin tags, there is no clear proof that it actually works.“You’re better off just eating the banana and getting the nutrients from that,” Dr. Mina says. She adds that the remedy is low risk, so if you want to give it a go, it won’t hurt you.
8. Treat with tea tree oil
Applying tea tree oil to skin tags is another natural approach to removing them. It has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. While it’s not likely to cause harm, it probably won’t get rid of your skin tag..
9. Apply vitamin E
Some people claim that vitamin E softens aging skin and, therefore, reduces skin tags; others say applying it dries them up. While vitamin E is not a clinically proven skin tag removal strategy, it’s also not likely to hurt you.
Why cutting, freezing kits, and creams carry more risk than benefit
OTC or at-home removal options for skin tags may sound great in theory, but they can carry risks and sometimes cause permanent skin damage. There have been reports of burns, pain, cuts, and sometimes permanent scarring and disfigurement. There is also risk for an infection, incomplete removal, and significant bleeding. It is always best to consult a healthcare provider to remove skin tags.
RELATED: Skin tag on eyelid: Causes and treatment
Anal and genital skin tags: Why home remedies are riskier here
Skin tags in the anal, genital, and groin area should especially not be removed at home. These are sensitive areas that have a high risk for infections and bleeding. An infection in one of these areas can cause complications and require additional treatment. Seeing a healthcare provider can also help rule out other diagnoses, such as hemorrhoids, warts, and HPV-related growths.
Professional removal options and what they cost
If home remedies don’t work and you still want to remove your skin tags, it’s time to see your healthcare provider. When you go to your family healthcare provider or dermatologist, the treatment will depend on the size of the skin tag and any other conditions you may have. Dr. Mina says she generally uses excision (cuts them off) and then sends the skin tag to a lab to be tested. Some providers will use cryosurgery, freezing them off with liquid nitrogen, but some dermatologists avoid this method due to the potential for scarring.
Other healthcare providers may use hyfrecation (a precision heat-based removal process) or electrocautery to burn off the skin tag with an electric current, or ligation, which is a method of strangulating the blood vessel with a suture. These methods are safe and effective in a clinical environment as healthcare providers can cauterize the area to stop the bleeding. Some healthcare providers use injected anesthesia at the base of the skin tag. Complications are rare during and after these minor procedures.
Another option is treating the underlying condition that is causing skin tags. Skin tags can fall off on their own or stay around for years, but controlling an underlying condition, such as diabetes or insulin resistance, can help prevent more from forming.
Since skin tag removal is often considered cosmetic, meaning insurance does not typically cover it. Cost can average from $70 to $190 depending on the type of procedure, specialty of the healthcare provider, and specific charges of the office. To get the best price, it can help to call different offices to get estimates and ask about cost-saving specials or promotions to save money.
How to save on skin tag removal and treatment
OTC options to remove skin tags, such as salicylic acid or a cryo skin tag remover, cost less but ineffective—and sometimes, risky. However, if your provider recommends one of these treatments and provides you with an Rx, you can use a SingleCare coupon to lower the price. If professional treatment is required, shopping around for the best price can help you save.
When to see a healthcare provider about a skin tags
Most of the time, skin tags aren’t a problem. That being said, if you suddenly have a lot of skin tags, you should have them examined by a medical professional. “There are some conditions where people are covered in skin tags,” Dr. Mina says. “It’s not so much that the skin tags are a problem. They just may help us identify an underlying skin condition.”
If you are getting skin tags all of a sudden, it could be related to weight gain or hormonal issues. Pregnant women often get skin tags, although researchers aren’t exactly sure why.
The other factor to consider is size. What you think is a skin tag could be a mole or something else that needs investigating. Dr. Mina recommends seeing a provider if you have a skin tag that is more than a centimeter to verify that it is benign. When in doubt, see a dermatologist.
RELATED: Love the skin you’re in: The importance of annual skin cancer checks
The bottom line
Skin tags are usually harmless growths, but there are treatment options if they become bothersome or you do not like the way they look. Home remedies are unproven and carry risks, so consult a healthcare provider before trying a DIY treatment.
- Skin tag (acrochordon), StatPearls (2025)
- Association between skin tags and insulin resistance, Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia (2010)
- Pregnancy and skin, Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care (2014)
- Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil: A review of antimicrobial and other medicinal properties, Clinical Microbiology Review (2006)
- Serious skin injuries following exposure to unapproved mole and skin tag removers, The Journal of Clinical Aesthetic Dermatology (2023)
- Medically accurate: SingleCare’s Medical Review Board analyzes all of our content to confirm it’s in line with current medical advice.
- Evidence-based: Our content is sourced from reputable U.S.-based healthcare professionals and peer-reviewed research.
- Trustworthy: All of SingleCare’s content goes through a multi-phase review process by our writers, editors, and Medical Board in order to provide clear and credible information.