A great product for minimizing skin tags is one that relieves friction from skin rubbing together, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Carmen Castilla. “For example, using glide sticks, like this one, where there is consistent friction [can help],” she says. This anti-chafing stick also gets bonus points for its twist-up applicator and quick application. “It glides on better than any other anti-chafing product I’ve tried, and it’s completely invisible, so it doesn’t transfer onto my clothes,” says NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio.
This anti-chafe stick is another good option for alleviating friction; it has vitamin E and is free of petrolatum and mineral oil, which can be irritating to some. “It’s a solid stick that goes on dry, creating a smooth barrier to prevent skin-on-skin rubbing,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Noah Gratch. “It doesn’t leave behind a greasy residue or stain fabric, and it goes on clean so you don’t see it on my clothes or body,” says NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin.
Even though this is billed as a night cream, you can use it both day and night and on areas other than the face, says Akhavan, who considers it a good option for keeping skin moisturized. It has ceramides to effectively moisturize the skin (and therefore minimize friction) and niacinamide for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Akhavan likes this thicker body moisturizer, since it has petrolatum to serve as a barrier against friction, as well as other ingredients that calm the skin, he says. It was also formulated for use for in-office treatments, according to the brand, so it’s safe for both sensitive skin types and to help moisturize skin following skin-tag removal by a doctor.
Dermatologists frequently recommend this moisturizer to us — it’s a great barrier cream, not to mention an excellent moisturizer for mature skin. And while the higher price point may mean you don’t slather it everywhere, it could be helpful for spot-treating areas of friction — which is why board-certified dermatologist Dr. Madalyn Nguyen also suggested it for skin tags. In fact, the titular 2:4:2 ratio indicates the proportions of ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids in the formula, which reflect the ratio naturally found in the skin, according to the brand.
For another friction-fighting option, Gratch points to this anti-chafe stick. It’s infused with shea butter and colloidal oatmeal to calm irritated skin, since an impaired skin barrier can contribute to skin tags. The alcohol- and fragrance-free formula is also sweat-resistant and won’t leave a visible residue on your clothes, according to the brand.
We can’t stress this enough: The most important thing to remember when trying to treat a skin tag is that you shouldn’t remove them at home. Skin-tag removal products “generally fall into the category of freezing sprays, acidic solutions that burn the tags off, and bands that cut off blood supply to skin tags,” says Akhavan. “Some of these solutions can effectively remove skin tags, but the risks of use unfortunately outweigh the benefits.” Those include infection, discoloration and scarring.
While it’s not possible to get rid of skin tags on your own, “you can slow their growth by minimizing friction and keeping your skin healthy,” Gratch says. “Since skin tags often develop in areas where skin rubs together, reducing friction is key.” For that purpose, he recommends using chafing sticks and anti-friction balms for that purpose. These often have occlusive ingredients, meaning they create a barrier over your skin, to protect it and help the skin glide against itself.
Another good idea is to keep areas of high friction, such as the neck, underarms and groin, well moisturized, which can also be helpful in minimizing friction, according to Akhavan. “The exact type of moisturizer doesn’t matter so long as it adequately supports and protects the skin barrier,” he says.
Skin tags are largely genetic, according to Castilla. Beyond that, “they can be associated with factors like obesity, diabetes, and hormonal changes in pregnancy or menopause, so it’s always recommended to see your primary care physician to make sure your general health is taken care of,” says Nguyen.
Friction is, as we’ve mentioned, a major factor, since it can cause skin cells to multiply at a rapid pace — leading to these growths, according to Gratch. That happens more often in the folds.
While reducing friction and protecting the skin barrier can help, there’s not much else you can do. However, losing weight — if you’re overweight — can help. The same goes when those hormonal drivers resolve. For instance, if you had them appear during pregnancy, they’ll eventually stop forming. Otherwise, though, your best bet is to have them removed by a doctor (if they bother you) and care for skin to help prevent new ones.
The short answer is no: Both the FDA and the American Academy of Dermatology advise against it. For one, they don’t really work. Take freezing sprays: According to Robinson, you need to get tissue to somewhere between minus-13 and minus-58 degrees to actually freeze it. “Oftentimes, with what you can get over the counter, it does not get cold enough — or will partially cause it to get necrotic but doesn’t completely fall off,” he says. “Then people get infections, or it can cause discoloration around the skin.” (And, of course, the skin tag remains.)
Take apple cider vinegar, or acetic acid; some sources recommend soaking the skin tag with it. “That can burn and irritate the surrounding skin, but not really get rid of the actual growth,” says Robinson.
If you go ahead and use these treatments anyway, they “can cause severe irritation, burns, infections, and even scarring,” says Akhavan. And beyond the risk of further injury or damage to the skin, there’s always a risk of mistaken identity. “Moles and even skin cancer have been known to be mistaken for skin tags,” he adds. In other words, there’s a chance you could inadvertently try to remove a basal cell carcinoma instead of having a dermatologist check it out.
Robinson, for his part, has found that warts are commonly mistaken for skin tags — and, more concerningly, a specific type of wart that’s caused by the HPV virus. It’s spread via physical contact, so you could accidentally spread it to someone else by trying to remove it as you would a skin tag. Ultimately, he says, “I wish there was a really good product that I could recommend. That would be my greatest pleasure to help patients,” he says. “But unfortunately at this point in time, it really is not.”
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I am a freelance beauty writer and editor who’s been covering beauty and health for more than a decade, including topics like at-home microcurrent devices and retinol body lotions. For this article, I spoke to five dermatologists to find the best skin-tag products to shop this year, and highlighted their recommendations for the best options to consider.
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