Warts and skin tags are both harmless and extremely common conditions. I’m sure most of us have a few skin tags that we aren’t even aware of. However they can be unsightly and cause embarrassment for some sufferers.
Warts are the more bothersome of the two – I remember the ugly bumps on my fingers from my childhood and my own two youngsters get them occasionally as well. I’m anxious to treat them as soon as I notice as they can spread to other parts of the body (and family!).
There’s no need to worry, however, as there are plenty of ways to remove skin tags and warts naturally at home. Most of these use ingredients you probably already have in your cupboards.
What Are Skin Tags?
Skin tags are harmless, soft skin growths that almost all of us will experience at some point in our lives. What do they look like? You’ll see a small hanging piece of flesh-coloured skin, usually between 2 – 5mm in diameter. They occur most commonly on the eyelids, neck, armpits and body folds.
Skin tags can occur at any age, however they most often appear during middle age. Being overweight or pregnant increases the likelihood of a skin tag appearing. They are not contagious and usually painless. Although they sometimes fall off spontaneously, they will usually persist unless treated.
What Are Warts?
Unlike skin tags, warts are caused by a viral infection – specifically the human papilloma virus (HPV). This means that they are very contagious. Warts are particularly common during childhood – 1 in 5 children have a wart and they spread easily in the playground through skin contact.
What do they look like? There are many different types, but the most common is a raised bump with a rough surface between 1-10mm in size. Warts appear most commonly on the hands, feet, knees and face and can be single or in clusters. On the feet they take the form of a veruca which is a flattened, rough lump. They can be itchy and uncomfortable.
Why Remove Skin Tags and Warts?
Skin tags are completely harmless and healthcare professionals don’t usually remove them unless the patient requests it. They can be unsightly and, depending on the location, get caught on things like jewellery causing bleeding, pain and risk of infection. These are good reasons to remove your skin tags.
Warts require more urgent attention, although there are no serious health implications, they spread easily if not treated. Although they will resolve of their own accord with time, it can take months or even years for this to happen. Wart removal procedures can take effect much more quickly, usually days to weeks.
How are Skin Tags and Warts Treated by the Doctor?
Medical treatments for warts and skin tags are quite similar. Your doctor will most likely use “cryotherapy”, i.e. freezing the tag or wart using liquid nitrogen.
This kills the affected area and it falls off shortly after treatment. Skin tags can also be cut or burned off using a sterile technique in your GP’s office.
You may want to try to remove skin tags and warts naturally however, as the above options can be pricey and painful.
If you are not a fan of using harsh chemicals, you’re in luck – there are plenty of natural options which I’m going to share below.
Important Precautions
Before you start treating your skin tag or wart naturally at home, there are a few important precautions to consider. First of all, you must make sure what you are removing is in fact a skin tag or wart.
Your GP will be able to diagnose this and rule out something more serious such as a malignant growth or mole.
Do not try to cut your skin tag or wart off at home. The tools at the doctor’s office are sterile but at home you are at high risk of infection once you break the skin.
You may read successful reports of this type of thing online but it’s just not worth the risk in my opinion. You’ll end up paying more for antibiotics or in the worst case – hospitalization.
Many of the substances recommended below, although natural, can cause irritation to the skin. Do not apply close to the eyes or other sensitive areas. If irritation develops, cease treatment immediately.
Always cleanse the area before any of these methods. Using soap and warm water or an alcohol wipe is ideal and will help prevent infection.
How to Remove Skin Tags Naturally
1. Tying Off
How does it work?
This method constricts blood flow and oxygen supply to the skin tag, eventually killing it.
What to do:
Tie a string around the root of the skin tag. Tighten the string daily until the skin tag darkens in colour and falls off.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
How does it work?
The acidic vinegar kills the skin of the wart, causing it to shed.
What to do:
Soak a small piece of cotton ball in apple cider vinegar. Press this against the wart and secure with a band aid. Repeat daily until the skin tag falls off.
3. Hydrogen Peroxide
How does it work?
Dries out and kills skin tag tissue.
What to do:
Soak a small piece of cotton ball in 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide. Press this against the skin tag and secure with a band aid. Repeat several times a day until the skin tag whitens and eventually forms a scab.
4. Tea Tree Oil
How does it work?
Natural antiseptic with skin-healing properties, dries out the area.
What to do:
Apply tea tree oil to the skin tag twice a day until successful. Be careful to avoid the surrounding area as irritation is common. Dilution may be necessary for sensitive skin.
5. Castor Oil and Baking Soda
How does it work?
Absorbs moisture from the skin tag.
What to do:
Make a paste with baking soda and caster oil and cover the skin tag completely. Apply a band aid to secure. Repeat daily until resolved.
6. Vitamin E
How does it work?
Vitamin E aids skin healing, the band aid cuts off blood supply to the skin tag.
What to do:
Break open a vitamin E capsule and apply the liquid to the skin tag. Cover with a band aid and leave for several days. Repeat until skin tag falls off.
7. Lemon Juice
How does it work?
Citric acid in lemon juice dries out the skin tag.
What to do:
Apply lemon juice to the skin tag several times a day until it falls off.
In this video you can see 3 best remedies to remove skin tags at home:
How to Remove Warts Naturally
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
How does it work?
The acidic vinegar kills the skin of the wart, causing it to shed.
What to do:
Soak a small piece of cotton ball in apple cider vinegar. Press this against the wart and secure with a band aid. Repeat daily until the skin tag falls off.
2. Garlic
How does it work?
It’s suggested that garlic has an antiviral effect, this hasn’t been proven, however.
What to do:
Crush a clove of garlic and apply to the wart. Place a band aid on top and repeat daily.
3. Vitamin C
How does it work?
Vitamin C is said to fight viral infections, including the wart-causing HPV.
What to do:
Crush a vitamin C tablet and make a paste with the powder and some lemon juice. Apply to the wart daily and cover with a band aid.
4. Potato
How does it work?
Historical remedy – mechanism unknown.
What to do:
Cut a piece from a potato and remove the skin. Rub the potato piece on the wart for several minutes and then cover with a band aid. Repeat daily.
5. Dandelion
How does it work?
Historical remedy – mechanism unknown.
What to do:
Take the flower head off a dandelion and squeeze the white “milk” in the stem onto the wart. Cover with a band aid and repeat daily until resolved.
6. Manuka Honey
How does it work?
Manuka honey has been proven to have strong antiseptic and healing properties. It also cuts off oxygen supply to the wart.
What to do:
Cover the wart in manuka honey and apply a band aid to the area. Repeat daily until the wart resolves.
7. Duct Tape
How does it work?
The only method on this list supported by evidence – the duct tape softens the skin and stimulates breakdown of the wart and immune response.
What to do:
Cover the wart with a small piece of duct tape and leave for 5-6 days. Replace and repeat until wart heals.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the options to remove skin tags and warts naturally are numerous. Most of these treatments are traditional remedies. Although they have a long history of use in society, there is limited if any scientific evidence to support them. However, many people are very happy with their results and report that their wart or skin tag disappeared within a few weeks.
The way I see it, you don’t have to spend much (or any) money to give these methods a go so there’s nothing to lose. Just pick one and try it for a few weeks, if it doesn’t work move on to the next. Let me know in the comments how you get on with these, and if you’ve tried something else that works for you I’d love to hear about it too. Good luck!
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