How To Get Rid Of Skin Tags In South Africa
Overview
Skin tags are soft, noncancerous growths that usually form within the skin folds of the neck, armpits, breasts, groin area, and eyelids. These growths are loose collagen fibers that become lodged inside thicker areas of the skin.
Skin tags are also extremely common, affecting almost half of the population, Kemunto Mokaya, MD, tells Healthline. She says they’re also more common among older adults, people with overweight, and people with diabetes.
These skin lesions are usually harmless, but they can be painful when snagged by jewelry or clothing. If these growths are bothersome, relief is available. Here’s a look at a few home remedies, over-the-counter products, and surgical options to get rid of skin tags.
How To Get Rid Of Skin Tags In South Africa
Home remedies for skin tags
Skin tags don’t usually require treatment or a visit to the doctor. If you choose to remove a tag, it may be possible to do so with products already in your medicine cabinet or kitchen. Most at-home remedies involve drying out the skin tag until it shrinks in size and falls off.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil, which has antiviral and antifungal properties, is safe to use on the skin when diluted in a carrier oil.
First, wash the affected area. Then, using a Q-tip or cotton swab, gently massage the oil over the skin tag. Place a bandage over the area overnight. Repeat this treatment for several nights until the tag dries out and falls off.
Banana peel
Don’t toss away your old banana peels, especially if you have a skin tag. The peel of a banana can also help dry out a skin tag. This may be due to the antioxidant properties found in them.
Place a piece of banana peel over the tag and cover it with a bandage. Do this nightly until the tag falls off.
Apple cider vinegar
Soak a cotton swab in apple cider vinegar and place the cotton swab over the skin tag. Wrap the section in a bandage for 15 to 30 minutes, and then wash the skin. Repeat daily for a couple of weeks.
The acidity of apple cider vinegar breaks down the tissue surrounding the skin tag, causing it to fall off.
Vitamin E
Aging may contribute to skin tags. Since vitamin E is an antioxidant that fights wrinkles and keeps the skin healthy, applying liquid vitamin E over a skin tag may cause the growth to vanish in a couple of days.
Simply massage the oil over the tag and surrounding skin until it falls off.
Garlic
Garlic helps improve the appearance of skin by reducing inflammation. To naturally get rid of a skin tag, apply crushed garlic over the tag, and then cover the area with a bandage overnight.
Wash the area in the morning. Repeat until the skin tag shrinks and disappears.
Over-the-counter products for skin tags
Along with home remedies, several over-the-counter (OTC) products at grocery and drugstores can safely remove a skin tag.
Freezing kits use cryotherapy (the use of extremely low temperatures) to destroy unwanted skin tissue.
“Benign lesions, like skin tags, require temperatures of −4°F to −58°F to destroy them,” Mokaya said.
She recommends looking for an OTC wart or skin tag removal kit that will reach the lowest temperature when used appropriately. Finally, Mokaya points out that removal creams and cryotherapy can cause irritation and contact dermatitis, but they can still be effective for short-term use.
When to see a doctor
Other skin conditions like warts and moles can resemble skin tags. Since some moles may be cancerous, it’s best to have your skin tags examined by a doctor. Your dermatologist or family doctor will be able to diagnose skin tags. They’ll likely do this through an in-person visual exam, but telehealth can also be an option.
Most skin tags are noncancerous growths, but if yours is atypical or looks suspicious, your doctor may perform a biopsy as a precaution.
Surgical procedures for skin tags
Surgical removal for skin tags is a common outpatient procedure. After numbing the area with a local anesthetic, your doctor may perform one of the following procedures based on the size and location of the skin tag:
- Cauterization. Your doctor uses heat to remove the skin tag.
- Cryosurgery. Your doctor sprays a small amount of liquid nitrogen over the skin tag, which freezes off the growth.
- Electrocautery. You doctor could also burn the skin tag off with a specialized electric current.
- Ligation. Skin tags can sometimes be removed by cutting off the blood flow with surgical thread.
- Surgery. This simply involves your doctor snipping off the skin tag at its base with surgical scissors. The size and location of the skin tag will determine the need for bandages or stitches.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the main cause of skin tags?
Skin tags occur when extra cells grow in the top layers of the skin. They tend to develop when the skin rubs against itself, so are more common in people who are overweight and therefore have folds of skin. They grow both in men and women and are more common in older people and people living with type 2 diabetes.
How do you permanently remove skin tags at home?
Soak a cotton swab in apple cider vinegar and place the cotton swab over the skin tag. Wrap the section in a bandage for 15 to 30 minutes, and then wash the skin. Repeat daily for a couple of weeks. The acidity of apple cider vinegar breaks down the tissue surrounding the skin tag, causing it to fall off.
