Skin tags are soft, harmless growths that appear within the skin folds of the neck, groin area, armpits, or eyelids. Skin tags are made of loose collagen fibers that get lodged inside the thick areas of the skin. Although it is not clear what exactly causes them, they mostly develop from friction when skin rubs against skin. A study has also linked skin tags with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Hormonal changes in pregnant women may also lead to the growth of skin tags.
Skin tags are generally harmless, but they can be painful when snagged by clothes or jewelry. They also can negatively affect your appearance, especially when they appear on the face. As such, it’s vital to get rid of skin tags when you see them. Luckily, it’s not that hard. Below is a guide on how to eliminate skin tags from different parts of your body:
Remove Skin Tags From Eyes And Eyelids
The appearance of skin tags around your eyes can make you feel particularly self-conscious. However, you need to be cautious while trying to get rid of skin tags near your eyes since any wrong move can affect your eyes.
The removal method depends on the size of the skin tags and proximity to your eyes. If your skin tags are not too big, you can use over the counter medicines or home remedies such as applying apple cider vinegar to the skin tags. Surgery offers quick results, but a qualified dermatologist must do it, and it tends to be expensive. Other remedies that can work include cryotherapy, ligation, and cauterization.
Skin Tag Removal From Thighs
Skin tags commonly appear between the legs, especially in the inner thigh area. The first remedy you should try for inner thigh skin tags is tea tree oil. This is a natural remedy that is effective for inner thigh skin tags. You should apply the tea tree oil directly to the skin tags thrice per day until they disappear. If they are too stubborn, you might want to go to your dermatologist for surgical excision or cryotherapy. Cryotherapy is where the skin tags are completely frozen to cut off blood flow so that the skin tags die and fall off.
Remove Skin Tags From Armpits
Skin tags may appear on the armpits, as this is one of the areas of the body with the highest skin friction. One of the easiest ways to get rid of skin tags on your armpits is by using dental floss (ligation). Use dental floss to tie the skin tags tightly at the base cutting off the blood supply. The skin tags should eventually die and fall off. Rubbing tea tree oil, liquid iodine, castor oil, or apple cider vinegar can also work, but you must be patient for them to take effect. If all of these fail, see your dermatologist for advanced remedies such as surgery or cryotherapy.
Remove Skin Tags From Neck
Most skin tags that appear on the neck are usually soft to touch and tiny in size. They are generally smooth, round, wrinkly, and asymmetrical. One of the easiest ways to remove skin tags on your neck is by using the Tommy Timmy Spot Blaster Pro. This is a fantastic device that uses the latest technology to quickly and easily remove skin tags from the neck and any other part of the body. Other remedies that work for neck skin tags include rubbing apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, or liquid iodine on the skin tag. You may also decide to have surgery.
Remove Skin Tags From Genital Area
Irritation from clothing and friction can contribute to the formation of skin tags around the genital areas. This is not surprising as the genital area has multiple folds of skin. Genital skin tags are not contagious or harmful, but they can cause itching around the anus and genital area. To get rid of them, you can try castor oil, baking soda, tea tree oil, and apple cider vinegar to weaken the skin tags and slowly kill them. However, it is essential to exercise caution when applying anything to these highly sensitive areas. A great option is the Tommy Timmy Spot Blaster Pro, which removes skin tags quickly without harming your genital area.
Remove Skin Tags In Or Around Your Ear
Also known as a branchial cleft remnant or accessory tangus, ear skin tags usually appear in front of the ear next to the cheek. The most common method of ear tag removal is ligation, where a string is tied tightly around the stalk of the skin tags to strangle it to death intentionally. However, since most skin tags in the ears have cartilage within their stalk, the recommended remedy is surgical excision by a qualified dermatologist.
Remove Skin Tags From Mouth
Even though it’s rare, skin tags do appear in the mouth. They may appear on the tongue, lips, or the corner of the mouth. Such skin tags are uncomfortable and can make you self conscious since they resemble common STI symptoms. Getting rid of skin tags in your mouth is not something you should attempt at home by yourself. You need to see a dermatologist who will most likely decide surgical excision is the best remedy. The surgeon may also use cryotherapy, which involved freezing the skin tags using liquid nitrogen until the skin tags die.
And Lastly…How to remove skin tags from your dog
As dogs get older, their skin can also be affected by skin tags. Skin tags in dogs usually appear as single or multiple lumps. You may not know it, but the skin tags could be making life difficult for your furry friend, especially if he keeps scratching, appears to be in pain, or seems bothered by the growth. You may think you can remove the skin tags yourself, but unless you are a vet, do not try it. Take your dog to the vet who will determine whether or not the skin tags on your dog need removal and, if so, the best method.