{"id":61716,"date":"2023-11-22T09:30:22","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T14:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=61716"},"modified":"2024-11-13T16:26:43","modified_gmt":"2024-11-13T21:26:43","slug":"remedy-skin-tag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/remedy-skin-tag\/","title":{"rendered":"What you need to know about treating skin tags"},"content":{"rendered":"

Skin tags are one of those things you probably don\u2019t think about until you spot one. These small skin growths known as acrochordons are like tiny flaps of skin that don\u2019t belong. At first glance, you may fear it\u2019s a symptom of <\/span>psoriasis<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>eczema<\/span><\/a>, HPV warts, or <\/span>skin cancer<\/span><\/a>\u2014but skin tags are common, noncancerous, and essentially harmless. In fact, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, <\/span>60% of American adults<\/span><\/a> will experience skin tags at some point in their lives. They affect people of all genders and races.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSkin tags are benign growths that love areas where there’s lots of friction,\u201d explains <\/span>Mary Alice Mina<\/span><\/a>, a dermatologist in Atlanta and host of \u201c<\/span>The Skin Real<\/span><\/a>\u201d podcast. \u201cWe often see them around the neck, under the breasts, and along the groin and armpits. We don’t fully understand why some people get more than others, but they’re fairly universal as we age.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to age and parts of the body, certain health conditions can be a contributing factor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSome people are genetically predisposed,\u201d says <\/span>Faranak Kamangar<\/span><\/a>, MD, a Silicon Valley-based dermatologist, who adds that obesity, diabetes, <\/span>insulin resistance<\/span><\/a>, and pregnancy make someone more likely to have skin tags.<\/span><\/p>\n

While skin tags don\u2019t cause harm, many people want to get rid of them for cosmetic reasons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

13 home remedies for skin tags<\/span><\/h2>\n

If a skin tag pops up out of nowhere, it may be tempting to try to remove it on your own. They aren\u2019t a medical issue\u2014and don\u2019t actually <\/span>need<\/span><\/i> to be removed\u2014but healthcare providers do recommend you have a professional remove them rather than trying to DIY.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re determined to do it yourself, there are options that could work, but there are risks. Read on to see what experts say about the following 13 home remedies for skin tags.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Cut it off<\/span><\/h3>\n

When you find a skin tag, it can be tempting to snip it off with scissors. In fact, you can go down a lengthy Reddit rabbit hole about things people have used to cut off their skin tags at home\u2014nail clippers, tweezers, hair scissors\u2014you name it. But just because you <\/span>can<\/span><\/i> cut off a skin tag at home doesn\u2019t mean you <\/span>should<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don’t recommend people cut things off their skin by themselves at home,\u201d Dr. Mina says. Your scissors are likely not sterile or sharp enough. Plus, Dr. Mina explains that skin tags often have a central blood supply. If you cut it off, it could bleed and leave an open wound that\u2019s vulnerable to infection and scarring.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Tie it off<\/span><\/h3>\n

A popular skin tag removal method is tying them off. The idea is that you tie a piece of string around the stalk of the skin tag tightly and leave it there until the skin tag falls off. Will it work? Probably, says Dr. Mina. Is it a good idea? Probably not.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If a skin tag is big enough that you can tie a string around it with relative ease, you should probably have your healthcare provider look at it. \u201cYou want to make sure it’s not actually a mole or something else\u2026 like neurofibromas, which can resemble skin tags,\u201d Dr. Mina says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When getting a concerning-looking skin tag removed in a healthcare setting, your provider will send it to the lab for a pathologist to look at it under the microscope to confirm it\u2019s not cancer\u2014something you can\u2019t do at home.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Use a cryotherapy kit<\/span><\/h3>\n

Several brands make at-home cryotherapy kits that claim they\u2019ll get rid of skin tags\u2014which is similar to a procedure that\u2019s done in a dermatologist’s office.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe use liquid nitrogen to freeze skin tags,\u201d Dr. Mina says. \u201cYou really need about negative 25 degrees Celsius to remove these benign skin lesions.\u201d The over-the-counter (OTC) kits, which you can purchase at the drugstore, might not get cold enough to effectively remove skin tags\u2014plus, this method has the potential to scar or discolor the skin around the skin tag.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really difficult to limit the freezing to the skin tag alone,\u201d Dr. Mina says. \u201cYou can actually destroy the little melanocytes in the skin and leave people with white marks on the skin.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Apply removal cream<\/span><\/h3>\n

Like the cryotherapy kits, there are OTC creams on the market that claim to remove skin tags. Some use chemicals, such as salicylic acid, and some use natural ingredients like essential oils. There\u2019s no research indicating that they might be effective, and they likely haven\u2019t been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There <\/span>is<\/span><\/i> evidence that some of these creams may be dangerous, though. In a study from 2023, researchers found 38 cases of <\/span>serious skin conditions<\/span><\/a> that likely resulted from skin tag removal creams bought online. In other words, use them with caution.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Try patches<\/span><\/h3>\n

Skin tag removal patches are generally small, adhesive patches that contain salicylic acid or essential oils. The problem, again, is that most skin tag removal patches are larger than the skin tag so the active ingredients that remove the skin tag will also affect the surrounding skin. As of this writing, none of the skin tag removal patches available over the counter have been approved by the FDA, and they have issued a statement <\/span>warning consumers against using<\/span><\/a> these patches. They can cause skin irritation or other skin conditions such as dermatitis.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Soak with apple cider vinegar<\/span><\/h3>\n

The idea behind using apple cider vinegar to remove skin tags is that the acidity of the vinegar will irritate the skin tag into falling off. To do this, you\u2019re meant to apply a cotton ball soaked in apple cider vinegar to your skin tag and then cover it with a bandage. You should leave for a few days or until the skin tag falls off.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is no research supporting this method and it\u2019s possible the ACV could cause contact dermatitis. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>RELATED: <\/b>Health benefits of apple cider vinegar<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

7. Cover in nail polish<\/span><\/h3>\n

One alleged natural remedy for removing skin tags is using nail polish. You are meant to coat the skin tag in nail polish, wait for the polish to harden, and then pull it off. There is no evidence that this is a safe or effective method\u2014but there is a risk of bleeding or scarring if you rip the skin tag off.<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Soak with nail polish remover<\/span><\/h3>\n

Some people believe nail polish will help a skin tag fall off. Similar to ACV, they say to apply a cotton ball soaked with nail polish remover to the area and cover with a Band-Aid; it\u2019s meant to be done daily until the skin tag falls off. However, this is not advised as the active ingredient in nail polish remover is acetone, <\/span>which can be toxic<\/span><\/a> when applied directly to the skin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

9. Apply raw garlic<\/span><\/h3>\n

According to the internet, <\/span>garlic is great for just about everything<\/span><\/a>, including skin tag removal. Some sources say that if you cut a clove of garlic, press it to the skin tag, and then cover it with a Band-Aid, the skin tag will fall right off. Sounds like magic, right? Unfortunately, like so many things that seem too good to be true, it is.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou’re likely to get skin irritation when you put it on, not just on the skin tag, but on all the surrounding skin, and it’s not going to make the skin tag disappear,\u201d Dr. Mina says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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