Salicylic Acid
★★★★★
(Chicago, IL)
09/21/2008
where can you buy salicylic acid?? I've looked for years and can't find any over-the-counter.
EC: Aspirin perhaps? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_aspirin
(Palm Coast, Fla)
09/24/2008
(Myrtle Beach, Sc)
05/08/2011
I bought a solution of high %-age salicylic acid from "Sally's" (Beauty Supply) for callouses on my feet. So try looking in the foot/beauty section of your local pharmacy or supercenter. Decided to use it today to see if it would do anything for my tag. Going to try it for a couple days twice a day and report back just for the sake of this remedy. If it doesn't work - because it burns like fire due to the 'delicate' nature of my tag - I'm going to try iodine and/or AC vinegar and/or tea tree oil - all of which I have on hand already.
LOVE this site! Will report my results.
(Myrtle Beach, Sc)
05/09/2011
(Rome, New York)
09/03/2012
Salicylic Acid is used as a treatment for Plantar Warts and can be purchased at the local pharmacy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Salicylic acid - The treatment of warts by keratolysis involves the peeling away of dead surface skin cells with Keratolytic chemicals such as salicylic acid or trichloroacetic acid. These are available in over-the-counter products or, in higher concentrations, may need to be prescribed in a by a physician.
Safety warning:Topically, as a beta-hydroxy acid (and unlike alpha-hydroxy acids) salicylic acid is capable of penetrating and breaking-down fats and lipids, making it capable of causing moderate chemical burns of the skin if at very high concentrations (such as near or actually the majority ingredient) within a solvent. It is capable of damaging the lining of pores in such cases if the solvent is alcohol, acetone, or an oil. Over-the-counter limits are set at 2% for topical left on the face and 3% for those expected to be washed off, such as acne cleansers or shampoo. Caution should be exercised when handling large volumes of salicylic acid, and protective gloves are recommended for any repeat, prolonged exposure. 17% salicylic acid, which is often sold for wart removal, should not be applied to the face and should not be used for acne treatment. Even for wart removal, such a solution should only be applied twice a day.
Scissors
★★★★★
Also, I have (sorry, had :)) one medium one and about 4-6 small ones on my neck.
Anyway, as you might imagine I hated them. I am just remembering now that when I was 29 I went to the GP (Family Doctor) and he pulled a face and said that there were "too many" to do anything with (he should be struck-off - he really failed me; I wonder how many other people he has really failed also. All while taking a big fat salary and pension). If I was embarressed before, I was now mortified... I have been meaning to do something... But what. I have been so busy and they weren't bugging me (until my sister... SISTERS! ... Said on holiday once, in a very loud voice "Ughhhhh... what are those").
Over the years I have tried all sorts - alcohol, Tee Tree Oil, lots. Anyway last week I came across this site (magic! ) and I decided to try the iodine - I had some in the cupboard (I put it on the kids for any scrape / cut). Two days of hiding in my bedroom slathered in iodine... Go on, it is funny (the family were off seeing relatives). They did look a bit bothered, but not anywhere near bothered enough for my liking. Iodine on my shirt, on the floor, pyjamas and the towel... ughhh.
Now, I don't have heaps of time to spend on this. I want them gone, but I can't sit around for hours slathered in this and that; I have kids and a job and a wife etc etc. So, I spied those scissors in a pot in the bathroom... Hmmmmm... These little fellers have bothered me too long. I decided to cut off one of the big boys (1cm, not really big) and see about the pain / blood. I rubbed iodine into the scissors (I am sure that there are better ways - boiling / alcohol, but I was on a roll and there was to be no stopping me) and into/around the skin tag.
'Snip', almost no pain ( not even a pinch's worth) and almost no blood. I put a plaster on it and the.... The mad glint in my eye... this was good, really good (should have done it years ago - silly me).
I snipped all the ones on my neck off (fabidoodah). Yes, a little bit of blood - much less than a cut finger. Probably all amounted to 2 drops. Slapped plasters on. There was one that was half mole and half skin tag... you got it, that came off too (not the mole bit).
