Plus, some products to help prevent them all together.
Tea tree oil, a lactic acid daily lotion and a litigation remover.
Last year we learned that over 50% of adults will experience skin tags at least once in their lifetime. Commonly found on areas like the back of neck, under the arms and even on the eyelids, these redundant growths of excess skin, though thankfully benign, might cause some irritation or insecurity.
Going into a doctor’s office, especially for something largely cosmetic, isn’t always accessible to all people, so board-certified dermatologists suggested some products that may help get rid of skin tags at home or help prevent them altogether.
You can learn more about the removal process from some of our previous coverage or keep reading straight ahead to the recommended skin tag removal options.
A note of caution: Many of the board-certified dermatologists that we spoke with confirmed that there are no FDA-approved over-the-counter skin tag treatments and the treatments that do exist may potentially cause skin injury, including scars, discoloration and infection — so it’s important to consult with medical healthcare professionals in situations where skin tags are large, abundant or may more than just a skin tag.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Purvisha Patel in Memphis, Tennessee said that because the skin of a tag has a very small blood supply products such as tea tree oil or apple cider vinegar can sometimes desiccate or dry up the skin spot when applied daily. “This then creates a dry scab that falls off,” Patel said, cautioning that this might not always lead to consistent results and that for tags with a base measuring over half a millimeter, it’s best to consult a dermatologist to prevent the possibility of a skin infection. We selected this Laguna Moon 100% pure essential tea tree oil for its 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon and nearly 123,500 5-star reviews. The formula claims to be non-diluted, safe for use on the skin and made with hand-harvested melaleluca alternifolia tree leaves from Australia.
100% pure Australian tea tree oil
Nandi Wagner, the lead esthetician at Gilded Ritual in New York City, previously spoke with HuffPost about at-home skin tag removal methods and mentioned the commonly used litigation technique, which may take a few days to complete. “Ligation works by cutting off the blood flow to the skin tag, causing it to fall off,” Wagner said. ”There are several [over-the-counter] ligation pens that deploy a small silicone band around the base of the skin tag, cutting off its circulation. After about five days, the skin tag generally will dry up and fall off.” Based on this suggestion, we found this Everlom litigation kit, which comes in two options (micro and large) depending on the size of your skin tag. It’s one of the highest rated litigation kits on Amazon and has everything you need to apply the bands and clean the skin pre and post skin tag removal.
A litigation kit
According to previous guidance from New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Elaine F. Kung, for smaller and barely noticeable skin tags, consistent and long-term use of a lotion containing AHA, BHA (salicylic acid), or lactic acid may help chemically ‘exfoliate’ the tiny little tags. The AmLactin Daily Nourish lotion, which we selected for its popularity on Amazon, contains a considerably high concentration of lactic acid as well as glycerin, a beloved humectant that can draw moisture into the skin and keep it hydrated. Heads up: It’s around the same price at a few retailers, but if you’ve already got a Target run planned and you’re a Circle member, then the AmLactin there for save $10 on a $60 purchase deal the retailer has going.
A 12% lactic acid daily lotion
Dr. Jaimie DeRosa, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon based in Boston previously told HuffPost that, in her opinion, the “most effective and safest way” to remove skin tags at home is to freeze them off using cryotherapy, a technique that uses super-cold gas (most commonly nitrogen) to kill the skin tag’s blood supply. “At-home cryotherapy kits vary, so just look for those that can get you the coldest settings (at least -4 degrees Fahrenheit to -58 F),” DeRosa explained, adding that she suggests the Compound W Nitrofreeze. This freezing treatment may be advertised with the intended use of removing warts, however DeRosa said that it gets cold enough for skin tag removal. It features a precision tip applicator and claims to complete removal in as few as one treatment.
A freezing treatment
Patel said that one of the causes of skin tags is friction on the skin in areas like the base of the neck, under the arms and thighs. Dermatologists previously suggested to HuffPost a variety of products that can be useful for preventing skin chafing and reducing skin friction, one of them being this thigh rescue stick by Megababe. New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick said that “this easy-to-use formula glides on easily and includes aloe and vitamin E to help soothe the skin as well as pomegranate seed extract to protect the skin and grape seed oil to help hydrate.”
An anti-friction thigh stick
If you have sensitive or breakout-prone skin, dermatologists also previously suggested this anti-chafe balm by First Aid Beauty, which contains rich moisturizers and skin-soothing ingredients to help prevent chafing. This sweat-resistant clear balm, perfect for sensitive skin, contains nourishing shea butter, symrelief (a versatile skin soother) and the brand’s signature inclusion of colloidal oatmeal, which can be extremely helpful for those with chafing-induced eczema.
A calming anti-chafe stick for sensitive skin
Board-certified cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Deanne Mraz, said that if you have folds in the skin, it’s important to keep the area clean and dry using products like body powder or deodorant. This formula is made without talc, promises to be completely residue-free and uses a blend of baking soda with odor neutralizing ingredients to help you smell fresh and feel comfortable. It’s also a product that came previously suggested to us by dermatologists.
An invisible body powder spray
Based on the fact that skin tags can commonly occur on areas like the neck and underarms and possibly caused by friction, we found this three-pack of compression undershirts that fit close to the skin and are made with a moisture-wicking material that’s stretchy, functional and breathable. They are available in a few different colors and packs and men’s sizes S-XXL. Shop a similar style for women.
