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Top 10 Home Remedies for Skin Tag Removal

Skin tags are soft, small flaps or folds of excess skin found on the face and body. You’re likely to see them on the neck, around the eyes, and underarms. They can appear anywhere.

Skin tags may not be harmful to our health in any way, but that doesn’t mean that it’s easy to ignore the problem. We all want to ‘correct’ this cosmetic issue so that we can look and feel better about ourselves.

The problem is that it can be difficult to choose a skin tag removal method that works quickly (and is safe to use). And if you get them removed by a doctor or dermatologist, removing skin tags is expensive for most people. Cosmetic procedures aren’t covered by your health insurance company. That’s why so many people are turning to home remedies for skin tags.

The good news is that there are ways that skin tags can be removed. In this post, we’re going to look at each of the methods and provide an insight into whether it’s likely to work for you. We’ll also assess how quickly you can expect results (and the risks or side effects). We’ll begin by looking at one of our favorite natural skin tag removers, which is Australian tea tree oil.

Top 10 Home Remedies for Skin Tags

  1. Tea Tree Oil

This deserves to be at the top of just about any skin tag removal list.

It’s one of the best natural remedies for skin tags. It has antiseptic, antifungal, and antibacterial properties, as well as being a natural ingredient that people can feel safe using. It is a potent essential oil, so it should be diluted so that it doesn’t lead to skin irritation.

To use tea tree oil to remove skin tags, dip a cotton ball into a bit of water, and add two or three drops of Australian tea tree oil. Rub it gently in circular motions over the skin tag, and repeat two or three times a day. You can cover the area with a band-aid to help with absorption.

This will gradually dry out the skin tag. Look through reviews of different tea tree oil brands to decide which one you prefer. The application of tea tree oil will cause skin tag(s) to disappear in about 6 to 12 weeks. This is the one natural treatment for skin tags that we recommend!

Our Rating: 9/10

  1. Duct Tape

There may be an old stereotypical joke that you can use duct tape to fix anything. Well, when it comes to skin tags, that stereotype ‘might’ just be true. By sticking a small piece of duct tape over the skin tag, and leaving it for 10-14 days, you may be cutting off the oxygen supply to the skin tag. Without oxygen and blood, it can’t survive.

When you remove the duct tape after a few weeks, the skin tag could be shriveled up or gone. Cutting off circulation and air to skin tags is one of the techniques that cause skin tags to ‘fall off’ naturally. The problem is that you’re also diminishing the circulation to the healthy skin.

If you don’t like the idea of using duct tape for skin tags because it looks weird, you can mimic the effect with a small bandage. This may take longer to work, or not work at all since bandages are designed to ‘breathe’ more than heavy-duty duct tape.

Our Rating: 3/10

  1. Apple Cider Vinegar

This is known to be an excellent home remedy for many health ailments, and skin tags are no different. The acidic (yet safe) properties of the vinegar are believed to help break down the cells that make up the extra skin of the tag, causing it to diminish, and eventually fade away.

To use apple cider vinegar to remove skin tags, dip a cotton ball in a bit of the vinegar, and apply directly to the skin tag. Let dry and leave it on your skin for several hours, before gently rinsing away with warm water. You can repeat this process up to three times a day. Proponents of this method state that you can expect your skin tag to disappear after about three months.

If you have sensitive skin, you can follow up this treatment by applying aloe vera or vitamin E. This will help to minimize any redness.

There is no medical proof that apple cider vinegar works.

Our Rating: 4/10

  1. Castor Oil & Baking Soda

Castor oil is a little-known treatment. Not only does it deeply penetrate the skin and keep it looking radiant, but it’s used to remove skin tags.

It is best used for getting rid of skin tags when it’s combined into a paste with baking soda. Two parts oil to one part baking soda is recommended. Once you have the consistency of paste, you can rub it on the skin tag and cover it with a small bandage. Leave for a few hours (or overnight), take off the bandage, and rinse with warm water. If you repeat this each day for a few months, it could work for you.

A little goes a long way, so you may find that the ‘paste’ can be used multiple times before it runs out. Castor oil will absorb into your skin quickly, so don’t feel as though you have to add more once it gets absorbed immediately – it’s doing its job and may assist with drying up skin tags.

