Skin tags are an unsightly cosmetic problem that can also cause uncomfortable chafing under clothing. They are small, non-cancerous tabs of skin on a narrow stalk, usually found on the underarms, neck and within body folds. According to a June 2008 report in Mayo Clinic's "Medical Edge Newspaper," nearly half of all adults have skin tags and look for home remedies to remove them. Ideas include caustic agents, physical methods and commercial products.
Caustic Applications
You can kill skin tags by applying caustic paste. Mix Castor oil with enough baking soda to make a thick paste. Apply a dab and cover with a bandage three times a day until the tag drops off, usually in about two weeks.
Another idea for a caustic application is Tea Tree Oil, or vitamin E, applied in a way similar to the Castor oil and baking soda method.
Physical Force
You can simply cut off skin tags. Cleanse the tab and a wide area of skin around it with alcohol and use a sterilized scissor or nail clipper to snip the stalk close to the skin. Be prepared for some bleeding by applying hydrogen peroxide or an antiseptic and a bandage to the wound.
Another home skin tag removal idea makes use of thin thread or dental floss. Tie a tight loop around the stalk of the tag and strangle its blood supply. In a few days to a week it will wither, dry up and fall off.
Commercial Products
You can use over the counter products to remove skin tags at home.
Serums and ointments containing various mixtures of herbal and chemical caustic agents are available with detailed instructions. Three products of this type you can investigate are Amoils, Dermisil and Compound-W Freeze Off.
An idea for an unconventional use of a conventional product is to apply finger nail polish to the tab repeatedly until it dies and drops away.
Caution
Mayo Clinic physicians caution that all skin tags should be removed by a physician. They suggest home removal ideas are fraught with potential dangers.
Not all skin growths are necessarily skin tags. Some, which may appear to an untrained eye to be ordinary skin tags, might be something dangerous, such as cancer or virally- or bacterially-stimulated growths. They may also be symptomatic of other systemic conditions requiring further study.
The risk of infection is considerable with any procedure which breaks the skin under less than sterile conditions.
Another concern is that the application of caustic agents cannot reliably be confined to the skin tag alone, but may damage, discolor or scar surrounding skin, worsening the cosmetic problem.
This list of ideas is not intended as an endorsement of any single method or commercial product. You should discuss any decision to attempt home skin tag removal with your doctor.
