If you have skin tags or warts, you already know how difficult it can be to get rid of them. These two conditions are very common and I’ve already written on how to remove skin tags and warts with apple cider vinegar. In this post, I am going to cover skin tag and wart removal using hydrogen peroxide.

Skin Tags and Warts: How Common Are They?

Skin tags and warts are common: according to the NIH (National Institutes of Health) USA, approximately 46% of people have skin tags, and according to WebMD, most people will have at least one common wart at some time in their lives.

What Are Skin Tags?

Skin tags (also known as acrochordon) look like small pieces of soft hanging skin that may hang from a stalk. They are benign and generally occur after mid-life. Factors that increase the likelihood of having skin tags include genetics, obesity, and diabetes. Skin tags are also more common among pregnant women due to hormonal changes.

Skin tags are more commonly found in body folds where skin rubs against skin, such as the armpits, groin, under the breast, eyelids, and neck, but can appear on any part of the body.

What Are Warts?

A wart is a small solid growth with a rough surface that typically appears on the hands (hand warts) or feet. Warts are caused by viruses, especially HPV type (human papilloma virus), that cause an infection in which the top layer of the skin grows too fast.

A factor that increases the likelihood of developing a wart is broken skin, where the virus can enter the top layer of the skin through scratches or cuts.

The virus that causes warts can be spread to other body parts and passed through skin-to-skin contact or contact with towels or shoes. It is therefore best to treat warts as soon as they appear.

You can use over-the-counter products to treat warts or visit a dermatologist who can perform wart or skin tag removal techniques, but you can also treat these two with hydrogen peroxide.

Important Note: Before you attempt to remove skin growth at home, you need to ensure that you are treating skin tags or warts – which are benign conditions – and not a mole or any other lesion that could be malignant. What you are trying to remove should have been previously diagnosed by a health professional as a harmless skin tag or wart and nothing else.

The Power of Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a natural astringent and bleaching agent that can be purchased in varying concentrations. It has many uses, including whitening teeth, treating toenail fungus, and removing difficult stains from surfaces while disinfecting.

Hydrogen peroxide can also be used for removing skin tags and warts effectively and safely.

Which Type of Hydrogen Peroxide Should You Use?

Although weaker solutions can be found in virtually any drug store, to remove skin tags or warts you will need to buy 35% food-grade hydrogen peroxide. This is unlikely to be found on drug store shelves, but it can be purchased online.

Storage Tips:

• This solution must be stored in a cool place and in a dark container, as both heat and light can cause hydrogen peroxide to break down more quickly.
• For a longer product life, store it in the freezer.

Safety Precautions:

• The higher the percentage, the more cautious you need to be.
• Make sure the bottle is clearly labeled and keep it away from children and pets as it can be toxic if ingested.
• Remember that food-grade hydrogen peroxide is a 35% solution and significantly more caustic than the 3% solution found on store shelves.

How to Remove Warts or Skin Tags with Hydrogen Peroxide

Getting rid of warts and skin tags with peroxide is simple but requires perseverance. To do so, you will need the following:

• Cotton swabs
• 35% food-grade hydrogen peroxide
• A nail file or pumice stone (for plantar warts)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. If you are treating a plantar wart or verruca, file away the top layer of skin over the wart before applying hydrogen peroxide.
2. Soak the cotton end of a swab in a full-strength solution of food-grade hydrogen peroxide, then rub it onto the wart or skin tag carefully. Make sure to avoid contact with healthy, normal skin, as this may sting.
3. Repeat this process 3 to 5 times per day for a week or two.
4. At first, the skin surrounding the wart or skin tag may become whitish in appearance. This is normal and means the remedy is working.
5. Keep persisting with the treatment until the wart blackens and forms into a scab, which will eventually fall off.
6. You may see results in a few days, or it may take longer, especially for plantar warts, which are deeper and require extended treatment.

If this doesn’t help, you can try apple cider vinegar (ACV) to remove skin tags and warts, or you can explore other methods in my Ultimate Guide for Hand Wart Removal.

Additional Precautions When Using Hydrogen Peroxide

• Avoid using hydrogen peroxide on skin tags around the eyelids, as it can harm the eyes.
• Hydrogen peroxide 35% is very strong. If the wart is in a sensitive area, dilute it with water or consider an alternative method.
• Apply only to the direct area that is affected, avoiding the surrounding skin as much as possible.

Final Thoughts

Hydrogen peroxide is a cost-effective, natural way to remove skin tags and warts when used correctly. However, always exercise caution, follow proper application techniques, and seek professional medical advice if you are unsure. If you find that the treatment is not effective, consult a dermatologist for further guidance.

By following these steps, you can effectively remove warts and skin tags at home with minimal discomfort. Remember, patience and consistency are key to achieving the best results.