Table of Contents
- INTRODUCTION
- QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
- POPULAR REMEDIES
- A String Tied Around the Skin Tag
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Aspirin
- Bacitracin Ointment
- Bloodroot
- Castor Oil and Baking Soda Paste
- Dry Ice
- Essiac Tea
- Garlic
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Iodine
- Juicing
- Laser Treatment
- Lavender Oil
- Nail Polish
- Oregano Oil
- Otc Wart Remedies
- Remedies Needed
- Salicylic Acid
- Scissors
- Scissors, Nail Clippers or String
- Skin Tag Theories
- String or Blade Method
- Tea Tree Oil
- Ted's Remedies
- The Fingernail Clipper Snipping Method
- The Rip It Off Method
Skin Tag Cures
Most Recent Posts on this Page
[YEA] 05/03/2013: Suzanne from Montreal, Canada: "Another home remedy for warts or skin tags is Garlic! A girlfriend of mine told me about the garlic a long time ago for warts. My daughter at that time had a really bad wort on the bottom of her foot. I tried the most..."Read More
[YEA] 01/03/2013: Es from New York: "I recently noticed a small skin tag on my chest. I'd never had one before. I came right to earthclinic, read about Lugol's and ordered a bottle online for a couple of bucks. I applied it for about 3 days, about 2x a day, I..."
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DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.
POPULAR REMEDIES:
| Iodine | 18 YEAS |
| Apple Cider Vinegar | 14 YEAS |
| Scissors | 11 YEAS |
| A String Tied Around the Skin Tag | 10 YEAS |
| Tea Tree Oil | 5 YEAS |
Apple Cider Vinegar Treatment for a Skin Tag
You'll Need:
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Cotton Balls
Dampen a cotton ball with apple cider vinegar and apply to the skin tag. Rub the tag with the cotton ball for a few minutes twice a day for a few days until the tag disappears or falls off.
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[YEA] 10/07/2011: Jacquie from St. Charles, Illinois: "I have had skin tags removed by my doctor for years until recently - no health insurance and it's expensive. After doing extensive research online, and trying a variety of methods which did NOT work (clear nail polish, duct tape on the skin tage, etc. ) but rather served to additionally irritate the surrounding skin, I finally came across the ACV suggestion and tried it out of desperation. OMG - this stuff WORKS!!! I dipped a Qtip swap into some apple cider vinegar that I purchased from the local grocery store - (cost under a dollar) and applied it directly onto this huge skin tag - stung a teensy bit but oh well - I'm too much of a chicken to try the needle/thread/cutting options suggested. I applied it 2-3x/day and at night or whenever not having to appear in public, I would put a small round bandaid to cover it up due to its ginormous size. Verrrry quickly it started to diminish in size and now is not even there anymore - just a reddish spot that will fade away. I am utterly amazed and cannot wait to inform my Dr.when next I'm fortunate enough to see him, what an all-natural totally healthy method did for me in his absense. ;>) If any of you out there suffer from these pesky, unsightly things, by all means, run, not walk to your local grocery store and get an inexpensive bottle of ACV, good grief. I might even try including a couple of tsps in my hot tea - who know what else it might do for one, from the inside, based on all of these testimonials I'm reading."
Replies10/09/2011: Middlebunny from Jersey City, New Jersey, Usa replies: "Thank you for your feedback. I've tried dabbing my skin tags with ACV after I wash my face but it had no effect. Clearly, I need to apply the treatment more often. I'm not sure if I will be able to accomplish this as often as you did; however, I think I should be able to do the night-time/band-aid treatment to see how that works."
01/05/2012: Cape0630 from Buffalo, Ny, Usa replies: "Hi, I am trying the ACV on my 10 yr. Old Golden Retreiver who has a skintag on his hind leg. Last year he had one and the vet removed it but it cost 540.00!! I have been soaking a femine pad and then placing it on his skintag with a loose bandage. After about a week of this the top of the skintag is dark black... Is this normal? Please advise!!! Thank you."
