Skin tags are common, small skin growths that often appear after middle age. They consist of loose collagen fibers and blood vessels encased in skin, typically presenting as soft, flesh-colored or slightly darker tissue flaps. While these growths are harmless and pose no health risk, they can become irritating when rubbed by clothing or jewelry. Many people seek non-surgical methods to address these small growths at home, focusing on techniques designed to safely cause the tag to dry out and fall off.
Identifying Common Skin Tags
A skin tag is generally soft to the touch and usually hangs from the body by a tiny, thin stalk. These growths typically measure between one and five millimeters, though some can grow larger, and they are distinct from warts or moles, which are usually flatter or firmer without the stalk-like attachment. Accurately identifying the growth is an important first step before attempting any removal procedure.
Skin tags commonly develop in areas where skin folds create friction or where clothing rubs repeatedly, such as around the neck, in the armpits and groin, under the breasts, and sometimes on the eyelids. Their formation is strongly associated with factors like aging, genetic predisposition, and hormonal changes, such as those occurring during pregnancy. Increased body weight and conditions like type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome also raise the likelihood of developing them.
Specific Home Remedies for Removal
One common at-home method for removing smaller skin tags is ligation, which involves carefully restricting the blood flow until the growth withers and detaches. This process requires a thin piece of sterilized thread or dental floss, which is tightly tied around the base of the skin tag’s stalk. Deprived of oxygen and nutrients, the tissue dies, causing the skin tag to fall off.
The thread should be secured close to the skin to ensure the entire tag is ligated. It may require tightening over a couple of days as the tag begins to shrink. The skin tag will typically darken, dry up, and fall off within a period ranging from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on its size. Before and after the procedure, the area should be cleaned with mild soap and water to minimize the risk of bacterial introduction.
Another frequently used home remedy involves the topical application of tea tree oil, which is known for its mild drying properties. To use this method, the tea tree oil must be diluted with a carrier oil, such as coconut or olive oil, to prevent skin irritation. A cotton swab dipped in this diluted mixture is gently massaged onto the skin tag two or three times a day.
The application area should then be covered with a small bandage to protect the surrounding healthy skin and keep the oil concentrated on the tag. This repetitive application is intended to gradually dry out the skin tag tissue, which may take several weeks before the growth shrinks and falls away. Some individuals also report success using liquid iodine in a similar manner, protecting the surrounding skin with petroleum jelly before applying the iodine directly to the tag twice daily.
Over-the-counter cryotherapy kits replicate the freezing technique used by medical professionals. These products use a blend of refrigerants to freeze the skin tag, leading to cell death and eventual detachment. The applicator tip is pressed against the tag for a specific time, usually less than a minute, to begin the freezing process.
The temperatures achieved by these kits may not be as low as those reached with liquid nitrogen in a clinical setting. Larger or deeper skin tags may require multiple applications over several weeks to fully freeze the tissue. It is important to follow the product’s instructions precisely to avoid damaging the surrounding healthy skin with the cold application.
Safety Precautions and Professional Consultation
Attempting to remove any skin growth at home carries risks, and certain precautions must be taken to minimize complications. Never use scissors, razor blades, or other sharp, non-sterile cutting tools to remove a skin tag, as this can cause excessive bleeding, severe pain, and infection. The skin must be kept clean throughout any removal process, and any tools used, such as needles or tweezers, should be properly sterilized.
If signs of infection appear after a removal attempt, professional medical attention is necessary. These signs include:
- Increasing redness.
- Swelling.
- Warmth around the site.
- Persistent pain.
- The presence of pus.
A doctor should also be consulted if a skin tag is located in a sensitive area, such as near the eyes or the genitals. Consultation is also required if the tag is particularly large, which increases the likelihood of significant bleeding.
Consult a healthcare provider before attempting any removal if there is any doubt about the nature of the growth. Any lesion that changes rapidly in size, shape, or color, or one that bleeds easily, should be evaluated by a dermatologist. A professional can quickly and safely remove the tag using sterile instruments, minimizing the risk of scarring or misdiagnosis.