The largest organ in our body is our skin. All of us might have problems with our skin in our lives, ranging from acne to rashes. However, there is still one skin problem that most of us might have to deal with as time goes by. What we are talking about are skin tags. These are growths on the skin that happen to older adults and they form from the friction of skin rubbing against skin.
People have been wondering whether it would be a good idea to remove skin tags or not. Well, the answer is no. Most of the time they are actually harmless. However, they can cause irritation. This is why a lot of people decide to remove them. So, if you want to remove them, you need to figure out how you can do it in a safe way.
The Pros and Cons of 4 Skin Tag Removal Methods
1. Over-the-Counter Skin Tag Removers
If you want to save money and if you do not want to go to the doctor’s, then, over-the-counter skin tag removal treatments are the best option. The most used ones for skin tags are the creams that have salicylic acid in them. They contain a low dosage of salicylic acid. So you know that this one is very safe to use.
However, there is a disadvantage when it comes to over-the-counter removal treatments, they might now work for everybody. Also, often, you might have to go through a trial and error period and see which one will work for you.
2. Tea Tree Oil
This one is very effective for a lot of skin problems, including skin tags. Tea tree oil is one of the best methods to use due to the fact that it is safe and it will not leave scars, nor irritate the skin. Nevertheless, there are not any studies that have proven the effectiveness, but there is no harm as well.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV is a very cheap and treatment that you can use to treat skin tags. The acidity of it can help you remove skin tags due to the fact that it breaks down the tissue that surrounds the skin tags and it causes them to fall off. Just be careful when you use this method. If the apple cider vinegar is full strength, then it might irritate the eyes or cause burns on the skin. As with any other natural remedies, it has not been proven to work scientifically.
4. Visit a Dermatologist
If you have a large skin tag then you should think about removing it through cryotherapy, which is a freezing procedure. During this procedure, the dermatologist applies liquid nitrogen to the skin tags and in 20-30 seconds it will be gone. The only thing here is that the liquid nitrogen is cold, so it might feel a bit uncomfortable. Moreover, the treatment is a bit expensive.
Another method used by dermatologists is removing them surgically. The best thing about this method is that they will be gone forever. However, there is always the risk of bleeding and an infection. This one is also very expensive.
Due to the fact that you are seeing a professional when you go to the dermatologist, you know that the removal will be safe and effective. Moreover, they inspect the removed tags after it as well just to make sure they are cancer-free.
So, whichever option you choose, make sure it is safe and good for you!