Skin tags are harmless growth on the skin that is common to a majority of people.
There are certain home remedies that are as useful as medical procedures or the removal of skin tags.
Is It Possible To Remove The Skin Tag At Home?
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However, doctors always warn people about the implications of trying out such procedures.
Skin tags are present in almost half of the adult population. Although they do not have any medical issues associated with them, they can be bothersome at times.
Skin tags do not usually require any medical attention and fall off on their own. Doctors can suggest some medical procedure if they create inconvenience by catching on clothes or causes pain.
Some people might consider the removal of skin tags for esthetic reasons, particularly if they are on the visible part of the body, like the face or throat.
There are a number of home remedies that can prove to be effective in the removal of skin tags at home.
Bands and patches:
Bands used for skin tag removal work by cutting off the blood supply at the base of the tag. Without the supply of blood, the cells in the skin tag die, and it falls off on its own. This is called ligation.
Patches used for the purpose contain medication in them. For it to work, one has to leave the patch on the skin tag for several days. As the skin tag dries out, it falls off.
However, experts don’t recommend using them since the over-the-counter bands and patches are not regulated by the FDA and may contain harmful chemicals in them. Instead, they suggest removing skin tags under medical supervision.
Skin tags can also be removed by using removal creams, however, doctors recommend using the ones that do not have salicylic acid.
By using the creams, skin tags should fall off in 2-3 weeks.
Freezing kits or the use of cryotherapy is another option for removing skin tags. For this purpose, liquid nitrogen is used. However for using freezing kit sprays, one should be cautious that it does not come in contact with the surrounding skin. Petroleum jelly can be applied to the surrounding skin to ensure that.
Natural remedies for skin tag removal:
Tea tree oil is a type of essential oil and it can prove beneficial in skin tag removal. One should take a few drops of tea tree oil in cotton and put that on the skin tag with the help of a bandage for 10 minutes. This should be repeated three times a day.
Only after several days, one can expect the skin tag to fall off while using this process.
One can also apply apple cider vinegar in a similar manner for the removal of skin tags, and this also takes several days and weeks to show any result.
Since apple cider vinegar contains acid, one should discontinue using it if any irritation occurs. Otherwise, it may cause skin burns.
The use of liquid iodine is another way to get rid of skin tags at home, the adjoining skin should be protected from iodine by applying petroleum jelly. A q-tip dipped in liquid iodine should be used to spread out the iodine on the tag and it should be covered with a bandage till the iodine dries out.
This should be repeated twice daily till the skin tag is eliminated.
Some people may try to cut off a skin tag using nail clippers or very sharp scissors; however, it should be done only after consulting with a doctor.
The equipment and the skin should be thoroughly disinfected and cleaned to prevent any infection.
When should one not attempt not to remove skin tag:
One should avoid the removal of skin tags if they are located near the eye, genitals, if they are very large, or they are causing any irritation or bleeding.
Any big or medium-sized skin tag should not be removed in this way as it may cause heavy bleeding.