Can you cut a skin tag off with nail clippers?
Though they don’t have to be removed for health reasons, many people want skin tags clipped for cosmetic reasons or because they are irritating. They might even be tempted to cut a skin tag off with nail clippers or scissors. However, clipping a skin tag is best done by a healthcare provider
What’s the fastest way to get rid of a skin tag?
Skin tag removal can be accomplished via a number of different methods. One commonly used method is cryotherapy, in which a physician, usually a dermatologist, freezes off the skin tag using liquid nitrogen. Another option is electrocautery, in which an electric probe or needle is used to burn off the skin tag.
Does apple cider vinegar remove skin tags?
There’s no scientific evidence that apple cider vinegar removes skin tags. In fact, recent studies suggest it may actually damage your skin.
Do skin tags grow back?
Skin tags do not grow back after removal. If you develop other skin tags in the same place after removal, you may just be prone to having them in that area.
How does Colgate toothpaste remove skin tags?
People use toothpaste for all sorts of health-related purposes, from shrinking pimples to treating bug bites. There’s no scientific evidence, however, that toothpaste effectively or safely removes skin tags. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you consult a physician to have a skin tag removed.
Can baking soda remove skin tags?
Baking soda is another very commonly used ingredient to treat skin tags, thanks to its amazing beauty benefits. From skin care to hair care, this ingredient has a loyal place in our hearts as well as on our beauty shelves.
Do skin tags bleed a lot?
It could lead to bleeding, infection or irritation
Cutting off a skin tag with scissors yourself can lead to infection or uncontrollable bleeding, which may require a trip to the ER. (You’d be surprised at how much a large skin tag can bleed if not cauterized or frozen by a professional.) It can also hurt — a lot.
Do skin tags fall off on their own?
Skin tags usually don’t fall off on their own. The only way to completely remove skin tags is via professional procedures done by a dermatologist. Options for removal include: Surgery.
Does over the counter skin tag removal work?
Over the counter liquid products may simply irritate the skin and not lead to the resolution of tags, as can do-it-yourself “strangulation” at home with dental floss or string. If possible, visiting a board certified dermatologist is the best way to determine which method will work the best.
How long does it take for a skin tag to fall off with dental floss?
Skin tags are not always treated. The skin tag will not go away on its own, but you may not notice it or be bothered by it. You can help remove a skin tag by tying a string or dental floss around the skin tag. This will cut off the blood supply to the skin tag, and it will fall off after a few days.
Why am I getting skin tags on my neck?
Friction can play a role in the development of skin tags. Commonly, they are located where skin rubs against skin or clothing. Frequently, they develop on the neck, underarms and eyelids, as well as within body folds, such as under the breasts or in the groin area.
Does Tea Tree Oil remove skin tags?
Although no scientific research has been done on the use of tea tree oil for skin tags, anecdotal reports suggest that it works. People claim that tea tree oil dehydrates skin tags, causing them to dry up and fall off. Skin tags are painless, flesh-colored growths that hang off the skin.
Do skin tags mean you have diabetes?
Those with diabetes may develop skin tags, but these growths also related to a number of other conditions and lifestyle factors. So if you get skin tags, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have diabetes. However, if skin tags do appear, it’s a good idea to see your doctor. They may recommend testing for diabetes.
Are skin tags a symptom of anything?
Skin tags affect men and women equally; however, the risk of developing skin tags increases during pregnancy. This is thought to be due to hormonal changes and increased levels of growth factors. In rare cases, multiple skin tags can be a sign of a hormone imbalance or an endocrine problem
Does eating too much sugar cause skin tags?
Skin tags. Skin tags are soft, skin-colored growths that hang from the skin. They affect around 25 percent of the general population, but they can also be a sign of high blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Studies have linked skin tags, also called acrochordons, with high or uncontrolled blood sugar levels.
Are skin tags a virus?
Skin tags are benign tumors of the skin. They commonly occur in creases or folds of the skin. They are not dangerous, but they can be removed for aesthetic and cosmetic reasons.
What do skin tags indicate?
Patients who have multiple skin tags are at elevated risk for acromegaly, colonic polyps, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, hypertension, lipid disorders, and acanthosis nigricans. Skin tags are also linked to metabolic syndrome (MetS). New information suggests that skin tags may indicate insulin resistance.
How do you feel when your blood sugar is too high?
Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) means there is too much sugar in the blood because the body lacks enough insulin. Associated with diabetes, hyperglycemia can cause vomiting, excessive hunger and thirst, rapid heartbeat, vision problems and other symptoms.