Skin tags are small, soft pieces of skin that stick out on a thin stem. They most often appear on the neck, armpits, upper trunk, and body folds. The cause of skin tags is not known. They are harmless. Almost half of all adults have skin tags. They cause no medical complications, but they can be bothersome.
While it requires no treatment and may fall away on its own, a doctor may recommend a simple medical procedure to remove any that catch on clothing or cause pain.
What is a skin tag?
Skin tags are common, acquired benign skin-colored growths that resemble a small, soft balloon suspended on a slender stalk. They are harmless growths that can vary in number from one to hundreds. Males and females are equally prone to developing skin tags. Obesity seems to be associated with skin tag development.
Although some skin tags may fall off spontaneously, most persist once formed. The medical name for the skin tag is acrochordon. Some people call them “skin tabs.”
Early on, it may be as small as a flattened pinhead-sized bump. While most tags typically are small (2 mm-5 mm in diameter) at approximately one-third to one-half the size of a pencil eraser, some skin tags may become as large as a big grape (1 cm in diameter) or a fig (5 cm in diameter).
Skin tag facts
- A skin tag is a small, soft, flesh-colored benign skin growth, often on a stalk.
- Skin tags are probably the single most common bump on adult skin.
- They are harmless but can be an annoying skin problem.
- Skin tags tend to occur on the eyelids, neck, armpits, groin folds, and under breasts.
- A person may have one to hundreds of skin tags.
- Almost everyone will develop a skin tag at some time in their life.
- Middle-aged, obese adults are most prone to skin tags.
- Getting rid of a skin tag does not cause more to grow.
- Destructive treatment options include freezing, strangulation with a ligature, snipping, and burning.
Risks of at-Home Removal
While you may be tempted to attempt at-home removal of your skin tags, there are risks including:
- Infection
- Scarring
- Excessive bleeding
If you are certain you would like to remove skin tags, it is important to speak with a dermatologist to review your safer options.
7 Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Skin Tags
1. Apple cider vinegar
Little research has looked into whether apple cider vinegar can remove skin tags. People who try this often soak a cotton ball in the vinegar and affix it to the tag with a bandage for 10 minutes, two or three times a day, until the tag falls away.
How to apply:
- Start with pouring a little bit of apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball until it is completely soaked.
- Strap this cotton pad to your skin and secure it in place using a medical sticky tape, which is safe for the skin.
- Keep it on for a couple of hours or overnight to see results.
2. Tea tree oil
This essential oil might help some skin conditions. But there is no reliable evidence that it will get rid of skin tags.
How to apply:
- Apply a few drops of the oil to a cotton ball.
- Place it over your skin tag with a bandage.
- Leave it on for at least 10 minutes three times a day.
- It might take a few days or weeks before your tag falls off.
3. Iodine
Only anecdotal evidence backs up the use of liquid iodine to remove skin tags. If you want to try it:
How to apply:
- Protect your surrounding skin with petroleum jelly or coconut oil.
- Soak a Q-tip in iodine, then spread the liquid over your tag.
- Cover your tag with a bandage while it dries.
- You can try this twice a day until your tag falls off.
4. Garlic
A lesser-known home remedy for skin tags is garlic. This kitchen staple works overtime to eliminate skin tags and reveal clear skin. The antibacterial and antifungal properties of garlic combat skin infection and keep your skin clear and make the skin tag fall off after just a few uses.
How to apply:
- Take 2-3 fresh garlic cloves and crush them until it forms a smooth paste.
- Apply this paste on the affected area and leave it on for about an hour (yes, the smell will be overpowering, but you will have to bear with it).
- Wash it using mild soap and water.
5. Baking soda
Baking soda is another very commonly used ingredient to treat It, thanks to its amazing beauty benefits. From skin care to hair care, this ingredient has a loyal place in our hearts as well as on our beauty shelves. This is because baking soda has the capacity to naturally alter our skin’s pH levels and inhibit the growth of skin tags-causing bacteria. Additionally, using a mixture of baking soda and castor oil helps in eliminating various other skin problems as well.
