Our complexion and how it looks is very important to us. Our skin’s condition, color, and silkiness show how well we take care of ourselves and if there are any underlying issues in our health.
Many people turn to natural creams and ointments to keep their skin smooth, elastic, and full of healthy minerals. But what do you do if you have developed a skin tag or a mole?
These imperfections can be a sore to your eyes and can cause you to develop anxiety and become self-conscious. The problem is that most of us will develop at least one skin tag somewhere on our body throughout our lives.
Moles are also part of this issue. Just like skin tags, they can appear randomly on your body without any warnings.
What is a skin tag?
A skin tag is called an acrochordon in the medical profession. Skin tags are actually very common and can vary in numbers. Some people might develop only one or two while others can have up to a hundred.
Obesity is linked to acrochordon development. Skin tags resemble small deflated balloon of hanging skin. Most of the time they are completely harmless and those who seek to remove them do it for cosmetic reasons.
Although the majority of skin tags are small in size and usually never grow larger than about five millimeters, some skin tags may grow to become as large as a fig, roughly about five centimeters in size.
Skin tags can occur pretty much anywhere on your body where there is skin. However, the most common areas are around your neck and armpits. One of the most complained about areas where skin tags have been known to develop is the eyelid.
Generally, these tiny skin tags cause no physical discomfort, but a simple touch by hand or visual observation can cause unsettlement and mental restlessness as well as lead to self-consciousness.
What are moles?
The medical term for a mole is melanocytic nevus and it has absolutely nothing to do with the well known burrowing rodent with the same name.
Moles are caused by concentrated masses of melanocytes, which are skin cells that produce certain pigments in our skin.
Moles come in many different colors: brown, tan, reddish brown, black, red, purple, or the same color as regular skin. They can be raised above your skin level and bumpy or they could also be flushed with your skin and flat.
Some moles appear more vivid and pronounced under sunlight. The majority of the moles out there are smaller than a pencil eraser, less than two millimeters. In most situations, moles are not harmful, but there are certain other skin conditions which can be harmful that have a similar visual appearance to moles.
It is important to have your moles inspected by your doctor to eliminate any other possible issues that might be disguising themselves as a mole, no pun intended. Moles can occur anywhere on the body.
They are also greatly influenced by our genes and sun exposure during younger years. Areas of our body that are more likely to be exposed to the sun also have a higher chance of developing moles.
Still, moles can develop in sun-protected areas as well. Most people do not develop moles after the age of 30.
If you are older than 35 and see new mole-like spots developing, it is recommended for you to see a doctor as soon as possible. This could be a sign of many other conditions, including early stages of melanoma.
What are some ways to remove skin tags?
Seeing a professional dermatologist is by far the best course of action which you need to take if you become inclined to remove some skin tags. They will determine how to do it most effectively and as painlessly as possible.
If any of your skin tags suddenly change in color, do not remove them. Make sure you leave them intact and see your doctor as soon as possible.
Discolored skin tags can be a sign of other underlying issues and cutting them off can make it harder for your dermatologist to figure out what those issues might be.
Your doctor might decide to simply cut the skin tag off with a set of sharp medical scissors. They will most likely use a numbing cream to reduce the amount of pain you might feel.
Most of the time, this procedure is quick and painless when handled by a professional. Cutting off a skin tag by yourself is not recommended. It can cause infections, severe bleeding, and other complications.
Freezing is another option that you have to remove skin tags. Your dermatologist will use a special tool to apply a precise amount of liquid nitrogen to the skin tag and then the tag will simply fall off.
This is known as cryosurgery. It is usually painless and sometimes is used to remove warts, as well.
Some skin tags are also treated via cauterization. This is when your doctor will use a specific tool which will apply heat to your skin tag, resulting in easy and quick removal.
Most people choose a different method, as this type of removal can cause some pain or discomfort.
If seeing the doctor is not on your priority list and you would rather take care of the issue on your own, then you certainly do have a few options to work with.
You can use a mixture of oregano oil and coconut oil to remove your skin tags at home. You can use a Q-tip to apply this mixture to your skin tags about three times per day and eventually the skin tag will dry up and fall off.
This method is effective but it can take up to a full month for the tags to fall off, which can require a lot of work and vigilance if you have many skin tags on your body.
Garlic can also be used to remove your skin tags. This method usually takes about a week. You can slice a clove of garlic into small disks or make garlic paste, apply it to your skin tag of choice and cover up with a band-aid.
Make sure to remove the band-aid in the evening and reapply a new garlic slice or paste portion the next morning.
Some people prefer to opt out of this option simply because of the smell that garlic produces.
Another method that many people swear by is through the use of apple cider vinegar. Grab a cotton ball and soak it well with apple cider vinegar, then place it onto your skin tag and hold it for a few minutes.