01/06/2012: Bud from Brazil replies: "Yes, this is normal. It means it's working, and soon they will fall off.What works really well too is Iodine tincture. You can get it decolorized so it doesn't stain."
11/22/2010: Ash from Baltimore, Maryland: "I read on here that Apple Cider Vinegar helps to remove skin tags so one night I just had to try something and quick started to soak a cotton ball and some nights a panty liner to remove skin tags I had "down there" which was really embarassing I didnt even want to get intimate because of them and I slept with them on and took them off in the am and washed the area within a week they dried up and fell off I did this last year and havent had them come back WOW I CANT BELIEVE THIS REALLY HELPED I LOOVE THIS WEBSITE!!! "
Replies[YEA] 03/03/2011: Mgm0608 from Milford, Ct replies: "I just started taking Apple Cider Vinegar orally for digestive help, and have been searching for other uses. so, I thought why not try on skin tag on the back of my neck, it's been bothering me for years. poured some on cotton ball, held it on for about 10 minutes, rubbed gently and much to my amazement, it's gone. I keep feeling for it and can't find it, I think I need to get 2 mirror just to check it out, but as far as I can feel, it's not there at all, . Can't believe how easy!!"
[BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS] 06/03/2011: Apple Cheeks from Sedona, Az, Usa replies: "I got rid of a bothersome skin tag on my neck with acv. I saturated a cotton pad and rubbed it across the skin tag for around 5 minutes. I stopped as it became red and irritated. I didn't dare do it again but amazingly the skin tag fell off 3 days later! I am very impressed with acv."
[YEA] 11/14/2008: Tina from Willingboro, NJ: "YOU WILL BE AMAZED!!!!
ACV must be the best stuff ever! I had skin tags for years now. Especially after having my twins. Mine always looked like little balls instead of the flat ones. They would sometimes itch too.
Anyway, I was researching some remedies and was going to cut them off. It takes a lot of nerve for me so I couldn't. I saw one post on another site that said to put ACV on a cotton ball and leave it on the tag for at least 10 min. Then start to rub it back and forth and in circles.
Right before your eyes you will notice it starts to lighten in color then seem to stretch a bit and get smaller and smaller. Finally it almost disappears except for a clear tiny sack. I then cut this off with sterilized scissors. (I probably could have kept rubbing but got impatient.) There was no pain at all. Just some tingling while rubbing.
It's been a week so I don't know if they come back or not but I will do this again if they do!"
[YEA] 01/06/2011: Redschoke from Fort Myers, Fl replies: "Wow! Apple Cider Vinegar really does work! I have tons of skin tags, especially on my neck. My insurance does not cover removal of them, so just about an hour ago, I was reading this post and decided to try the ACV on a cotton ball as instructed. The result are so unbelievable! Honestly, no lie, the skin tag that I applied the ACV to is gone. The only thing left there is a small scar that I will apply bactriban ointment to, to take care of it and maybe if need be, a little fading cream. Thank you for your tip. I have a lot of work to do!"
[YEA] 05/15/2007: Rhonda from Morton, PA: "I began taking 2 TBSP organic ACV, 1 TBSP organic Honey and 8oz. Distilled Water 1X per day and my skin tags are going away. I noticed they started drying up and after only 4 days after taking this drink daily and it was totally unexpected. I also have more energy and my face looks clearer. I am going to continue this 5 days on and 2 days off and see what else happens! I also wanted to say thanks to everyone who contributes to this website it's got a ton of great info. I could get lost on this site for days!"
[YEA] 12/30/2006: David from Albemarle, NC: "My mom told me about it, I tried it on warts and skin tags, put it on a piece of cotton ball and soak it with ACV and put a band aid on it over night, refresh it in the morning and it will turn it dark. Give it a couple of days and it will disappear. Believe it or not."
Replies[SIDE EFFECTS] 06/03/2010: Joe from Houston, Texas replies: "I tried the ACV and after the 3rd day, its started to burn my skin. I decided to move on. I was so disappointed but I'm still hopeful. I'm moving on the string option! Wish me luck!"
[BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS] 02/21/2011: Shauna from Winnipeg, Mb replies: "I also used ACV on some skin tags and, yes, it did remove them when I rubbed a cotton ball with ACV on it. However, it really burned my skin and after about 5 weeks, I'm still waiting for the redness to disappear completely. I must have sensitive skin because only one other person has mentioned this side affect."
[SIDE EFFECTS] 06/18/2012: Arlene from Colorado Springs, Colorado, Usa replies: "I had a few skin tags the size of a grain of rice removed from around my eyes when I was a teenager by my doctor using an electric needle that burned them off. Later, when I started getting them on my neck in my 30s/40s, I used nail scissors to cut them off when they get longish. I find that seems to leave scars and does not entirely get rid of them.For the past few years they have been spreading and now I have dozens and dozens of tiny skin tags on my neck, my collarbone area and down my chest between my breasts and along the bottom of my breasts (where the underwires rub I suppose). They are tiny, maybe 1/4 the size of a grain of rice, and most are flat, but there are so many I hate them. They are too small, flat and numerous to use the string method or to cut off. In fact, there are so many it is next to impossible to isolate them for applying ACV or tea-tree oil only on the skin tags.
After reading these posts I bought some 5% Apple Cider Vinegar, soaked a cotton ball and rubbed it on a 4x2 inch spot at the base of my neck by the collarbone. It did not hurt and seemed to make my skin smoother. So then I decided to rub it all over my neck and down my chest between and under my breasts. I did it again the next morning and this time it burned a little. When I redid it that night it really burned, and now I seem to have a burn on the side of my neck and a bad burn under one of my breasts. The surrounding skin is very red and sore and the tags themselves are quite red and seem to have grown or are standing up staighter or something as it is easier to pinpoint them. This morning I used Q-tips to apply the ACV and tried to apply just to the skin tags with some success.
I am not sure if I should keep trying this or if I am wasting my time since I cannot leave the entire area covered with soaked cotton as it burns too much. Any advice would be greatly appreciated."
[BETTER BUT NOT CURED] 06/24/2012: Sandy from Mancheter, UK replies: "I am using cider vinegar on anal skin tags. I have one large one, about an inch long, and several smaller ones. They are all on stalks and have been an embaressment for a few years now. I soaked cotton wool in ACV and first night slept with that attached, but the second night it hurt a bit, and the third night it hurt like hell and I had to take it off after about an hour. However, three of the smaller tags have gone a light grey and are very hard, so it is working --just depends whether I can stand the pain until they all fall off. Does anyone know whether it should hurt that much ? It is very painful- can't sit down, and can hardly stand up, have to just lean over something or lie down."
06/26/2012: Natural Girl from Lagos, Nigeria replies: "Please any update on this? I tried Salicylic Acid on my anal tag yesterday, it hurt like crazy, even though the tip has turned grey, I'm really scared of trying it again because of the pain. I'm thinking of trying the ACV. Is it supposed to hurt?"
06/29/2012: Sandy from Mancheter, Lancashire replies: "Update-- a week in and I have had to stop using the cider vinegar, it was just too painful. It was definately working, the tags have gone hard and started going black but have now just gone red. I have now tied off the largest tag wtih dental floss today and it is already turning a darker red --the cider vinegar has helped to dry them out so it's made thme much easier to tie them off. It's very difficult to operate with one hand in that area but I managed after several attempts to make a slipknot and loop the floss over the tag and push it down to the base. I left very long strings so that I could tighten it all up from the front. Seems to be working and not too painful so far, just stinging a little. Will update in a day or so."
