Skin tags and warts are two types of lesions that can develop on the skin. When it comes to appearance, both skin tags and warts will have similar appearances. You can compare them to a tag or a wart which we all know. But if you inspect deeper, you will find that they are not the same thing.
Today, let’s discuss the differences between skin Tags and Warts.
What are skin tags?
Skin tags are small, flesh-colored growths that can grow anywhere on the body where there has been friction. They are typically very small – about the size of a grain of rice, but some can also be quite large and even look like it’s a bunch of smaller ones all connected. Skin tags typically have a tiny stalk at their base (serving as an attachment to the skin) and can be easily pulled off with your fingers.
What are warts?
Warts are rough bumps that grow on top of the skin – mostly on your hands and feet. Warts come in several different types including common warts, plantar warts, flat warts, filiform warts, genital warts, and more. Warts usually have a distinct coloration – either grey or brownish-black in color.
Differences between skin tags and warts
Skin tags and warts are two of the most common skin conditions that people can have, but did you know that they aren’t always easy to tell apart?
The only way to be certain what type of growth you’re dealing with is to get it examined by a dermatologist. In the meantime, here are some guidelines on how to tell the difference between skin tags and warts.
Size: Warts are generally smaller than skin tags; typically they don’t get any larger than an inch across. Skin tags can grow much bigger than that.
Color: Warts are usually flesh-colored or brownish. Skin tags tend to be grayish or brown.
Texture: Warts usually have a rough surface; this is one of the easiest ways to differentiate them from skin tags, which have smoother surfaces.
Location: Warts are usually found on your hands, feet, or face. It’s not unheard of for them to appear elsewhere on the body, but it does happen less often. Skin tags can appear almost anywhere on the body; most commonly they’re found in areas where the skin folds over itself such as the armpits, groin, and neck.
Cause: The biggest difference between skin tags and warts is their cause. Skin tags are caused by friction, and warts are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).
Touch: Skin tags feel extremely soft, but warts tend to feel rough or even grainy due to their bumpy surface and the fact that they contain blood vessels.
Pain: Generally speaking, warts do not cause pain unless they are located in an area where they become irritated (such as if you walk on a wart on your foot).
Skin tags, however, may be more painful because they’re often located in areas with thin skin (such as eyelids), or because they’re constantly being rubbed against clothing or jewelry.
Skin tag growth rate: Although it’s hard to get an exact measurement of how fast each type of growth grows over time, generally speaking, skin tags will stay the same size for years at a time. On the other hand, the growth of warts may increase over time.
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