Do this three times per day until the skin tag falls off. Generally you will experience a tingling sensation when using apple cider vinegar.
If it gets too irritable, then you can dilute the vinegar with water. The time estimated for this option to work varies. Some have reported the skin tags falling off within a day or two, while others reported up to two weeks.
No matter which way you decide to deal with your skin tags, we still urge you to see a doctor first. They will determine possible dangers or problems that can be associated with your specific skin tags. No matter the case, please be careful and use common sense.
What are some of the best ways to remove moles?
Once again, we must stress the importance of visiting a medical professional to determine the best course of action you should take when dealing with your specific moles.
Unlike skin tags, there are many other conditions which can look like moles and can often be difficult to tell apart from regular melanocytic nevus.
Some moles can be cancerous or be a sign of potential problems which haven’t surfaced yet. You should see a dermatologist to check your moles and see if any of them are a precursor to other issues or conditions.
With that said, there is also a few ways that your doctor can remove said moles which can be more effective than any other in home remedy.
Furthermore, even though in most situations moles are cosmetic and are not covered by insurance, there are some occasions when mole removal can be covered by your insurance. For example, if you keep snagging your mole with clothing or jewelry which causes discomfort.
Cutting off the mole or shaving it off is one of the most common mole removal methods that your doctor will use. Depending on the size and depth of the mole, they might choose to shave the mole off or cut it out.
Usually, local anesthesia is used to numb the pain. If the mole needs to be cut out then some stitching might be required, but generally this is not necessary. If the mole is suspected of being cancerous, then it can also be sent in for lab work to eliminate this possibility.
Laser treatment is also used in some situations, although not very often and is usually not the first choice when it comes to moles.
There have been many reports that skin pigmentations in the area where the mole was located is often discolored after the procedure, so most people choose another removal option.
Cryotherapy is also amongst possible removal solutions for moles. This is done through the use of liquid nitrogen and is the preferred method for removal for many dermatologists and patients.
It generally takes only a few minutes to remove a mole with this method. Although sometimes this option can be slightly discomforting, we think it is one of the best solutions out there.
Be aware that if post treatment any of these moles reappear and surface again, you will have to see your medical professional as soon as possible.
The reappearance of a previously removed mole can point to cancer or other complications. It is absolutely vital that you do not delay and visit your doctor immediately. Your life could be on the line.
If seeing a doctor is not an option for you but you are still determined to remove unwanted moles at home, you do have some options. First things first, under no circumstance should you ever cut any moles at home.
Let us make ourselves clear. DO NOT cut off or attempt to surgically remove any unwanted moles at home. Besides the possibility of permanent scarring, you are exposing yourself to an extremely risky situation if you decide to cut off your own mole.
For example, if the mole is cancerous then you can cause the cancer cells to starts spreading to the rest of your body when you try to remove the mole via surgery on your own. You can cause infections and other major problems to occur.
At home self-surgery is simply not an option. See a doctor and then decide on a non-intrusive at home remedy if you must, or even better, let your doctor handle it. Otherwise, read on for some at home mole remedies.
Good old garlic makes the list once more. Just like with skin tags, you can use garlic to help with moles, too. You can choose to slice the garlic into disks or make a paste out of it and in the same exact way apply it to your mole then cover it up with a band-aid.
Garlic contains enzymes which can help with breaking down of melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells we talked about earlier. This is perfect for moles that are flushed with your skin and aren’t raised.
The enzymes and sulfur-rich juices found in garlic should lighten the color of the mole and make it nearly invisible.
Apple cider vinegar is also a viable option. Before continuing, keep in mind that using apple cider vinegar to remove moles can leave scarring behind. The best way to apply the vinegar is through the use of a cotton ball, which you should secure overnight with a band aid.
Alternatively, you could also do four applications per day with 15-minute sessions each. The mole should fall off after about 10 days. You can use petroleum jelly to protect the skin around your mole from the effects of apple cider vinegar.
Aloe vera has a potential with helping moles fade as well. It is suggested to use a cotton bandage to apply aloe vera to your mole.
Keep the bandage applied until all the aloe vera is absorbed, and then add more. Continue doing this until the mole fades. The effectiveness of aloe vera isn’t set in stone, although many people have stated that it is indeed very effective.
Skin Tag & Mole Removal Guide Review Summary
No matter which method of skin tag or mole elimination you choose, always be cautious and careful.
As we stated many times throughout this article, your doctor will know best and will have the best tools to deal with both your skin tag and mole issues.
There are plenty of reasons why one might not want to see a doctor about their problem, and we understand that.
Nonetheless, we still urge you to try and overcome those issues and choose to let a medical professional handle your situations. Whatever the case is, we hope your problems are resolved quickly and painlessly.