How to apply:
- In a mixing bowl, mix together a little bit of baking soda with a few drops of castor oil.
- Mix the two ingredients together until it forms a smooth, lump-free paste.
- Apply this paste to the affected area.
- Wash it off with water after a few hours. Remember that castor oil can be extremely sticky, hence you may have to rinse the area using soap a few times to completely get rid of the greasiness.
Also read: Treating An Ear Infection During Pregnancy: Causes, Symptoms & Remedies
6. Manuka honey
Manuka honey has gained a lot of popularity in the beauty world for its amazing skin-loving properties. This is because Manuka honey is non-peroxide, which means that it has amazing antibacterial properties. When you apply Manuka honey on a skin tag, it helps in restricting oxygen supply to the area and prevents the bacteria around the tag from thriving.
How to apply:
- Apply a tiny bit of Manuka honey on a skin tag.
- Seal the honey in place using a band-aid.
- Leave the band-aid on for a few hours or overnight and see the difference.
- Repeat this every single day until the skin tag has completely disappeared.
Also read: Science-Backed Health Benefits of Meditation, According to Experts
7. Banana Peel
Banana peels are traditionally used in removing warts as they contain enzymes and acids. The same chemicals can also help to shed your skin tags.
How to apply:
- Cut a small portion of a banana peel and place the fibrous part (white side) on the skin tag for an hour.
- Do this for a few days until the skin tag falls off.
What Causes Skin Tags?
While the exact causes of skin tags are unknown, a couple of factors may predispose you to them. Research published in the Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences highlighted two proven determinants:
Age: Skin tags occur most often in middle-aged and older people.
Body mass index: Skin tags were associated with people with high BMIs. Maintaining a healthy weight, therefore, is a good way to ensure you’re doing what you can to prevent skin tags.
Other potential factors that could lead to skin tags include:
Body friction: Skin rubbing against skin, like what happens in skin folds, could play a role.
Diabetes: Insulin resistance is considered a potential factor for skin tags to develop.
Human papillomavirus: A study of people with skin tags found a significant number had HPV. Family history
How to Identify a Skin Tag: What They Look Like
It can be as small as 1 millimeter and as large as 1 centimeter, occasionally even larger, says Rebecca Baxt, MD, a dermatologist in Paramus, New Jersey. Skin tags, also called acrochordons, are mostly flesh-colored growths, although some may be darker in color, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD). They can be right on the skin’s surface or seem to sprout from a thin stalk of skin and hang off the body.
They are common on the neck, under the arms, in the groin, and on the eyelids, says Dr. Baxt, as they tend to grow in parts of the body with folds, but they can appear elsewhere as well. Once formed, they typically don’t get any bigger. You may have just one or two, or you may have many; they might be in isolated spots or in a group with many skin tags. They are usually asymptomatic, and they are diagnosed by visual inspection. However, since it can be difficult to self-diagnose skin tags, it’s important to see a dermatologist if anything is growing, changing, bleeding, itchy, crusty, flaky, or changing color on your skin, says Baxt.
Can toothpaste really remove skin tags?
People use toothpaste for all sorts of health-related purposes, from shrinking pimples to treating bug bites. There’s no scientific evidence, however, that toothpaste effectively or safely removes skin tags.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you consult a physician to have a skin tag removed. The biggest benefit of seeing a doctor is to have the lesion checked, just to be sure it isn’t a form of skin cancer.
While it’s certainly possible to use home remedies or over-the-counter products and devices to take off skin tags, at-home removal carries some risks. Infection, scarring, and excessive bleeding can all happen if skin removal procedures don’t go as planned.
And if your skin tag is located in or near a joint, the scarring could affect your mobility. Although the risk is small, you could also damage a nerve in the process, leading to longer-term pain.