Acrochorda or skin tags are a form of harmless benign lesions that are non cancerous in nature. They generally cause no symptoms. However, they can cause discomfort based on their size and especially at the awkward places they occur on, on your skin.
These tags are quite small and range from a diameter of 1 millimeter to 5 centimeters. They are either flesh-colored or slightly dark from the color of your skin. The skin tags mostly grow around skin folds and may appear on any part of your skin. They are majorly found in and around eyelids, armpits, under the breast, neck, upper chest or around groin. It is believed that skin tags occur when skin rubs against clothing or skin. People who are overweight or obese, pregnant or have diabetes are more likely to develop skin tags.
Males and females are equally prone to developing skin tags. Moreover, these soft hanging balloons of skin can vary in number from one tag to over a hundred. Also, it is believed that each one of use develops a skin tag at least once in our lives. Although, skin tags might fall on their own, sometimes spontaneously, yet there are times when they persist once formed.
Agreed they are not harmful, but we all don’t want that protruding lesion anywhere on the skin. That drives all the attention and we don’t want that. So, how do you get rid of skin tags then?
As mentioned earlier, skin tags are harmless and should usually be treated when they are bothersome. One of the ways to remove skin tags is by the processes of cryotherapy or excision. Alternatively, there are over the counter treatments available for removal of skin tags. For those looking to escape chemical laden treatments, they can opt for home remedies using essential oils to remove skin tags.
How to remove skin tags naturally using essential oils?
Essential oils have long been trusted on skin anomalies. Not only are they effective on the affected area, but they are super safe to use and hold many regenerative properties which heal the skin cells and tissues surrounding the premises of the anomaly. The best part, they put no toxins in your body and are any day cheaper than other forms of treatments available for skin tag removal.
Having said this, here’s the list of essential oils that you should use to treat those unwanted, unnecessary skin lesions away:
1. Frankincense Oil
Frankincense oil has been used for over a hundred years because of its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. The oil is known to carry healing properties as well. Using frankincense oil for skin tags helps in cutting the blood supply and oxygen penetration to the cells, thus, converting it to dead skin. The dead skin later falls off on its own without pain or bleeding. This oil also helps in removal of warts or moles.
How to use frankincense oil to remove skin tags: To remove the skin tags, dab frankincense oil on a cotton swab and apply it directly to the skin tag. Repeat this process few times a day. Make sure you apply it as close to the base of the tag as possible.
Precautions: If the oil irritates the skin surrounding tag, it is recommended that you cover that skin with petroleum jelly before the application of the oil. You may also consider diluting the oil with castor oil or olive oil to reduce the harsh impact on the skin. If you still happen to experience discomfort, discontinue using the oil completely.
Note: While using frankincense oil for skin tag removal, it is important to ensure that the oil is of therapeutic grade. Any other grade of this oil will not deliver the desired results.
2. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is highly praised for the painless removal of skin tags and its antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. As per the Chinese medications, skin tags appear due to excessive dampness in the body. Tea tree oil has the ability to dry the skin inside out and helps in relieving one of the skin tags and even warts.
How to use tea tree oil to remove skin tags: Take a clean cotton ball and dip it in water. Use this cotton ball to clean the skin tag. Next, soak it in water once again and squeeze the excess water out. Pour about 2 to 3 drops of tea tree oil to the wet ball and gently massage it over your tag. Repeat this process thrice a day to see a visible change.
Precautions: Tea tree oil can be too harsh on your skin. Therefore, it is highly recommended to dilute it using the wet cotton ball. If you still feel the oil sting your hyper sensitive skin, dilute the oil even further. Also, do not, under any circumstances, ingest tea tree oil. It can lead to diarrhea, drowsiness, and vomiting. It might also prove to be toxic in some cases. In case you happen to ingest it, consult your physician right away.
3. Oregano Oil
Perhaps the only essential oil that treats skin tags quickly is the Oregano oil. It is an extremely potent liquid with healing, antibacterial and germicidal properties. Despite the speed it shows in recovering the skin of anomalies, it is extremely important to ensure it is used only and only in its diluted form. You can mix oregano oil with extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil for best results.
How to use oregano oil to remove skin tags: Step one would be to mix 2 drops of oregano oil in 6 drops of a carrier oil. Dab this diluted oil on a clean cotton swab and apply it over the cleansed skin tag at least thrice a day. Like other oils, oregano oil also helps in drying out the tag from within and helps in painless removal of the same. It is believed that oregano oil can cure a skin tag within 2 to 4 weeks based on the size of the tag. When using oregano oil, you would be able to see the color of your tag change from red to purple to dark black before it finally drops off your skin.
