Credits: Social Media
Dermatologist warns using Apple Cider Vinegar to remove skin tags at home could be dangerous
Skin tags, even though harmless, are considered unattractive. People have found several ways to get rid of it, including Apple Cider Vinegar, a hack that dermatologists strictly warn against.
Unlike the 4-step Face Yoga technique for plump lips with no side effects, attempting to remove skin tags at home can cause permanent damage to your skin.
Dermatologist warns against using Apple Cider Vinegar
The star of Dr. Pimple Popper, Sandra Lee, says you should never try to remove your skin tags at home, especially using the hacks you would find on social media.
Skin tags are usually caused due to excessive rubbing of the skin or could appear due to insulin resistance in the body. Even though the actual cause of skin tags isn’t clear, they are harmless.
Bust most people affected with the skin condition wish to get rid of it and many are doing it at home thanks to a TikTok hack that suggests using Apple Cider Vinegar to fix the problem.
Users claim they could remove the skin tags with the above method – dip the cotton in Apple Cider Vinegar, place it on the skin tag, and cover it with band-aid. Some did it daily for a couple of weeks to see results.
However, Dr. Sandra says the method isn’t safe because the concentrated solution can cause permanent scarring when applied directly to the skin.
Why you shouldn’t remove skin tags at home
Licensed dermatologists use a number of safe methods to remove skin tags. It’s done through cryotherapy, which uses liquid nitrogen to destroy the tissue causing the skin tag to fall off.
Excision is another popular method conducted using surgical scissors or a scalpel. The area is numbed before removing the skin tag.
Some TikTok users have tried tying hair or a fine thread around the skin tag to stop the blood from flowing to the region. This may cause the skin tag to fall off in a few days.
Aside from risks of infections through the DIY techniques, the dermatologist outlines other concerns you shouldn’t overlook.
Dr. Sandra says: “My main worry with those things is that sometimes something may not be a skin tag. Maybe it’s a mole that is concerning, maybe life-threatening.”
“I would worry that you’re removing something that might be concerning to us dermatologists,” she further adds. The dermatologist strongly recommends seeing a dermatologist before taking skin tag removal into your own hands.