Actually, I should have gotten better scissors - I do have some, it's a question of finding them. I had to 'trim' a couple of them back a couple of times to get the whole tag off. And one was a bit tough and needed to be snipped by the sharper bit of the scissor blade. Afterwards I trimmed a bit of my hair... I only mention this (as I had evidently gone mad - joking) as it became about the same level of 'intervention', if you like.
This all happened 10 minutes ago and I am now sitting here with about 10 plasters on and happy, happy, happy.
This is phase 1. The underarmers (phase 2) will go either with scissors (which I am really happy with) or with string (which I am intrigued by).
The big thing is though, I am back in control. And it feels good.
Thank you Earth Clinic - I clearly needed some encouragement.
One last bit of advice - I am an expert now, remember. It would be easier if you could get someone else to do the snipping... I didn't as I am too embarrassed about them and the moment of their demise came and I had to do it then!
Anyway, don't wait - Go for it NOW and in 10 minutes you will be sitting there with a few plasters on and the hugest smile.
(West Chicago, Il)
12/16/2012
(Uk)
12/30/2013
★★★★★
Had a tag on my groin for years. Recently became tender and annoying from friction. Looked on here and thought sod it I'm cutting it off. Couple of minutes ice, pulled it and snipped it off. Applied antiseptic. Bleeding stopped with a minute and there is no visible trace of the tag bar an extremely small red cut. Absolutely painless and not all all messy. Dont hesitate, wish I had done this years ago.
Scissors
★★★★★
Scissors
★★★★★
Had skin tags for many years in armpit area. After other remedies not working I got up the nerve to take a sharp mini-scissor and snip off one small skin tag to see how painful it would be. To my surprise, I felt nothing. Larger ones felt a tiny bit of discomfort for a fraction of a second. Tiny bit of bleeding. Within 2 days could not even see where they were. Use clean scissors and blot with hydrogen peroxide. Go ahead be brave - a flea bite is worse!!!
(Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France)
08/26/2011
(Seattle, Washington)
08/15/2012
Scissors
★★★★★
P.S. Make sure you first dis-infect your clippers with alcohal...and after its all done...just put some neosporin and a bandaid just in case.
(Oakland, Ca)
04/05/2012
ICE! I've been struggling with the removal decision for years but, after having been married for 13 years and now dating... I just HAD to get rid of this thing on my neck! I hate it! It's unsightly and I'm convinced it's a turn off.
I sterilized my nail clippers and decided to read up on others methods and experiences... And ICE, totally forgot that I could numb it. Wow, so simple.
Here's goes nuthin'! (snip! )
Thank you!
(Washington DC)
08/12/2012
★★★★★
holy. Crap. I have had one of these in a..... delicate area since I was a kid and as I got older it was always so embarassing in intimate situations. I was too embarassed to go get anything done about it (and to be honest didn't even really know what it was.... I thought it was just some kind of weird mole) and once I found this website within ten minutes it was gone! Ice. Sterlized nail scissors. Neosporin and a bandage. Done. THANK YOU!
Scissors
★★★★★
I tried the string method with no luck for a while and grew tired of waiting.
Scissor method is quick and easy with instant results. I an very happy with results.
(Merced, Ca)
05/06/2012
★★★★★
I had a fairly large skin tag right below my eye that had been there for years and years that I did not like at all. Reading these posts I was trying the apple cider vinegar, also tea tree oil for a week or so, and not seeing any results. I also caught the glint of my finger nail clippers and decided I would do it, though I was scared, so I asked my husband do it. I felt almost nothing, and it was gone!! There was a dot of a scab for a few days. It left no mark! I couldn't believe it could be that simple! I've waited a month to write this but my skin is absolutely fine and it shows no sign of returning. Thank you Earth Clinic and everybody who shared their experiences.
(Geneva, Il)
10/29/2012
★★★★★
DID IT!! Read all the posts re: just cutting the darn thing off. Cleaned sharp hair scissors & tweezers w/ alcohol... Husband gripped and pulled tag away from skin w/ tweezers, and he snipped it off w/ the scissors. I used ice on it for about 10 SECONDS before he did this. I am not kidding you, it did not hurt at all... As a matter of fact, I didn't even know he had cut it off.... A little bleeding, but i'm 'neosporined/bandaded' up! I cannot believe I went this long w/ tags.... Don't hesitate trying this method!
