Everything To Know About Skin Tag Removal

Skin Tags Are Soft Growths That Aren't Cancerous And Typically Appear In Areas Where The Skin Creases, Like The Neck, Armpits, Breasts, Groin, And Eyelids. They're Made Up Of Loose Collagen Fibers That Get Stuck In Thicker Parts Of The Skin.

Lots Of People Have Skin Tags – Almost Half The Population. They're More Common In Older Adults, Those Who Are Overweight, And People With Diabetes.

While These Skin Growths Are Usually Harmless, They Can Hurt If They Get Caught On Jewelry Or Clothing.

On This Episode Of A Healthy Dose, We Are Going To Look At Ways Of Getting Rid Of Them, Like Using Home Remedies, Over-The-Counter Products, Or Opting For Surgical Options.

Home Remedies For Skin Tags

Skin Tags Usually Don't Need A Doctor's Help And Can Be Taken Care Of At Home. If You Decide To Get Rid Of A Skin Tag, You Might Be Able To Do It Using Things You Already Have At Home, Like Items In Your Medicine Cabinet Or Kitchen. Most DIY Methods Focus On Drying Out The Skin Tag Until It Gets Smaller And Eventually Falls Off On Its Own.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil Is A Safe Option For Your Skin Because It Fights Viruses And Fungi. Here's How To Use It For A Skin Tag:

Clean The Area First.
Apply The Tea Tree Oil With A Q-Tip Or Cotton Swab By Gently Massaging It Onto The Skin Tag.
Cover The Area With A Bandage Before Going To Bed.
Repeat This Process For Several Nights Until The Skin Tag Dries Up And Falls Off.

Banana Peel

Don't Throw Away Your Old Banana Peels, Especially If You Have A Skin Tag. Banana Peels Can Actually Help To Dry Out A Skin Tag Because They Contain Antioxidants.

Here's What You Can Do: Put A Piece Of Banana Peel On The Skin Tag And Then Cover It With A Bandage. Repeat This Every Night Until The Skin Tag Falls Off.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Dip A Cotton Swab In Apple Cider Vinegar And Gently Put It On The Skin Tag. Cover The Area With A Bandage For 15 To 30 Minutes, Then Rinse The Skin. Do This Every Day For A Few Weeks.

The Acid In Apple Cider Vinegar Helps Break Down The Tissue Around The Skin Tag, Making It Come Off On Its Own.

Vitamin E

Getting Older Can Lead To The Development Of Skin Tags. Vitamin E, Which Is Known For Fighting Wrinkles And Maintaining Healthy Skin, Can Help Make Skin Tags Disappear. To Use It, Just Apply Liquid Vitamin E On The Skin Tag And The Area Around It. Gently Massage The Oil Until The Tag Eventually Falls Off, Usually Within A Few Days.

Garlic

Garlic Can Make Your Skin Look Better By Reducing Redness And Swelling. To Naturally Remove A Skin Tag, Put Crushed Garlic On The Tag, And Cover It With A Bandage Overnight. Wash The Area In The Morning. Do This Regularly Until The Skin Tag Gets Smaller And Goes Away.

Over-The-Counter Products For Skin Tags

You Can Easily Get Rid Of A Skin Tag At Home Using Store-Bought Products. There Are Kits Available At Grocery And Drugstores That Are Safe For Removing Skin Tags.

One Type Of Kit Uses Freezing Technology (Cryotherapy), Which Involves Extremely Low Temperatures To Get Rid Of Unwanted Skin Tissue.

Skin Tags Need Temperatures Between -4°F To -58°F To Be Effectively Removed. So, When Choosing An Over-The-Counter (OTC) Product, It's Good To Pick One That Can Reach These Low Temperatures When Used Correctly.

It's Important To Note That Removal Creams And Freezing Kits Might Cause Irritation Or Contact Dermatitis, But They Can Still Work Well For Short-Term Use. So, If You're Dealing With A Skin Tag, These OTC Options Are Worth Considering.

