What is the difference between skin tags and warts? What are their causes and effective treatments? Skin tags are small growths on the surface of the skin that are attached to the skin, while warts are a skin infection caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). We will explain the difference between them in terms of symptoms and treatment methods.
What are skin tags
Skin tags are small, wart-like, soft, downy growths on the surface of the skin. They are not caused by infection and are attached to the skin by a small, thin stalk.
What are warts
Warts, also known as verrucas, are a skin infection caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They cause skin-colored bumps and are contagious and can spread.
Symptoms of skin tags and warts
Skin tags are asymptomatic and do not cause pain unless they rub against objects such as clothing.
Warts, on the other hand, cause discomfort and sometimes pain and appear hard and flat.
Causes of Skin Tags
Skin tags are caused by loose collagen fibers and blood vessels surrounding the skin. Many factors increase the risk of their appearance, such as:
- Type 2 diabetes.
- Obesity and weight gain.
- Hormonal changes during pregnancy.
- Aging.
- They appear due to excessive friction on the body, such as the neck, groin, or underarms.
What are the causes of warts
Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a contagious virus that spreads easily from person to person through:
- Direct contact with someone infected with warts.
- Touching anything contaminated with the virus, such as towels.
- Sexual intercourse with an infected person.
- Using unsterilized razors.
What is the difference between skin tags and warts
Skin tags are benign, soft, pendulous growths that are not caused by infection and are painless. Warts, on the other hand, are a viral infection caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and are painful.
Skin Tag Treatment Methods
There are therapeutic methods used to remove skin tags. They should not be removed at home without consulting a doctor and obtaining their approval. They may fall off and disappear on their own, and a doctor can remove them through:
- Freezing the tags with liquid nitrogen.
- Surgery requiring local anesthesia.
- Removal by cutting them with scissors or a scalpel.
- Cutting the tags.
How to Treat Warts
- The doctor prescribes creams or gels containing salicylic acid to slowly remove layers of the wart.
- Cryotherapy using liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart and thus remove it.
- Laser beams are used to apply heat to destroy small blood vessels.
- Immunotherapy is used in cases that do not respond to other treatments.
- Using nutritional supplements containing zinc, as it plays an effective role in treating warts, as it plays a role in the function of the immune system. Herbs that remove warts
- Tea tree oil, which has antiviral and antiseptic properties, is applied with a cotton swab several times a day until the wart disappears.
- Garlic, which has antiviral properties, is applied to the wart and covered with a bandage.
How do I know if the skin tags are cancerous
If the skin tags are cancerous, they appear as:
- Itching around the skin tags.
- Rough patches on the skin.
- Skin ulcers that do not heal.
Causes of warts in the armpits
Warts in the armpits appear as a result of sweating and friction, as sweat concentrates in areas that are not exposed to ventilation, such as the underarms and under the chest. These are the most common areas for skin tags and warts to appear.
Obesity and overweight are also common, as most people who develop skin tags and warts are overweight, especially in childhood.
Summary of the Difference Between Warts and Skin Tags
Warts are viral skin infections caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They are characterized by a rough surface, are contagious, and can spread and appear anywhere on the body.
Skin tags, on the other hand, are benign, soft, hanging growths that are not caused by infection and usually appear in skin folds such as the neck and armpits.