It is important to look good and feel happy from the outside and the inside of you.
The growth of ugly-looking skin tags on the neck, face, or hand is something that can badly tarnish your good look.
Nobody likes to have ugly-looking tags on the skin.
Fortunately, you can easily get rid of skin tags with OTC products or simple home remedies.
Tea tree oil for skin tag removal is one of the most commonly used natural remedies.
In this article, we are exclusively going to discuss how to make use of tea tree oil to get rid of tags on your skin.
What are Skin Tags?
Skin tags or Acrochorda are an abnormal growth of tag-like flesh on the skin.
They are connected to the skin surface by a thin stalk called a peduncle.
Skin tags hang on the skin surface by a small stalk, unlike moles, warts, or other types of extra growth on the skin.
Studies have pointed out the existence of low-risk HPV 6 in skin tags, an indication of pathogens’ role.
Acrochorda has been reported to have a prevalence of 46% in general among women and men.
Most people get at least a few skin tags, especially after age 50.
This tag-like extra growth of flesh can appear on any part of your body. But they mostly occur where your skin has folds such as:
- neck
- eyelids
- armpits
- groin
- thighs
- under your breasts.
They are colored and vary in size.
This extra growth of tag-like bumps on the skin is composed of collagen fibers and blood vessels.
They are painless and noncancerous, with no harm to the body.
It is not known what causes skin tags. According to some studies, obesity, hormonal changes, use of steroids, diabetes, human papillomavirus (HPV), or friction in the skin folds could cause skin tags.
As per the findings of a 2010 study, the occurrence of multiple skin tags was associated with a high body mass index, insulin resistance, and high triglycerides.
How Are Skin Tags Usually Removed?
There are several methods and treatments to get rid of skin tags.
Some of the common methods of skin tag removal usually followed by a dermatologist are:
Cryotherapy:Â Freeze the skin tag with liquid nitrogen.
Cauterizing: Using a heated needle to dry off the tags.
Ligation:Â Remove the skin tag by tying it off with a surgical thread or dental floss to stop blood flow to the bump.
Surgical Process:Â Remove the skin tag with scissors or a scalpel.
Electrosurgery/Laser Therapy: Burning off the tags on the skin with high-frequency electrical energy.
Many natural remedies are extensively used for tag removal, such as:
- apple cider vinegar
- oregano oil
- tea tree oil
- iodine
- garlic
- banana peel
- papaya peel
- vitamin E oil
- baking soda and castor oil.
What is Tea Tree Oil?
The tea tree, also known as melaleuca, is well-known for its ability to treat infections and wounds.
Tea tree oil (TTO) is extracted from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia, a plant species mostly found in Australia.
Uses of Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has immense therapeutic value.
It is an excellent natural remedy for treating several common disorders or infections that torment us.
This natural oil is rich in powerful antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Many of the natural remedies and products available for skin, nail, and hair care have this oil as a major ingredient in them.
According to a WebMD report, it has several uses and health benefits. This is a very effective natural remedy for treating issues like:
- Acne
- Toenail fungus
- Herpes simplex virus infection
- Cold sores
- Candida
- Head lice
- Yeast infection
- Warts
- Dandruff
- Dental plaque
- Gingivitis
- Hemorrhoids
- Psoriasis
- Chickenpox
- Athlete’s foot
- Fight foot odor
- Remove makeup
You can still find many more uses and health benefits of tea tree oil; also used in pet care and as a pesticides in the agricultural field.
Does Tea Tree Oil Work for Skin Tags Removal?
Most of the natural remedies lack medical evidence to support their effectiveness.
The effectiveness of tea tree oil for skin tag removal is in want of evidence from medical studies.
Extensive research on the use of TTO medication for skin tags is not conducted due to a lack of sponsors with a commercial interest in the product.
However, according to the Mayo Clinic, natural remedies are classified as category ‘C’ using the Natural Standard evidence-based, validated grading rationale.
The effectiveness of TTO is taken for granted as it is a folklore medicine that has gone through the test of time.
Its potentiality in skin tag removal is based on the proven traditional medical treatments in existence for centuries.
TTO is composed of terpene hydrocarbons, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and their associated alcohols.
Terpenes are volatile hydrocarbons that can cause burning effects on the skin. The cineole and alcohol terpineol in TTO are powerful chemical properties that help to dry up the skin stags.