07/02/2012: Sandy from Manchester, Lancashire replies: "So it's three days into tying the dental floss on the big one and that really isn't too bad on the pain front, quite sore where it is tied, but nothing compared to the agony of the ACV. I have now started painting the tags with nail polish, as this is helping to dry them out and although it stings when you first apply, it's nowhere near as painful as ACV and it settles after a while. At this stage, they are still white and hard, and the tied- off one has gone very hard, and has swollen to much bigger than it was, but they are all tender. It's a case of showering after every toilet trip as it is too painful to touch any of them with tissue. Sitting down is interesting, but is possible on a soft surface. There have been two nights when the pain disturbed my sleep so far, so not that bad.It's a nightmare really, but it will be worth it if they all come off. Altogether this has been going on for ten days now, but painful though it is , there's no going back, I will see this through to the end however. I have to do it as I am single and I am too embarrassed to have sex with anyone. I did think about cutting the big one off, but I cut a small one under my arm off last night (totally painless by the way, didn't even bleed-just snipped it right near the base with nail clippers -don't go too close to the skin, that will hurt) and decided against it as I know it's going to hurt like hell. Anal tags are not like other tags --they have feeling. The one under my arm didn't. I might cut the big one off if it dries up some more, because I could see what I was doing better with that one out of the way. Update soon."
07/14/2012: Amanda from Bloomington, Illinois replies: "Do you have any update on your string method progress?"
08/18/2012: Lise877 from Strathmore, Alberta replies: "Since the apple cider vinegar seems to work so well for everyone, I am trying it on a horrible anal tag that I have had for several years now, left over from an external hemmrhoid or anal fissure. I have always been self-conscious about it but since my significant other noticed it, I am too self-conscious to get intimate.I went to the Dr. to inquire about getting it removed but she said that they won't do it because the healing of the treatment can be worse than the tags themselves. She also said that it will likely return. This information was upsetting to me and I am determined to get rid of it on my own.
This is day 2 of the apple cider vinegar applications. So far, I've noticed that the tag has hardened and shrunk a little bit. I've been soaking a cotton pad and applying it to the area for 15-20 min 2x/day. The vinegar does sting but it's definitely tolerable. I might try to use the [commercial] skin tag remover if the ACV is not successful because I'm too worried about complications to try the tying-off method. I am a little bit worried about trying the freezing method, as the tag is not in an easily accessible spot... Has anyone successfully removed an anal skin tag at home? I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks :)"
[YEA] 12/18/2012: Gillyb from London, Greenwich, Uk replies: "I was starting to arrive at my wits end trying to herbally get rid of two large skin tags on my face, the main one being 4mm in size the smaller 3mm. I tried tea tree oil, I tried naturasil (got completely conned out of £25 as it did absolutely nothing but smell to high heaven! ), finally I read the posts on here in relation to ACV. I do have the option of minor surgery but didn't want to go down this route, neither was I brave enough to use the string or just freeze and lop it off with a razor methods.I am happy to say that after a week of diligently applying the ACV 3 to 4 times a day and sometimes putting some on a small piece of cotton wool and keeping it on over night with a plaster, it has finally turned black. I used an ear bud to apply the ACV trying to keep it as local as possible to the actual skin tag whilst trying to avoid the normal skin around it so as not to cause irritation, I'm so happy it seems to be working, it hasn't fallen off yet but the blackness is starting to cover the whole of the tag now and it's going a crusty, hopefully it will fall off and I won't be walking around with what now appears to be a burnt raisin on my face! GillyB"
Aspirin
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[YEA] 10/20/2008: Marianne from Los Angeles, CA: "Aspirin to remove skin tags
I had a small skin tag underneath my chin. Since I was too squeamish to "rip it off", I crushed an aspirin, mixed it with a few drops of water and put it on the skin tag. Then I put a band aid over it and went to sleep. When I woke up the tag had shriveled up & it fell off when I washed my face. Aspirin's worth a try if you have skin tags-at least you won't have to worry about bleeding or infection."
Bacitracin Ointment
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[YEA] 01/31/2007: C from PDL, USA: "I had a (not sure what to call it) wasn't exactly a mole or skin tag looked more like a melanoma, come up on my hand a couple of months ago, anyway I started the iodine remedy (couldn't find lugols so using Iodine Tincture, going to keep looking for Lugol's) about 5 days ago and since one of your feedback people said his got infected I decided to every couple of days put Bacitracin Ointment, before I started the Bacitration, I noticed the thing already getting smaller, I am going to continue this experiment and occasionally use bacitration ointment to see if it goes totally away, I will keep you informed of my progress."