(Ontario)
02/26/2014
★★★★★
I had a skintag in my arm pit that had been bothering me for a while. I read posts above and decided to try.
I just iced the area for three minutes with an ice cube and sterilized a regular pair of scissors. The skintag was kind of wide at the base so I decided to twist it. Everyone was right! Very little pain and small amount of bleeding!! Yay!!
Scissors
★★★★★
(Oakland, Ca)
04/05/2012
★★★★★
Anne-- I used nail clippers with phenomenal success!
I sounded just awful, that little meaty snip but, it's GONE! And only took a split second (plus the hours of nervous deliberation). Relatively painless, a little neosporin, a band-aid and voila!
But, I did it! I cut the darn thing off!
Thanks for the words of "can do! " to everyone!
(Williamsburg, Virginia)
06/13/2012
★★★★★
I had skin tags about three years ago on my inner thigh about three inches away from my private area. Went to the dermatologist and she numbed the area and snipped them off. Got another skin tag around the same area about a year ago. It was getting a little bigger so I knew it was time for it to go. After reading the posts here, I just decided snipping it was the quickest method. I just cleaned the area with rubbing alcohol, pulled the tag away from the skin with twizzers, and cut it off with nail scissors. It did not hurt at all. I dabbed some peroxide on it and applied pressure on the bleeding, then rubbed on some neosporin and put a round band aid on it. Would never hesitate to use this method again-just sorry I waited so long to do it.
Scissors, Nail Clippers or String
★★★★★
Since I found the experiences of others so helpful and inspirational, I'll share mine in detail as well in the hope that it can help someone else.
I really wanted them gone but could not afford to have a doctor do it since it's not covered by insurance. So I came to earthclinic. I first tried tea tree oil, as recommended here, because I had some in the house and I do not mind the smell at all. I applied twice a day to all 9 skin tags and covered with a band-aid for 3 days. I didn't notice any change whatsoever. No drying, no discoloration. Nothing.
I was next going to try to get some ACV and try that, but I was emboldened by what others wrote here and so I figured I would try the scissors. Believe me, I figured I was the LAST person who could do something like that--I get extremely squeamish about cutting and bleeding and stuff. But I wanted them gone SO badly and other posts here were very reassuring and said it really was no big deal.
I decided to first try the one in my cleavage and the one on my VERY upper thigh/pubic area, for two reasons: (1) they were both on the largish side and I REALLY hated them, and (2) although the tags were large, they both narrowed dramatically near the skin and were actually attached to my body by a rather tiny flap of skin. So I figured they were a good place to start.
I first tried the cleavage one with a nail clippers cleaned with rubbing alcohol. I thought the nail clippers would make it easier and feel sort of more "removed" from the process. But the curve of the clippers was totally wrong for the job and completely mismatched the curve of my body, and it actually mangled the job a bit. Nothing that won't heal, just more drama than necessary--the clippers scraped the skin to the left and right of the tag, creating an even bigger place to heal. BUT... They did do the job, and quickly. That one is GONE! There are lots of people here who said there was practically no blood, but I did not have the same experience. There was blood. Not a lot, but not a little either. I pressed a cotton ball soaked with alcohol on it for a few minutes, then applied neosporin and a band-aid.
Next up--the one on my thigh. This time I decided to pass on the clippers and go with scissors. I used nail scissors that were pretty sharp. This one was a piece of cake. One quick snip and that hated thing was GONE TOO! This one bled about the same, but again an alcohol soaked cotton ball and a band-aid did the trick.
Those were 4 days ago. Both spots are almost completely healed--the thigh one even more so than the breast one because of the extra damage done by the nail clippers. I can not believe I don't have those skin tags any more. I have been looking at them and hating them for years. I am SO happy.
So then, I wanted to tackle the largest one, which is (was) just at the top of my pubic area. I REALLY wanted this one gone, but did not think I could deal with cutting it because the base of it--where it attached to my body--was not narrow but wide. So for this one I decided to try the string method.
I used dental floss and it was slightly uncomfortable, but I could deal. I added new floss each day, making it a bit tighter each time, for three days, but saw very little change. There was no discoloration as others had reported. Perhaps if I had had more patience and kept going, it would have worked. But I was so happy having the others gone, that I wanted quick results with this one too.
