Can you remove skin tags yourself?
There are numerous off the shelf products and websites that are available on how to remove skin tags at home. If your skin tag is very small and there’s not many you may want to use a ‘do it yourself’ approach.
The options:
- Over the counter solution: you need to apply the solution to the skin tag but must use apply regularly to see any difference. Please not that some of these products have a bad smell to them and most do not work.
- Tie the skin tag using dental floss: tie it around the skin tag and pull on it little by little each day. After several days the blood supply will cut off and the skin tag should dry up entirely and fall off. Remember you will not be able to remove flat skin tags using this approach.
Step by step removal using thread or dental floss
Step 1:Clean the affected area with warm water, remove any products & make up thoroughly. Then wipe the skin over with a alcohol solution to prevent infection.
Step 2:Cut a piece of thread or dental floss – ensure it is long enough to tie around the skin tag with excess left over both ends to allow you to tie a knot.
Step 3:Pull the skin tag away from the skin with a tweezer then tie the thread or floss at the base or neck of the skin tag. You may need to wrap around more than once and tie a knot to ensure it does not slip off.
Step 4:The thread or floss should be left on until the blood supply has been completely cut off. The skin tag will change colour to reddish, purplish then black.
Step 5:Remove the thread or floss and the skin tag will fall off. If there’s no change after a week then it hasn’t worked.
Remember this will NOT work for flat skin tags on the Face.
