Skin tags are small, soft, skin-coloured growths that hang off the skin and look a bit like warts.

They’re very common, harmless, and can vary in colour and size – from a few millimetres up to 5cm (about 2 inches) wide.

There was a tiny skin tag on the right side of my neck for over a year. It hadn’t grown any bigger nor was it very obvious but the feeling of a bump on the skin was annoying.  I tried applying tea tree oil neat on the skin tag but there wasn’t any effect on it.  Recently I read that lemon essential oil can do wonders in removing skin tags painlessly. I applied a few drops of lemon essential oil from Melaleuca on the skin tag NEAT for about 3 days straight and I was pleasantly surprised when the skin tag dropped off! And the lemon essential oil does not sting the skin on my neck like it would on my face. I am so happy and would like to share this simple natural remedy with you!

What are skin tags?
Skin tags are made of loose collagen fibres and blood vessels surrounded by skin. Collagen is a type of protein found throughout the body.

Some people may have skin tags and never notice them. In some cases, they rub off or fall off painlessly. Very large skin tags may burst under pressure.

The surface of skin tags may be smooth or irregular in appearance. They are often raised from the surface of the skin on fleshy peduncles, or stalks. They are usually flesh-colored or slightly brownish.

Skin tags start small, flattened like a pinhead bump. Some stay small, and some grow bigger. They can range in diameter from 2 millimeters (mm) to 1 centimeter (cm), and some may reach 5cm.

Fast facts on skin tags
Skin tags are benign tumors of the skin.
They commonly occur in creases or folds of the skin.
They are not dangerous, but they can be removed for aesthetic and cosmetic reasons.

Skin tags usually appear on the:
eyelids
armpits
under the breasts
groin
upper chest
neck, in the case of papilloma colli

Causes
It is not clear exactly what causes skin tags, but it may happen when clusters of collagen and blood vessels become trapped inside thicker pieces of skin.

As they are more common in skin creases or folds, they may be mainly caused by skin rubbing against skin.

Some people appear to inherit an increased susceptibility to skin tags.

Skin tags affect people both males and females, but they happen more often during pregnancy, in people who are obese, and in people with diabetes.  They have been associated with hyperinsulinemia, when there is too much insulin circulating in the blood.

Lemon Essential Oil and Skin Tag
Lemon essential oil is extracted from lemon and it functions as an astringent to remove the excess oils that contributed to the formation of tags. It also removes any excess water from your skin. Lemon essential oil cuts off blood supply to the skin tags, which causes the tags to fall off after a while. It requires consistent application to get the best result and uniform skin tone. After applications, be sure to stay away from direct sunlight as lemon is photosensitive. This can cause you irritation due to exposure. Preferably, blend the oil with carrier oils such as olive oil before you apply it to your skin tags.

Application
Apply it repeatedly every day and try to stay away from sunlight. Within a few days, your tags will start drying out and within no time, they’ll fall off.