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Short answer: there's no good evidence that tea tree oil removes skin tags, and I don't recommend trying to make one dry up and fall off at home. Skin tags are harmless, but the safest way to remove one is a quick visit to your doctor or dermatologist. What tea tree can do is be a gentle part of your everyday skin care.
I've updated this post because my old version suggested a strong tea tree roller for skin tags. As a certified aromatherapist, I want to give you the honest answer instead.
What Are Skin Tags?
Skin tags are small, soft, flesh-colored growths that hang from the skin, often on the neck, underarms, eyelids, groin or under the breasts. They're very common, especially where skin rubs against skin or clothing, and they aren't contagious or harmful.
Many people want them gone because they catch on jewelry or clothing, or simply because of how they look. That's completely understandable.
Does Tea Tree Oil Get Rid of Skin Tags?
You'll find plenty of claims online that tea tree oil “dries out” skin tags until they fall off. There's no reliable evidence for this. A skin tag is a small piece of normal skin with its own blood supply, so drying the surface doesn't remove it.
Applying strong essential oil blends to the same spot day after day is far more likely to cause irritation, redness or an allergic reaction than to remove the tag. Tea tree in particular can cause skin sensitization when it's used undiluted, used often, or has oxidized with age.
Please don't remove skin tags at home
- Don't tie them off with thread or dental floss, or cut them. This can cause bleeding, pain and infection.
- Have new growths checked. Now and then, something that looks like a skin tag is a different kind of growth that a doctor should see.
- See your doctor if a tag bleeds, changes color or size, hurts, or grows quickly.
How Doctors Remove Skin Tags
Removing a skin tag is usually quick and simple in a doctor's office. Common options include snipping it off with sterile tools, freezing it, or using a small electric device. It's often done in minutes with little or no downtime.
How Tea Tree Oil Can Fit Into Your Skin Care
While tea tree isn't a skin tag remedy, it's a lovely oil for everyday skin care when it's fresh and well diluted:
- Blemish-prone skin: a gentle 1% blend (1 drop tea tree and 1 drop lavender in 10 ml jojoba) on the T-zone at night. My witch hazel pads are another option.
- Fresh feet: try my tea tree foot soak.
- An itchy scalp: a drop or two in your shampoo.
Learn more in my full guide to tea tree essential oil, including its oil profile, safety tips and 10 diffuser blends. For pairing ideas, see what blends well with tea tree.
Tea Tree Safety Tips
- Always dilute it: 1% for the face and 2% to 3% for the body.
- Patch test new blends first, and stop if you notice redness or itching.
- Replace old bottles; oxidized tea tree is more likely to irritate skin.
- Never swallow tea tree oil, and keep it away from pets.
See my 7 essential oil safety tips for more.
DIY Essential Oil Recipes Guide
Want more safe, simple recipes? My Aromatherapy Recipes Guide has 150+ easy blends for everyday wellness.
More Gentle Skin Care Recipes
- Bumps and Bruises Roller Blend
- 10 First Aid Essential Oils for Every Home
- Aloe Vera for Skin: Benefits and DIY Recipes
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