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What Are Common Homeopathic Remedies for Skin Tags?

By Meshell Powell

Updated: Mar 03, 2024

Homeopathic remedies for skin tags can be quite effective in many cases, although any health concerns should always be addressed with a doctor or other medical professional before beginning a self-treatment program. Some of the most common homeopathic remedies involve the use of herbal extracts, fingernail polish, or apple cider vinegar. A more controversial method of skin tag removal involves the use of a string to cut off the blood supply to the growth, although this is not typically recommended due to the possibility of causing damage to the area.

Herbal extracts are frequently used to remove skin tags. Tea tree oil and castor oil are particularly popular choices for this purpose. The natural antiseptic and antibacterial properties of tea tree oil make it a natural choice for treating skin tags. The oil is usually applied two or three times per day for a period of several days or weeks. Castor oil and baking soda can be combined to form a thick paste and applied three times per day until the tag dries up and falls off.

Fingernail polish is sometimes used to remove skin tags. To use this method of treatment, clear nail polish should be applied to the growth twice a day until the tag is gone. This method should not be used on sensitive areas of the body such as the genital region or near the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Apple cider vinegar is among the more popular homeopathic remedies for skin tags. A cotton ball can be soaked in the apple cider vinegar and then applied to the affected area two to three times per day until the tag disappears, which normally takes between two and three weeks. If the skin tag is located near the eyes, a different method of treatment should be used.

Cutting off the blood supply to the affected area is among the most controversial ways of removing skin tags. This involves tying a string around the bit of skin to interrupt the blood supply and waiting for the growth to fall off. This method of treatment is no longer recommended by most professionals due to the potential dangers of interrupting the blood supply to any area of the body. If it is used, any complications or signs of infection should be reported to a medical professional right away for further evaluation.

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Discussion Comments

By anon996982 — On Nov 02, 2016

These remedies are not homeopathic, just herbal.

By anon345504 — On Aug 20, 2013

I have some prickly type skin on my shoulder and back area. My skin is looking rashy. Please suggest some remedy.

By anon340861 — On Jul 06, 2013

Use vinegar a few times a day for about 3 days and your skin tags will be gone.

By anon322667 — On Feb 28, 2013

I have about three skin tags on the side of my neck, like in the crease of it. One is smaller and skin tone colored, then there is a medium sized one that is skin tone colored and then there is a bigger one that is brownish like dark brown and it kind of looks like two put together.

The two smaller ones I think would be O.K. to snip off or use the clear nail polish on do you think I should do anything to the dark colored one, or go get it looked at? I'm super scared to try and snip it off. Like most people, I am scared that it will bleed forever.

By SarahSon — On Aug 10, 2011

Skin tags are not harmful, but they sure can be annoying and embarrassing depending on where they are.

I had some under my arms, and wanted to find out how to remove skin tags in a way that was cheap and easy. My mom told me she had used some fingernail polish on hers, and so I thought I had nothing to lose by giving it a try.

I don't think it would matter what color you used, but I used a clear color so it would not be very noticeable.

I put this on the skin tags at least twice a day and let it dry. I didn't see anything happening for the first three days and was just about ready to try something else.

By the fourth day I could see that they looked like they were getting smaller, so I kept at it. It took about 10 days for them to completely fall off, but it worked!

I love it when you already have something around the house that works for something like this.

By julies — On Aug 10, 2011

One of the best natural remedies for skin tags I have used is a combination of Castor oil and baking soda.

Most people have some baking soda in their cupboard, and I bought a bottle of Castor oil at the health food store.

There is something about these two products working together that took care of my skin tags. I just poured a little of the oil in a bowl and added some baking soda until it made a paste.

I applied this morning and night every day for 7-8 days. This is not a quick fix for removing skin tags, but I felt it was a safe and effective way to get the job done.

By bagley79 — On Aug 10, 2011

I have never tried this method myself, but I have a friend who used some frankincense essential oil on skin tags and it worked for her.

She applied this oil with a cotton ball 2-3 times a day and the skin tags eventually shriveled up and fell off. I think it took about a week for this to happen.

These skin tags were on her neck and by using the oil, she could do this any time of the day. The frankincense also smelled very good so she didn't need to worry about something smelling funny.

Frankincense is not one of the cheapest essential oils, but there are many other benefits that can be received from using it. This just happened to be one of the ways it worked for her.

Because she had such good luck with it, this would be the first thing I would try if I needed some removal of skin tags.

By Denha — On Aug 09, 2011

I tried the string idea once. It didn't cause any problems for me, but maybe if you had several it would be more dangerous to cut off the blood supply that way, just for getting rid of skin tags.

By stolaf23 — On Aug 08, 2011

@Mae82- I read once that these are really similar to warts, and it makes sense to me that nail polish would do the trick.

When I had warts in middle school, they were almost totally cured just by using a prescription-strength antiperspirant that I got at the podiatrist. Similar to the polish idea, it cut of their moisture and oxygen, and they went away. I have not gotten skin tags myself, but it might work for someone if nail polish doesn't, or you want a gentler,more gradual skin tag remover.

By Mae82 — On Aug 08, 2011

@Sara007 - The apple cider vinegar method works really well for skin tags that aren't located near any place sensitive on the body. The only downside for this treatment is that it can take weeks on end for it to actually work.

For myself I have found that clear nail polish does wonders on skin tags. Basically it seems to starve the area of oxygen so that the tag dries up and falls off. While most people would argue that nail polish is a harsh chemical, I figure we use it on our nails all the time, so how bad can it really be? I am just happy that it works quickly and is super easy to apply.

By Sara007 — On Aug 07, 2011

It is good to learn that there are lots of various homeopathic remedies for skin tags. My husband gets these skin tags occasionally and being the guy that he is, seems to think that just pulling them off is the best method of treatment. Besides grossing me out I am always worried that he is going to give himself an infection or something by just tugging on the poor things until they come off.

Has anyone tried the apple cider vinegar method of removing skin tags?

I have lots of apple cider vinegar hanging around our house and it really seems like the best method from what I have read so far. I imagine the acid in it is what makes the skin tags fall off.

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