It did seem like the tying had narrowed the base a bit, so I decided to go for the cutting, this time using a scalpel-like tool I have for working with leather. I sterilized the scalpel with rubbing alcohol and this time, because of the size, I iced the area for about 10 minutes and gave a little spritz of numbing spray. The tag was still tied off so I just grabbed it firmly in one hand, held my breath, and sliced quickly with the other.
It didn't hurt a bit, and in a flash it was gone. Now, this one DID bleed, more than a little. Comparable to a bad cut. But I pressed the alcohol-soaked cotton ball on it for a few minutes, then dressed it with a gauze bandage covered in neosporin and taped down with surgical tape.
That was about 3 hours ago. The numbing stuff wore off at least 2 hours ago and while it is VERY slightly sore, I really barely feel anything. I'll change the dressing in the morning--this one left a small hole, about the size of a lentil, so it's going to actually take some healing. But that horrible thing is GONE GONE GONE!!! I am beyond thrilled. The whole enterprise was entirely worth it and I am so glad I did it.
I just have one more on my back that I really want to get rid of. I *think* I can reach it with my scalpel or scissors and it is not too wide at the base so it should be pretty easy. I also took off the very tiny ones which were actually harder to do because they were so small, but virtually painless. Then there are just the three on my side, by my ribs, which will be the last to go. But go they will--I now know there is absolutely no reason to live with these things. If you can stand the tiniest pinch and a little bit of blood, all of which is over in an instant, then you can do it too. Just be sure to keep everything super sterilized.
Good luck!
Skin Tag Theories
(Tampa, Florida)
12/03/2012
im so scared to do it I had a skin tag for 4 years and every summer im embarrassed I cant cut it.... too afraid please can someone tell me what to do after cutting it .??
(Toronto, ON)
07/08/2024
I hope you haven't waited for 12 years for this answer! The best thing to do after removing a skin tag is hydrogen peroxide 3% on a cotton ball for a couple of minutes and then, band-aid - you're done. Repeat daily. I'd even put some peroxide on the band-aid cloth part to continue to disinfect. :)
Skin Tag Theories
(Wellman, Iowa, Usa)
09/22/2012
I am diabetic and eat absolutely no sugar at all. This is how I control my diabetes. I have never eaten sugar because it makes me sick. However, I DO have skin tags. So how does that fit? Also, my mother-in-law was diabetic and lived on sugar but had no skin tags. Are we just weird?
(Oceanside, Ca)
12/29/2016
It's Dec 29 and I just noticed some new skin tags on my neck. One in particular is large and itchy; it wasn't there last month. The association between sugar and skin tags seems to be true for my body type. During this holiday season, I've been drinking ginger beer which has a lot of sugar.
On another note, Lugol's iodine does remove the skin tags but it takes over a week of daily application for them to fall off.
Skin Tag Theories
Skin Tag Theories
Skin Tag Vs Basal Cell Carcinoma
★★★★★
Tea Tree Oil
★★★★★
I had a skin tag under my eye for a few years and it suddenly started growing. That's when I decided I had to try to get rid of it. I used a cotton swab with a drop of tea tree oil and dabbed only the skin tag because I knew from a past experience the tea tree oil could redden the surrounding skin. In just a couple of days it scabbed over and I just scratched the dry skin off. It was small after that so I continued dabbing and a couple days later the rest scratched right off.
Tea Tree Oil
★★★★★
Because I'm impatient, I went with undiluted tea tree oil. I put some on a cotton ball and then taped the cotton ball to the armpit and wore it all day. (At first I used a band-aid, but the tea tree oil literally dissolved the band-aid. Then I switched to a cotton ball secured with the white medical tape.)
Two drawbacks in doing it this way - it irritates your skin badly and you smell strongly of tea tree oil. Under the cottonball, the skin area became red and scaly and raw, and of course so did the skin tags. After 4-7 days of this, they all basically dissolved. However it was a little painful due to the irritation, especially the skin tags themselves were painful during treatment as the outer layers of skin just basically peeled away. Months later, they are starting to come back, so to manage them I will now use a q-tip and apply the tea tree oil just to the skin tag each night before bed. This way I avoid smelling too much like tea tree oil during the day and it is not as painful as the extreme cotton ball method.