When To See A Doctor

Skin Tags Can Sometimes Look Like Other Skin Issues Such As Warts Or Moles. Since Some Moles Can Be Cancerous, It's A Good Idea To Get Your Skin Tags Checked By A Doctor. Your Dermatologist Or Family Doctor Can Examine Your Skin Tags, Usually By Looking At Them In Person, But They Might Also Do It Through A Virtual Appointment (Telehealth).

Most Skin Tags Are Harmless, But If Yours Seems Unusual Or Raises Concerns, Your Doctor Might Do A Biopsy Just To Be Safe.

Surgical Procedures For Skin Tags

Getting Rid Of Skin Tags Is A Common Procedure That Usually Happens Outside The Hospital. First, Your Doctor Numbs The Area With A Local Anesthetic. Then, Depending On The Size And Where The Skin Tag Is, They Might Use One Of The Following Methods:

Cauterization: Your Doctor Removes The Skin Tag By Applying Heat To It.
Cryosurgery: Your Doctor Sprays A Bit Of Super Cold Liquid Nitrogen On The Skin Tag To Freeze It Off.
Electrocautery: Your Doctor Might Use A Special Electric Current To Burn Off The Skin Tag.
Ligation: Sometimes, Your Doctor Can Cut Off The Blood Supply To The Skin Tag Using Surgical Thread.
Surgery: This Is A Simple Snipping Off Of The Skin Tag At Its Base With Surgical Scissors. Depending On The Size And Location, You May Or May Not Need Bandages Or Stitches Afterward.

Removal Aftercare Tips

Taking Off Skin Tags Usually Doesn't Lead To Infections Or Complications. However, There Might Be A Small Scar After Removal, But It Often Fades With Time.

If You Remove A Skin Tag At Home, Apply Antibiotic Ointment And Cover It With A Bandage, Just Like You Would For A Cut. This Reduces The Chance Of Infection. If The Area Becomes Painful Or Starts Bleeding, It's Important To See Your Doctor.

For Medical Procedures To Remove A Skin Tag, Your Doctor Might Advise Keeping The Wound Dry For At Least 48 Hours And Then Gently Washing It With Soap And Water. Your Doctor Might Also Schedule A Follow-Up Appointment To Check The Wound And Remove Any Stitches If They Were Used.

What Causes Skin Tags?

The Exact Reasons Why Skin Tags Form Are Not Completely Clear, But They Often Appear In Areas Where The Skin Rubs Together. Friction Might Be A Factor In Their Formation. What We Do Know Is That Skin Tags Are Composed Of Blood Vessels And Collagen Surrounded By An Outer Layer Of Skin.

Research Suggests A Link Between Human Papillomavirus (HPV) And Skin Tags. Insulin Resistance, A Condition Associated With Difficulty Absorbing Glucose From The Bloodstream, May Also Contribute To Skin Tag Development. A 2010 Study Found That Having Multiple Skin Tags Was Connected To Insulin Resistance, A High Body Mass Index, And Elevated Triglyceride Levels.

Pregnancy Is Another Common Factor Associated With Skin Tags, Likely Due To Hormonal Changes And Weight Gain. In Rare Cases, Having Numerous Skin Tags Might Indicate A Hormone Imbalance Or An Issue With The Endocrine System.

There Could Be A Genetic Connection, Too, As Skin Tags Often Run In Families. It's Worth Noting That Skin Tags Are Not Contagious.

Takeaway

Skin Tags Are Typically Harmless, So You Don't Need To Do Anything About Them Unless They Bother You.

While Home Remedies And Over-The-Counter Products Can Work Well And Are Affordable, It's A Good Idea To Consult Your Doctor If A Skin Tag Doesn't Improve With Home Treatment, Bleeds, Or Keeps Getting Larger.

There Are Various Procedures That Can Safely Get Rid Of A Skin Tag With Little Discomfort And Scarring.