What should you know about vinegar for skin tags?

Skin tags are soft growths that often develop where skin rubs against skin or clothing, such as the neck, underarms, eyelids, or groin. Household vinegar is acidic. Applying it repeatedly can damage the normal skin around a tag without confirming that the growth is a skin tag. A dark, bleeding, painful, or changing growth may need a diagnosis before removal.

Do not cut, tie off, scratch, or repeatedly dab vinegar onto the growth. If vinegar has already been used, rinse the area gently with water, stop using it, and avoid picking at any blister or scab. A clinician can examine the growth and discuss removal options suited to its size, position, and attachment. Possible in-clinic approaches include [Cryotherapy (Lesion Removal)](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/cryotherapy-lesion-removal/), [Electrosurgery](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/electrosurgery/), or [Skin Tag Removal](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/skin-tag-removal/).

Arrange an assessment if the growth bleeds without being rubbed, becomes painful, changes quickly, develops an uneven colour, or does not look like your other skin tags. Seek prompt care for spreading redness, increasing warmth, pus, fever, or severe pain after a home treatment, as these can signal infection or a significant skin injury.

Could this growth be something other than a skin tag? Which removal method fits its location? How should the area be cared for afterward, and what changes would require a review?