Ever person’s skin is unique and has its own distinguishing spots, bumps, and marks. But while some skin discolorations are a serious cause for concern, others are medically harmless and perhaps just a bit unsightly. The common condition we’re discussing today is skin tags, which are different from moles, warts, and skin spots. Here is some information about what skin tags are and how you can treat them naturally at home.
What Are Skin Tags?
Skin tags are non-cancerous growths that form when loose fibers of collagen become trapped inside thicker parts of your skin. A thin stalk connects a skin tag to the rest of the skin, causing them to look like tiny pieces of hanging skin that is usually darker in color than the surrounding area. Medically, a skin tag is known as an acrochordon.
Causes of Skin Tags
Friction is what most often causes skin tags from the rubbing of skin against skin or clothing against skin. People who are obese are more likely to develop skin tags because of the increased skin-on-skin contact. Skin tags are very rarely present at birth and instead develop later in life with age. Middle-age and older adults are most likely to have skin tags, but pregnant women also develop them due to hormonal changes. People who have diabetes are more likely to have skin tags, and there is a genetic component to skin tags that makes them more likely if you have a family member with them.
Where Skin Tags Are Most Common
Certain parts of the body are more susceptible to developing skin tags than others because of the friction that often causes them. You are most likely to see skin tags in the underarm area, folds of the groin, neck, eyelids, and beneath the breasts.
Natural Treatments for Skin Tags
There are several natural treatments that are worth trying to remove skin tags and that are typically free of side effects or pain. One method is to soak a cotton ball in tea tree oil, secure it to the skin tag with a bandage for several hours, and repeat this for several days. You can also soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar for the same effect. Additionally, a mixture of baking soda and castor oil paste can be removed for skin tag removal.
Other methods that people have tried and found success with for skin tags include placing a banana peel on the skin tag overnight, applying vitamin E liquid, eating more vitamin E rich foods like fish, and applying crushed garlic to the tag before securing with a bandage. Never try to cut off a skin tag yourself because this can lead to excessive blood loss, pain, and infection.
When Skin Tags Should Be a Concern
Skin tags are very rarely painful and rarely lead to cancer, but they could be uncomfortable or cause a person to be self-conscious depending on where they are located. If you are concerned about a skin tag and natural treatments aren’t working, a physician can surgically remove it and even send it to a lab for testing to ensure that it isn’t a symptom of a more serious medical condition. While it isn’t always possible to prevent skin tags, you can reduce your risk of developing them by eating a low-sugar diet that helps you maintain normal blood sugar levels and that includes plenty of high-fiber foods.