Home Remedies for Skin Tags
A home remedy for skin tags can get rid of these often irritating growths. Find out how to remove skin tags as well as what may cause them in the first place.
Home Remedies Skin Tag Skin tags are those growths that often appear on the skin of the neck or face. Underarm skin tags are also common as are tags in the groin area. Actually they can appear anywhere on the body. Genital skin tags are common. They can be the same color as the skin and are sometimes dark in color. They can be up to a half inch long or they can be rather flat.
Skin tags are benign or non-cancerous and do not need to be removed for health reasons. Removal of skin tags is usually done for cosmetic reasons or because they are located in an area where they are caught on clothing or jewelry and become irritated.
What Causes Skin Tags?
It is actually not known what causes skin tags. They are not the same as warts which are caused by a virus. It is thought they are caused by frequent rubbing of the skin either by clothing or other skin on our body. They often appear in folds of the skin. Pregnant women, over-weight individuals, people with Type 2 diabetes, and people using illegal steroids are more apt to get them. They are also more likely to appear as people age.
How to Remove Skin Tags
Your doctor can treat them by freezing them, burning them, or cutting them off but you might want to try a home remedy for skin tags.
Mild acidic substances can be applied to the skin tag. These include tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, and caster oil. Just apply these to the skin tag three or four times a day. It may take several days to see results. You can also tape a cotton ball soaked with one of these substances over the skin tag. Leave it on for several hours and then wash the area.
Another home remedy for skin tags is to cover the tag with something that is nonporous such as clear nail polish, commercial liquid bandaid, or duct tape. This deprives the tag of oxygen. It can take several days to work. In the case of nail polish, you will have to apply it every day to keep the seal intact.
Skin tags are prevalent in people who are insulin resistant. These people often find that their skin tags disappear if they eliminate sugar, bread, pasta, rice, and white potatoes from their diet. In other words, reduce the carbohydrates eaten by eliminating these foods and thereby reducing the need for insulin. A side effect of this "treatment" will likely be weight loss and if you are over weight this is a good thing.
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Some people tie a string or dental floss around the base of the skin tag which also cuts off the oxygen supply. This is a good skin tag home remedy depending on the location of the tag. It is also popular to cut the tag off after applying the string. You can use nail clippers to do this if the tag is skinny enough. Be sure to sterilize them first and have some sterile cotton handy so you can apply a compress to stop any bleeding that may occur. Then cover with a bandaid. You can relieve any pain with this method by placing an ice cube on the tag for a bit before cutting it off.
If you have what you think is a skin tag but it is changing in appearance, it is best to consult your physician.