Although benign growths known as skin tags are completely harmless, they can be annoying when they appear unexpectedly on your face or body. But since nearly half of all adults have skin tags, you’re not alone (via Medical News Today). Skin tags may fall off on their own after some time, but there are also many ways to remove them if they persist.
Most experts recommend having your skin tag professionally removed by a dermatologist, as trying to remove large skin tags yourself can result in skin irritation, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Dermatologists may use cryotherapy to freeze the skin tag with liquid nitrogen, electrocautery to burn the skin tag, or scissors and scalpels to remove the skin tag. However, there are several home remedies for skin tags that have been proven to work in the past. Harvard points out that the evidence to support DIY skin tag removal is largely anecdotal, but trying these methods at home is unlikely to cause serious harm if done carefully. While skin tags around the eyes or on the face should be left under the care of a dermatologist, you can try the following removal strategies on other areas of your body.
Skin tag removal tape
One of the most common methods of removing skin tags at home is using skin tag removal tape. Skin tag strapping kits contain a thread that you tie around the base of the tag to cut off the blood supply (via Cryotag). This chemical-free option works on sensitive areas (except around the eyes), but can be fiddly and not suitable for those with gum allergies.
A similar alternative treatment is cryotherapy, which you can achieve at home with a DIY kit. Freezing a tag like this usually causes the tag to drop faster; however, this process is not suitable for people who have had skin cancer or circulatory disease, or for people under 18 years of age.
Banana peel
According to Healthline, banana peels can be an effective option for skin tag removal. Simply save a banana peel and place it on the skin tag you want to remove, then secure in place with a bandage and leave overnight.
Some theorize that it may be the antioxidants and enzymes in the banana peel that cause it to fall off (via Miss Malini). If you don’t see results at first, repeat the process for a few nights. Make sure the inside of the banana peel comes into contact with your skin.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil has been hailed as a natural remedy for a long list of dermatological ailments, from acne to skin tags. Simply apply a small amount of tea tree oil to the skin tag, cover it with a bandage and leave it on overnight, repeating the process for several days (via Medicine Net).
Loving Essential Oils explains that tea tree oil works by drying the skin, which causes the skin tag to fall off. However, keep in mind that tea tree oil may cause redness or irritation in some people. It should also never be ingested, as even small doses are toxic.
vitamin E
Vitamin E is another antioxidant that can help the skin tag fall off (via Health Canal). Advanced Dermatology and Skin Cancer Associates explains that vitamin E similarly works by drying out the skin around the tag, which can cause it to fall off on its own. This process usually takes several weeks and is best done with vitamin E oil. Vitamin E also has a number of other benefits for the skin, including minimizing the appearance of wrinkles and protecting against free radicals in the skin.
Raw garlic
Raw garlic, an ingredient that most people already have in their kitchen, has antibacterial properties and is another natural tool that can help you remove skin tags. Crush a fresh clove of garlic and apply it to the skin tag, then cover it with a bandage and leave it overnight (via precision surgery and advanced vein therapy). This can cause the label to shrink and eventually disappear. NetMeds.com points out that garlic also has anti-inflammatory properties that further reduce the appearance of skin tags. While in many cases it is best to have a skin tag removed by a dermatologist, these DIY methods have been known to work on skin tags in insensitive areas of the body.