It is not clear exactly what causes skin tags, but they are more common with pregnancy, overweight, and diabetes. Scroll till the end to find out symptoms, prevention, and natural treatment to remove skin tags safely at home.
Skin tags are small, soft, painless, non-cancerous growth that usually forms within the skin folds such as the neck, armpits, groin area, and eyelids. They tend to appear in the skin folds and can appear anywhere on the body, especially where skin rubs against other skin or clothing. This is why they tend to affect mostly overweight people who have excess folds of skin.
It is very common as half of the world’s population faces a skin tag. Sometimes they go unnoticed if they are not in a prominent place. Consult a doctor if any skin tag changes or starts causing pain or bleeding or forming all of a sudden.
What Are Skin Tags?
A skin tag is a small, soft, flap of tissue that hangs off the skin by a connecting stalk. They are non-cancerous that grow in folds of skin such as the neck, underarms, or groin area. Tags can appear anywhere on the body but usually appears where skin rubs against clothing or other skin. They do not affect your health.
How Do They Look Like
- Small
- Soft
- Skin-colures
- They can look like warts but they aren’t the same thing.
- Skin tags are soft and smooth. Warts are rough with an irregular surface.
- Skin tags are more raised and hang off the skin. Warts are slightly raised or entirely flat.
- •Skin tags are caused by a variety of reasons including aging, hormones, weight, and friction. Warts are caused by a virus.
- Skin tags are non-contagious. Warts spread very easily.
Symptoms Of Skin Tags
Skin tags often go unnoticed if they are not in a prominent part of the body because they are painless. In some cases, they rub off or fall off painlessly.
Skin tags Typically they do not have any symptoms. In some cases, friction from a skin tag rubbing/scratching against your skin, clothes, or jewelry or when shaving can cause discomfort or bleeding.
Causes Of Skin Tags
- Skin tags are made up of loose collagen fibers and blood vessels and usually show up in the skin folds. Due to this, friction may play a role.
- They tend to appear in older people.
- People with diabetes and prediabetes may also be more likely to develop skin tags.
- As a result of changes in hormone levels, skin tags tend to appear in pregnant women.
- In rare cases, they appear who have a family history of skin tags.
- People who are overweight and have excess folds of skincare likely to get skin tags because they tend to grow in the skin folds.
- In some cases, they can be a sign of a hormone imbalance or an endocrine problem.
- It is not clear exactly what causes skin tags.
Natural Treatment For Skin Tags
Below are some home remedies that are tried and tested and work effectively to remove skin tags naturally.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
It is very acidic and can cause chemical burns. Apple cider vinegar can cause skin irritation so stop using it if any signs of a reaction occur. Avoid using it near the eyes.
Benefits of apple cider vineagr for skin, health and hair
How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar?
- Soak a cotton ball in vinegar.
- Strap the cotton ball to your skin.
- Secure it in place using medical sticky tape.
- Make sure to use tape that is suitable and safe for the skin.
- Leave it for 15-20 minutes.
- Repeat this twice or thrice a day until the tag falls away.
2. Tea Tree Oil
The antibacterial and antifungal properties of tea tree oil help to promptly remove skin tags. Avoid using it near the eyes.
How To Use Tea Tree Oil?
- Wash the affected area.
- Apply tea tree oil on the affected area using a cotton ball or Q-tip and massage.
- Place a bandage over the area overnight.
- Leave it overnight.
- Repeat this daily at night until the tag falls away.
3. Garlic
The antibacterial and antifungal properties of garlic combat skin infections and make the skin tags fall off without any side effects.
Avoid using it near the eyes.
How To Use Garlic?
- Take 3-4 garlic cloves.
- Crush them to get the paste.
- Apply the paste to the affected area.
- Seal the area with a bandage.
- Leave it for at least 1 hour.
- You can also leave it overnight if you can bear the smell.
- Repeat this daily until the tag falls away.
4. Vitamin E Oil
A major reason for skin tags is aging. Since vitamin E is an antioxidant that fights wrinkles and keeps the skin youthful and healthy so, applying vitamin E over a skin tag may cause the growth to vanishing.
How To Use Vitamin E Oil?
- Take vitamin E oil directly on the affected area.
- Leave it overnight.
- Repeat this daily until the tags fall away.
5. Baking Soda
A combination of baking soda and castor oil has the capacity to naturally alter our skin’s pH levels and inhibit the growth of skin tags-causing bacteria.
How To Use Baking Soda?
- Take a bowl.
- Add 2 tablespoons of baking and add a small amount of water to make a thick paste.
- As an alternative, substitute water for castor oil.
- Castor oil and baking soda is a perfect combination.
- Apply the paste to the affected area.
- Seal the area with a bandage.
- Leave it for at least 1 hour.
- Repeat thrice a day.
- Repeat this daily until the tag falls away.
6. Banana Peel
Banana peel is not only good for making skin young and glowing but also effective for skin tags. The antioxidants present in banana peel help in drying out skin tags.
Surprising uses of banana peel
How To Use Banana Peel?
- Take a small piece of banana peel.
- Place it over the affected area.
- Seal the area with a bandage.
- Leave it overnight.
- In the morning, remove the bandage.
- Wash the area with warm water.
- Repeat this daily until the tag falls away.
How do I Prevent Skin Tags?
Growth of skin tags may not be preventable, but steps can be taken to prevent more growth.
Below are some steps that you can take to prevent this:
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Get regular exercise.
- Avoid jewelry and clothes that might rub against your skin.
When To See A Doctor
Skin tags resemble moles and warts so it so best to see a doctor to treat them. Some moles are cancerous so the doctor can only able to diagnose it.
Frequent Asked Questions
Q. Why Am I Getting Skin Tags All Of A Sudden?
A. No one knows the reason for sudden skin tags but if you are pregnant, gaining weight or have type 2 diabetes then this might be a reason.
If you notice a whole crop of skin tags all of a sudden, then consult your doctor.
Q. Are Skin Tags Dangerous?
A. Skin tags are not dangerous for the health and will not turn cancerous.
Q. What Causes Skin Tags On Neck?
A. There is no need to worry about skin tags on the neck. They tend to grow in the skin folds where the skin rubs against itself such as the neck.
Q. What Causes Skin Tags In Armpits?
A. It is exactly not clear what causes skin tags, but on armpits, they are usually due to skin rubbing against the skin.
Q. How To Remove Skin Tags In One Night?
A. It is not possible to remove skin tags in one night at home. If you’ll try to cut off skin tags at home it will lead to scarring, infections, or bleeding.
However, a dermatologist can remove skin tags in the fastest way.
The following procedures may be used by a doctor:
Cauterization:
This involves burning off the skin tag using electrolysis.
Cryosurgery:
The tag is frozen off using a probe containing liquid nitrogen
Ligation:
The blood supply to the skin tag is interrupted using surgical thread.
Excision:
This involves using a blade to cut off the tag.
Q. How To Remove Skin Tags With Nail Polish?
A. People often use nail polish on the skin tag and let it dry overnight and repeat this process daily until they get the desired result.
Using nail polish to remove skin tags is not safe. Even doctors don’t recommend applying nail polish on the skin for any reason.
There is a lot of other option in the post that you can use to remove skin tags easily at home without any side effects.
