3 Safe And Natural Remedies To Remove Skin Tags During Pregnancy

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Skin tags, which make their appearance during pregnancy, can truly be a nuisance. These are small bulbs of tissue that are generally found on the chest, neck, groin area, back, or under the breasts. But, skins tags are usually neither dangerous nor painful (1). These fleshy bulbs might appear somewhere during the latter half of pregnancy, perhaps due to weight gain or hormonal changes. The good news is that most skin tags tend to disappear soon after childbirth. While it might be tempting to get rid of these skin tags immediately, it is better to wait it out until the delivery. Here, we bring you everything that you need to know about the skin tags during pregnancy, including a few safe home remedies.

In This Article

Skin Tags – Common During Pregnancy

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Skin tags are small fleshy flaps attached to the tiny connecting stalks present on the skin. However, these stalks are not a distinct feature. There are some skin tags that exist without this stalk. They are either the color of the skin or slightly darker.

This skin condition usually makes an appearance in people above the age of 50, expecting mothers, obese people, or diabetic patients. There are chances that you might get skin tags for the first time only after you get pregnant. But, if you are obese or have suffered from diabetes or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), then you might get the skin tags even before pregnancy (2).

Metabolic syndrome is cited as a reason for both obesity and diabetes. In addition, even skin tags are linked to this syndrome, which exhibits signs like high insulin level, high levels of blood sugar, insulin resistance, or cholesterol (3). No wonder then that one comes with the other.

Why Do Skin Tags Appear During Pregnancy?

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When you are expecting, there is a possibility of new skin tags coming in place of the old ones. There are also chances that the old ones multiply further. While no particular reason has been established for the occurrence of skin tags, hormonal changes are considered as one of the reasons.

Mast cells, which is one type of white blood cells (WBC), and estrogen might be possibly involved in the composition of skin tags (4). Mast cells are responsible for increasing the collagen production, the protein that builds the skin. On the other hand, estrogen brings about the changes in the skin during pregnancy, be it the darkening of nipples or dark skin patches (5). Apart from hormonal changes, another probable reason is the increase in weight during pregnancy.

While skin tags are generally not dangerous and painful, they might hurt a little if pulled by the clothes or jewelry. For most soon-to-be mothers, these fleshy pulps disappear soon after the childbirth. However, if they don’t go away, you can try a few natural remedies to get rid of the skin tags.

3 Natural Remedies For Skin Tags

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Here, we will discuss three natural remedies you can try at home:

  1. Apple Cider Vinegar: First, clean the affected area. Then, take a cotton ball and soak it in the Apple Cider vinegar. Rub the affected area with the soaked cotton ball. Do this at least three times a day for a few weeks. You might notice a change in the color of the skin tag, which will automatically fall off in several days. Just make sure that the Apple Cider vinegar suits you since it can cause burns on the skin.
  1. Tea-Tree Oil: Take the 100 percent natural Tea-Tree oil and a cotton ball. Soak the cotton in the oil and apply it on the affected area. Leave it on for some time. Maybe, do it around two to three times a day. Tea-Tree oil is generally a little dry so you can also mix olive oil with it if you have a dry skin type.
  1. Use A Thread: Take a cotton thread and wind it around the skin tag’s base to curb the supply of blood. With the blood supply cut off, it might wither and fall off in some time. But, be very careful doing this process. And, if the size of the skin tag is too big, don’t attempt to remove it by yourself.

Can you think of any other home remedy that can be helpful to your fellow friends? Please let us know in the comments section below! Also, if you are trying something new, do consult a medical professional in advance.

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