Skin tags are soft, noncancerous growths that occur in the skin folds of the neck, armpits, breasts, groin, and eyelids. These growths are weak collagen fibers and are located in the thick part of the skin.
Skin tags are very common and affect nearly half of the population, Kemunto Mokaya, MD, told Healthline. He says they are more common in the elderly, overweight people and people with diabetes.
These skin lesions are usually harmless, but can be painful when they get caught in jewelry or clothing. If these growths are troubling, you can get help. Here are a few home remedies, over-the-counter products, and surgical procedures to get rid of stretch marks.
Home Remedies to Remove Skin Tags
Skin tags usually do not require treatment or medical attention. If you decide to remove the label, you can remove it with products in your medicine cabinet or kitchen. Most home remedies reduce the skin tag and dry it until it falls off.
Be careful!
It is important to note that these home remedies always take longer to achieve results than surgical procedures. Never try to take a shortcut by cutting the skin tag yourself – it can easily become infected and lead to bleeding.
Tea tree oil
Antiviral and antifungal, tea tree oil is safe to use on the skin when diluted in a carrier oil.
Wash the affected area first. Then use a Q-tip or cotton swab to gently massage the oil into the skin tag. Bandage the field overnight. Repeat this treatment for several nights until the tag dries up and falls off.
Banana peel
Don’t throw away your old banana peel, especially if it has a skin tag. Banana peels also help dry out skin tags. This may be due to the antioxidant properties they contain.
Put a banana peel on the label and wrap it with a bandage. Do this every night until the tag falls off.
apple cider vinegar
Soak a cotton swab in apple cider vinegar and place the cotton swab on the skin tag. Wrap the area with a bandage for 15-30 minutes, then wash the skin. Repeat every day for several weeks.
The acidity of apple cider vinegar breaks down the tissue surrounding the skin tag and causes it to fall off.
Vitamin E
Aging can contribute to the formation of skin tags. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that fights wrinkles and keeps skin healthy, so applying liquid vitamin E to skin tags can help clear up growth within two days.