Skin tags may become irritated, especially when clothing or jewelry rub against the tags. Often, the rubbing of skin against jewelry or clothing is what causes the skin tag. Skin tags are harmless even when they become red, inflamed and irritated. You don't need to have a skin tag removed in the doctor's office. In fact, The Skin Center, a dermatology center located in Laguna Hills, California, recommends using a home treatment that will make the skin tag fall off on its own within several days.
Step 1
Wash the skin tag and the adjacent areas with antibacterial soap. Pat the area dry with a towel.
Step 2
Cut 10 inches of dental floss and lay aside. Alternatively, use silk thread instead of dental floss.
Step 3
Stretch the skin tag gently to get a clear view and access to the base of the skin tag. The skin tag looks like a stalk of wrinkled skin sprouting from the base. Take the tip or end of the stalk and pull.
Step 4
Tie the dental floss around the base of the skin tag. Tie the floss tight using a double knot. Cut the ends of the string, shortening the treads to about 2 inches from the knot.
Step 5
Apply a bandage to the area to prevent the string from tugging on clothing or tickling your skin. A bandage is not required, but some people find it more comforting to apply a bandage until the skin tag falls off in a few days. Change the bandage daily after bathing.
Step 6
Cover the area with an antibiotic ointment and bandage when the skin tag falls off. Use the ointment and bandage for about 5 days until the area heals.
Tips and Warnings
- Examine the skin tag and confirm that the growth is not a mole or wart. Skin tags may vary in color from a flesh-colored pink to brownish-black. The growth could easily be confused with a mole or a wart, which require removal in a clinical setting. Dr. Beth G Goldstein, a dermatologist from the Department of Dermatology at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, says that a determining whether a blemish is a skin tag comes solely from its appearance. If you are unsure if the growth is a skin tag, get an expert opinion before using a home treatment to remove the tag. Removing skin tags from the genital or rectal areas require additional precautions to prevent an infection to the area. Use wet cleansing wipes after urinating or defecating to keep the area clean.
- Do not remove any other type of skin growth using home treatments. An eye specialist must remove skin tags that appear on or around the eye area.
Things You'll Need
- Dental floss
- Antibacterial ointment
- Bandages