Replies04/20/2007: C from PD, USA replies: "I had wrote you earlier: e-mail: BACITRACIN OINTMENT... update on the above progress, I ordered the Lugol's Iodine and started putting in on my melonoma looking thing, I started putting the Lugol's iodine and bacitration alternating and the spot is almost gone, Lugol's apprantly works faster, I know it is a lot thicker and it does seem to irritate it more, but I think that is just part of the process, because it started flaking off more and more each day"
Bloodroot
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[YEA] 07/26/2009: Victoria from Rumson, NJ: "Blood Root helped elminated skin tags
I have an Bloodroot Extract that has a dry herb strength of 1.4 other ingredients are 55% grape alchol and filtered water.
I have applied the extract directly to skin tags via a Q-tip and also make a tinture out of this to take internally. I use 1 quart warm water with 15 drops of the extract.
My skin tags have both falling off and shrunk - I have been using externally for about a year.
I also noticed that when I started drinking lemon water, they seemed to shrink even more. They used to "sprout" out, now the remaining ones are much closer to the skin.
I haven't been particularly agressive with the treatment, but it certain does work. With this extract, there really is no topical skin burning, however the tags that have fallen off did get swollen and itchy before they "let go".
As to the internal, I can say when I sip the tinture tea, you do get kind of physical "buzz" from it - it must be working!"
[YEA] 02/04/2008: Debbie from NA, CA: "You can still buy it at: !! But it comes in 2 parts and you have to mix it yourself. Very helpful also. I don't think I read this source here, but I didn't read every single post either. Just in case: http://www.altcancercream.com/default2.asp
My husband did try it on a rather large skin tag. It was difficult to cover w/bandaid. It got really gross also but one day it turned BLACK!! and eventually fell off. I guess the tag was too large (about 1/2 inch long???) so he had to do it again. Both time it definitely was painful. But it now is just a little bump but always pink. I don't think he wants to try it anymore. He cut off another one that was smaller and that was the easier way to go."
[YEA] 11/08/2007: Andre from Waterbury, CT: "yes i have tried the bloodroot paste on many things. i 1st used it on a weird lump i had on my thigh.my doctor had told me it was just fibers under my skin and not to worry, but i had to get rid of it, it just nagged me to be there. so i did a search and thought bloodroot paste might work. and guess what it did. it also got rid of my skin tags. and 1 time out of 5 it left a scar. i think its because i bandaged it with, because the other times i didn't and it left nothing.."
[BETTER BUT NOT CURED] 10/12/2007: Gina from Lakewood, CO: "I make a bloodroot salve that is great on skin tags if you catch them when they first pop up. As far as getting rid of older ones, I'm not so sure. It may work, but the friend who is trying it has been at it awhile with no noticable difference."
[YEA] 08/09/2007: Rose Marie from Cottonwood, AZ: "I use bloodroot paste on moles and skin tags. As everyone says, it does cause moderate pain and redness. I apply it for 3 days with a bandaid over it and then I apply neosporn or bag balm for 3 days with a bandaid and the mole or tag falls off by itself at the root level. The area then heals and within a few weeks there is no sign of damage."
Castor Oil and Baking Soda Paste
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[YEA] 01/15/2009: John from Anderson, SC USA: "Remove skin tags, moles, etc: A Cayce Remedy that worked for me was mixing castor oil and baking soda into a paste and apply cover with a bandaid is necessary refresh it till it disappears.Worked every time. John"
Replies[YEA] 03/20/2011: Windndown from Kitty Ville, Ca replies: "Oh baking soda, and my beloved castor oil!! I swear by both of them, did you know castro oil cured my pink eye? I caught it early and saw online add a drop twice a day, it stopped the itch and pain with one drop!!! So anyway I did add one drop to both eyes and it was GONE in one day but I did it again for one more day. I went to the Doctors for a diff reason and told him to check my eyes, I said I used a home remedy of castor oil to cure it, she just raised his eye brows and shook his head yes, and when he looked in my eye, he says he sees NO INFECTION.. When you pull my eye lid down you see a tiny bit of yellow dr says that will rinse out on its own, could be from the oil.. Im so happy with that home cure I could have suffered big time, it was awful for me the first day but urgent care was closed. C. Oil rocks!Baking soda.. That stuff cures my gout for the past 4 years or more.. I did it one day I was desperate for help on a foot pain and read online it could be gout, so I looked up gout home cures and back then it was SOOO HARD TO FIND there were books saying buy me and learn how to cure your gout from home with simple items you have in your home already.. But I kept digging and found one site ONLY ONE, today there are hundreds.. Told me the steps I followed them and with in less than a day it was all gone, I have since tested it over and over and its never failed me!!!!"
