What are skin tags?
Most of us will develop at least a couple of skin tags at some stage. They are excessive growths of collagen and tend to occur where the skin naturally folds – on the neck and near the underarm region, for example. Usually pink or brown in colour, they are benign but can be unsightly. They are more common in people with particular medical conditions such as diabetes and certain common viral infections. Whilst easily removed by a doctor or nurse, it is quicker and cheaper to sort the problem yourself using these 12 home remedies. Remember that if you have any underlying medical conditions or are unsure as to whether a skin tag truly is a benign growth, always seek the advice of a trained medical professional before you try and remove skin tags.
How to remove skin tags quickly and easily!
1. Aloe Vera
You can buy fresh, ready-made aloe vera juice from health food shops to use for this purpose. Alternatively, you can buy an aloe vera plant, cut along one of the leaves, and squeeze out the liquid inside. Rub a small amount on the skin tag once per day until it shrinks. Aloe vera is renowned over the world for its antiseptic, skin-healing properties and should therefore ensure that no scarring is left behind once the tag has gone.
2. Pineapple Juice
Rub in fresh juice from this tropical fruit at least twice per day for two weeks. By the end of this period, the skin tag should be gone!
3. Lemon Juice
Extract the juice from a large lemon. Take a small cotton wool ball and soak it in the juice. Apply it to the skin tag using a bandaid to hold it in place. Replace the wool as needed for a few days until the skin tag is removed.
4. Onion Juice
Chop up one large onion and pass through a sieve to extract the juice. Apply the juice to the skin tag once per day for around two weeks. This is a great way to use up common leftovers to remove skin tags.
5. Garlic
Grind up a clove of garlic every day and place the mixture on the skin tag for a couple of hours. Within a few days, the tag should begin to reduce in size and density. Garlic is great for your skin as it contains antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.
6. Oregano Oil
Oregano oil contains antiseptic compounds, as well as being an effective agent in drying out skin tags. Use three drops of oregano oil in six drops of a neutral carrier oil (such as coconut), and apply it three times a day for 3-5 weeks until the tag falls off by itself.
7. Tea Tree Oil
Take a small cotton wool ball and place 3 drops of tea tree oil on it. Now dab at the skin tag using circular motions. Do this three times a day for at least 5 days. The skin tag should vanish.
8. Potato
Along with a host of skin-friendly vitamins and minerals, potato has wonderful astringent properties that can dry out skin tags. Slice a small piece of potato, place it over the skin tag, and keep in place with a bandaid. Replace the potato every few hours.
9. Fig Stem Juice
Buy some figs with their stems intact. Remove a couple of stems, run them through a blender, and apply the juice four times a day every day for a few weeks.
10. Apple Cider Vinegar
Soak a cotton wool ball in apple cider vinegar and press it firmly against the skin tag, holding in place with a bandaid or bandage. Repeat every day until the skin tag has gone.
11. Nail Polish
Nail polish is naturally drying, and forms a tight cast around the skin tag that will cause it to loosen and drop off. Simply dab a couple of drops of polish onto the skin tag and wait a few days to see the effects.
12. Banana Peel
Cut a small piece of banana skin and place it over the skin tag. Keep it in place with a bandage, replacing the peel every day. After around 2 weeks, the skin tag should fall off.
Featured photo credit: Joshua Resnick via shutterstock.com