How to Use It
It is easy to use tea tree oil to get rid of skin tags.
Either you can use this oil alone or blend it with other oils and natural remedies.
If you have highly sensitive skin, you should not apply the undiluted TTO on the skin.
Here are a few ways you can make use of TTO for the removal of tags on the skin:
Topical Application of TTO
Step 1:Â With lukewarm water, gently clean the skin tags and the surrounding area. You may use mild body wash lotion or soap for cleaning.
Step 2:Â Soak a cotton ball with a few drops of undiluted tea tree oil.
Step 3:Â With the oil-soaked cotton ball, gently wipe and massage the skin tags. Let the skin tags get thoroughly wet with the oil.
Step 4:Â Let the oil stay on the tags on the skin and dry naturally. Do not wash the area for at least 30 minutes. If it is convenient, you can bandage the oil-soaked cotton ball or gauze pad on the skin tags and leave it there overnight.
Tips:
Make sure not to spill the tea tree oil into your eyes, nose, mouth, or ears in the process of the treatment.
If you have sensitive skin, then it is important to dilute the tea tree oil with coconut oil, castor oil, or olive oil before use.
It is good to repeat the treatments three times a day to get the best results.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Tea Tree Oil
Blend 5 drops of apple cider vinegar and three drops of TTO in a bowl.
Soak a cotton ball in the blend and apply the mixture of ACV and TTO on the skin tags.
If it is convenient, you can keep the cotton ball fixed on the tags with the help of a bandage and allow it to stay there for a few hours.
You can make the blend of ACV and TTO more potent by adding 3 to 5 drops of lemon juice to the mixture.
Blend Of Tea Tree Oil and Oregano Oil
Oregano oil is a useful remedy for getting rid of skin tags.
Mix 4 drops of each oregano oil and tea tree oil; dilute the mixture in one tablespoon of olive oil or castor oil.
After cleaning the tags on the skin, apply the oil mixture on them with the help of a cotton ball.
Repeat the treatment thrice a day for faster results.
A blend of Cashew Nut Oil and Tea Tree Oil
Cashew nut oil is a traditional medicine used in Indian Ayurveda solutions for the removal of skin tags and warts.
Cashew nut oil contains powerful antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-dysenteric, antiulcer, and astringent properties.
Cashew nut oil is also rich in selenium, zinc, magnesium, iron, and phosphorous.
Make a blend of cashew nut oil and tea tree oil; apply this oil blend on skin tags.
Bloodroot Paste with Tea Tree Oil
Bloodroot sap or extracts contain powerful chemical properties like sanguinarine, berberine, and toxic opium-like alkaloids.
The chemical compounds in bloodroots have therapeutic qualities that are beneficial for treating various skin problems such as warts, skin tags, ringworms, eczema, and others.
Preparing a bloodroot paste that also contains a few drops of tea tree oil can be very effective for getting rid of skin tags.
How Long to Use Tea Tree Oil for Skin Tags?
You may be curious to know how long it takes to remove skin tags with tea tree oil treatment.
The duration of treatment depends on your body’s response to the oil.
Most people have seen skin tags falling off within 2 weeks of using tea tree oil regularly.
After 2 to 4 days of applying the oil, the skin tags begin to shrink and become dry, and then they fall after a week or two.
However, tea tree oil doesn’t need to work for everyone. Some people may not get a satisfactory result from using tea tree oil.
Some may have to quit the treatment as this oil might cause skin irritation.
If you are seeing positive changes on skin tags after a few days of using TTO, then continue to use the oil till all tags on the skin are gone.
Warning and PrecautionsÂ
Tea tree oil contains powerful chemical compounds that are beneficial for health if used correctly.
The wrong usage of this oil can have bad effects on your health that might cause trouble for you.
Here are a few tips and warnings on TTO worth noting:
- Do not ingest this oil,
- Do not drop TTO in the eyes, nose, ears, and mouth,
- If you have sensitive skin, then you must dilute this before using it on the skin,
- The effectiveness of the treatment depends on the quality of the oil,
- Do a small patch test on the skin before you use this oil regularly,
- Using tea tree oil-enriched creams or blends of essential oils can also help in skin tags removal,
- Using tea tree oil on skin tags may also dry up healthy skin in the affected area; use natural moisturizing creams on the skin surrounding the tags to avoid burns and dryness.