Our Rating: 5/10

Picture of the castor oil plant

  1. Vitamin E

Vitamin E has incredible health benefits and healing properties for many parts of the body, including the hair and fingernails. But, it is also beneficial to the skin. It helps to regenerate and renew skin cells. It’s also an antioxidant.

You can purchase Vitamin E oil, or split open a Vitamin E capsule, and rub the oil directly onto the skin tag. Cover the area with a bandage, and remove the bandage after eight hours or so. Repeat this process every day and night, until the desired results are achieved.

Our Rating: 3/10

  1. Oregano Oil

It is an essential oil that is a powerful antiseptic, with healing properties that can remove skin tags. Mix it with some coconut oil. Even with coconut oil, it’s a good idea to test out a small area of your skin first. Although it’s natural, everyone’s skin is different.

To use for skin tags, mix two or three drops of oregano oil with four or five drops of coconut oil, and apply the mixture directly to the skin tag(s). Let the area dry naturally, rinse off with warm water, and repeat several times a day.

Performing some research online will enable you to find you the best brands available. Always try to find one that is 100% organic.

Our Rating: 5/10

  1. Lemon Juice

It has similar acidic properties to apple cider vinegar, but it is the citric acid that helps to remove skin tags. All you need to do s to cut a lemon in half and rub the exposed flesh onto your skin tag. Alternatively, you can squeeze fresh lemon juice into a cup, dip a cotton ball into the juice, and apply that to your skin.

Whichever method you choose, be sure to use fresh lemon juice, not bottled concentrate. It could contain other additives that may irritate your skin. Be sure to test an area of your skin first to see how lemon juice may affect it. The acid levels can irritate sensitive skin.

You should repeat this process two or three times a day.

Our Rating: 5/10

Will the juice from a lemon remove my skin tags?

  1. Garlic

Garlic has antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties that offer up the perfect cocktail for skin care solutions. To use garlic for skin tags, apply a thinly-sliced garlic clove over the skin tag, and secure it overnight with a bandage.

Alternatively, you can slice up several cloves and ‘crush’ them into a paste. Then spread that paste over the skin tag and secure it with a bandage. Whatever method you choose, leave the bandage on overnight, remove in the morning, and rinse your skin with warm water.

Our Rating: 2/10

  1. Onion Juice & Salt

Onion juice is believed to break down the skin cells that have caused the skin tag. The addition of salt will speed up the process.

To extract the juice from an onion, slice it up, place in a bowl, and sprinkle with salt. Leave the onion and salt mixture on overnight. In the morning, you’ll be able to pour the juice into a different container. Rub that juice on the skin tag with a cotton ball and let dry for about thirty minutes.

After the solution has dried, rinse the area with warm water. You can repeat this procedure two or three times daily.

Our Rating: 1/10

  1. Nail Polish

It seems that nail polish is used for more than just your standard manicure. To remove a skin tag, you have to essentially ‘suffocate’ it. Some people do this by tightly wrapping a string or piece of dental floss around it so that the skin tag will be deprived of air and blood flow, and eventually fall off.

How to use nail polish remover for skin tags

But, being able to tie a piece of string around a small skin tag, depending on where it’s located on the body, can be difficult and awkward to do on your own. Nail polish ‘may’ have the same effect, and it can be applied easily.

Wherever your skin tag is located, ‘paint’ on a small amount of nail polish. Let the polish dry completely, and leave it overnight before removing in the morning by either gently washing or peeling it off. You can repeat this process every day until the skin tag flakes away.

This method works similarly to the ‘duct tape method,’ but can be a bit more discrete, depending on the type of nail polish that you use. Make sure your skin is clean before applying the nail polish to a skin tag.

It is a toxic substance and could damage the skin. Never apply it if your skin tag is irritated or bleeding.

Our Rating: 4/10

  1. Pineapple Juice

Much like lemon juice, it’s the citric acid in pineapple juice that breaks down skin tags quickly. It also has rejuvenating properties thanks to its fibrous nature and assists with the healing process.

You can apply it several times a day without any risk. Just dip a cotton ball into a bit of the juice, and rub it on over the skin tag. Be sure to let it dry completely. You don’t have to wash off the juice after any set amount of time.

Our Rating: 3/10

We like tea tree oil, but here are our favorite skin tag products if you want to get results.

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