Precautions: As mentioned earlier, oregano oil is comparatively stronger than the other essential oils and should always be diluted with a carrier oil before its application on the skin. Otherwise, you can expect red marks all around your tag. We will not recommend this oil for hyper sensitive skin type.
Note: This essential oil should not be used for skin tags around the eyes. Eyes are sensitive and the oil might do more harm than good when used around the eyes.
4. Castor Oil
Castor oil is probably one of the best oils to be used for skin tag removal. It can be both, ingested or topically applied for many benefits. The oil carries many health related benefits and could be used as a carrier oil to dilute other essential oils too.
How to use castor oil for skin tags: Apply castor oil topically several times during the day on the skin tags. You could apply it either in pure form or as a carrier oil. Alternatively, you can make a paste of castor oil with baking soda to remove skin tags. Apply the paste on the skin tags at night before going to sleep and cover it with a bandage to keep it in place. For better results, you could apply the paste in the morning as well and cover it with a bandage for 15 minutes before washing it off. It is advised that you continue this practice for at least 6 weeks.
5. Rose Hip Seed oil
One of the most widely used essential oils for several skin conditions, rose hip seed oil is rich in Vitamin C and fatty acids. It helps in rejuvenating and nourishing the epidermis and the layers beneath, providing a quick relief and protection for general skin care.
How to use rose hip seed oil to remove skin tags: For best results on skin tags removal, you should combine a tablespoon of rose hip seed oil with a tablespoon of sage essential oil. Apply this concoction several times a day on the affected area for best results. These oils are not as potent and can work wonders on sensitive skin. Make sure you do not leave the mixture in open or exposed to direct sunlight. This might affect the properties of both the oils and delay the expected results.
6. Lavender Oil
Aren’t we all in love with the aroma of this wonderful essential oil? Lavender oil is the most widely used essential oil in aromatherapy and for medicinal and therapeutic reasons, primarily for its soothing and calming properties that restore perfect skin conditions.
How to use lavender oil to remove skin tags: Lavender oil can either be used in the pure form or can be used with carrier oils like olive and coconut over the skin tags. You could topically apply the oil at least 5 times a day. Another way of using lavender essential oil for the removal of skin tags is by forming a spary of lavender oil. Use this spray directly on the skin several times across the day. This will help in reducing inflammation and eliminate irritations associated with skin tags. You could add a few drops of sweet basil essential oil to your spray bottle too for more effective results.
7. Lemon Oil
Lemon essential oil has strong astringent properties and it helps in removal of excess oils and water from the skin that leads to the formation of skin tags. The oil is photosensitive in nature and should not be applied on the skin with direct exposure. You can mix lemon oil with other carrier oils as well.
How to use lemon oil to remove skin tags: Lemon oil can be directly applied on the skin tags at least thrice a day. The oil helps in drying the tag off and with time it detaches from the skin and falls on its own.
Precautions: Lemon essential oil should only be applied on to the skin when you are away from direct exposure to the sun light.
A few basic yet extremely important precautions:
- Always test the essential oil on a patch of the skin before proceeding with the entire treatment. These oils are extremely strong and can cause irritation on the skin.
- It is important to dilute each of these oils before application on the skin to ensure they do not burn the skin or leave red marks behind.
- It is recommended that you apply the essential oil remedies for skin tags at least thrice a day. However, you can increase it or decrease it based on the changes you start to notice in your skin tag.
- It would take about a month for you to see visible results, thus, do not rush into applying the remedies more than four times a day expecting faster results. This might dry out the nearby areas of the skin too and cause other skin anomalies.
- Do not change the oil in the course of the treatment. Stick to one particular oil after the patch test.
- Always apply petroleum jelly such as vaseline on the unaffected area of the skin to protect it from drying out.
- People using these oils with hypersensitive skin should prefer consulting their doctor / physician in case of irritation.
- Do not try and pull out or cut your skin tag on your own, if you happen to notice changes. Consult your medical practitioner on the next steps if needed.
- Use essential oils in limited quantities always. Increasing the quantity will not fasten the results.
- When treating skin tags near the eye, ensure that the oils are diluted in the ratio of 1:6 to avoid any negative effect on the eye.
- In case of skin tags on the eye, do not use essential oils without an approval from your doctor. Do not try the patch test either.
- Make sure you get the skin tags tested by your medical practitioner to ensure they will not lead to further complications and are nothing more than benign lesions on the skin.
Always remember, natural cure is the best cure. However, you need to ensure it is done right to reap maximum benefits. Do you know of more such home remedies we could use to get rid of skin tags? Share them with us and our readers in the comments section below.
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