It is estimated that over half of all adults will suffer from skin tags at some point in their lives. Skin tags are small growths that appear on the skin. They are not harmful to your health in anyway, but some people may feel that they are unsightly, particularly if they are in areas that are always on show, such as the face. In some cases the skin tags will just drop off on their own accord, but sometimes treatment will be needed, although there is not always any need to contact your doctor. (Image Credit: Sravana Sukanya/ flickr)
If you suffer from skin tags you may be interested to know that there are several ways that they can be treated at home. Most of these treatments are not painful and do not need expensive equipment.
Some of the most popular treatment methods are explained below.
Removal Kits
There are removal kits that you can purchase from most chemists and drug stores. These kits usually contain a band that you will tie around the base of the tag. This band will cut off the blood supply to the tag and when this happens then the tag will fall off. This will usually happen within ten days. You can try this treatment with a piece of string around the tag, but this is more difficult to do if you are by yourself.
Removal Cream
There are also creams that you can apply to your skin tags which can make them fall off. Only one application of the cream is usually necessary, but it can take a few weeks for the tag to fall off. The cream will work best if it is applied to clean skin and you may want to use an alcohol wipe on the area around the tag before the cream is applied. Some people find that the cream can cause a mild tingling sensation, but this is not painful.
Freezing
Freezing kits that are available in drugstores use liquid nitrogen to freeze the tags off. There will be instructions within the kit for applying the product and these should be followed carefully. There is also a lot of further guidance that can be found at skintagsgone about this and other methods. You may need to apply this cream several times over a short period of time. The tag will fall away within ten days in most cases.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is a popular ingredient in skin care because it has properties that care for the skin. There are some people that believe that they can also be very useful in helping to remove skin tags. The tea tree oil should be applied to a cotton ball which should then be affixed to the skin and left there for ten minutes so that it can soak into the skin. If you have sensitive skin, then this may be irritated by tea tree oil so you may want to do a skin test before you start treatment.
Iodine
Liquid iodine may also be effective in removing skin tags, but this can be quite messy. The iodine may stain your skin and clothes if it is not carefully applied and so you may want to take steps to avoid this. You should remove all clothing from the area around the tag and rub petroleum jelly onto the skin around the tag. A q-tip should be used to apply the iodine to the tag and then a bandage placed over the area. When the iodine has dried the bandage can be removed. This process should be repeated twice a day until the tag falls off.
Apple Cider Vinegar
There has not been a lot of research into whether apple cider vinegar can be used to effectively treat skin tags. However, there are a lot of people that swear by this treatment. It is applied to a cotton ball and then placed onto the tag where it should be left for ten minutes. This process should be repeated a few times each day and it may take a number of weeks before the tag falls away completely.
It is important to remember that there are some occasions when you should not attempt to treat skin tags yourself. If the tags are located around the eyes or around the genitals, then you should consult your doctor. The tags can be removed but they will have to be done by a medical professional. You should also consult your doctor if the tags are bleeding or if they are causing you any pain.
