Q. I recently began using a castor oil pack (castor oil and a heating pad) on my tummy for abdominal pain on the advice of my acupuncturist. To my surprise, after about 10 applications, an itchy skin tag I’d had there for over 20 years has vanished. Apparently castor oil can also cause skin tags to disappear.
A. Thank you for sharing this new approach to getting rid of skin tags.
Skin tags are not dangerous, but they can be bothersome. They are benign fleshy growths that may be most likely to appear in skin folds. Dermatologists can remove them surgically, but many people would prefer a less expensive way to eliminate them, especially since they pose no medical danger. (If you think you have a skin tag, have a doctor check it to make sure of the diagnosis.)
Readers have reported success getting rid of skin tags with remedies as varied as tying thread or dental floss tightly around the base of the tag, applying liquid bandage to the tag or smothering it with clear nail polish. Some have found applying zinc oxide (such as diaper cream) or apple cider vinegar helps speed the disappearance.