03/21/2011: Francisca from Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France replies: "For some reason my eyes have been getting very dry. It all started after the plane trees near our house shed a lot of cotton wool like stuff last year. My husband has problems too. As I wear contact lenses I got very worried and reading about Castor oil for dry eyes on this site I decided to try. The only thing it did was to make my eyes swollen. As we were leaving on a trip I went to the Eye Hospital and the doctor told me that the tear ducts were blocked. The liquid tears were still coming out but no fat. Now I have to put warm black tea bags on my eyes twice a day and then squeeze them a bit all around for the fat to come out. They are better now but still try. I have read about the Manuka Honey but I have to confess that I am afraid to try. By the way, the Castor Oil I used comes from a health food store and as it has a pump is not really in contact with the air. I only put a little bit on the riem of the eye twice a day for a few days."
Dry Ice
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[YEA] 02/09/2009: Scott from East Texas, Texas: "Skin Tags -- Dry Ice! It is so simple, yet you must be careful with it. I discovered the use of Dry Ice when I was searching for the cause and cure for "little blood blisters" on my scrotum. I found someone who said that breaking dry ice into slivers and putting the end of a sliver directly on a blood blister and then counting..."one thousand one, one thousand two...all the way to one thousand five" gave the time to "fix" it. About five days later, the blood blister had dried up, and finally fell off. The skin underneath was lighter in color after the scab fell off. But, the final result was phenominal. I was embarised, not any more. Anyhow, After my success with blood blisters on my scrotum, I decided to try dry ice on my wifes skin tags under her arms. They were ugly, some were large. I put the points of dry ice directly on the skin tags and pressed down firmly for about 5 seconds. After about 8 to 10 days, they dried up and fell off. You will have slight scarring which lightens up over the course of several months, but the skin tags have not came back.
YOU MUST BE CAREFULL WITH DRY ICE. USE COTTON GLOVE WITH THE RUBBER DIPPED ON THE PALM AND FINGERS to prevent burns. YOU MUST ONLY TOUCH WHAT YOU WANT TO FREEZE OFF, AS ANY OTHER SKIN WILL BE BURNED.
You can get dry ice at your local grocer. for less than a dollar, you will have enought to "freeze" your tags and blisters, and play with the rest. I havn't tried this on moles, but it may work as well there. Try this on one or two areas not seen outside of your clothing, and see how it works out for you. God Bless!"
05/03/2011: Dennis from Rio De Janeiro replies: "Hi,Thanks for posting on the dry ice. I have thought of doing that also for some tags.
And wondering how to be safe doing it, I came up with the idea to use some tweezers to hold the tag firmly, and then apply the dry ice to the tweezers close to the tag. And of course wearing the gloves.
I just found this site today, and I am amazed with the amount of information you have here.
Great work Guys and Gals!"
Essiac Tea
10/18/2010: Jane from Campbell, Ca: "Essiac Tea removes skin tags. I was drinking 2 ounces of brewed Essiac tea twice a day for 3 months and noticed that all the skin tags on my neck had just disappeared. I was taking Essiac tea just to boost my immune system. I had skin tags on my neck for about 5 years and was amazed that they just disappeared. Essiac tea is available on the internet in tea form, as tea bags, and in bulk (3 pound) herbs. When you buy in bulk the price is significantly less."
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