Moles, Warts and Skin Tags: An Introduction

In general, moles, warts and skin tags are infections of the skin usually caused by viruses, capable of producing bumps on different parts of the body or even on the soles of the feet.

To differentiate, there are different reasons and features that every skin infection. Skin tags may be characterized as bumpy or irregular and may have a fleshy color while other features tend to pigmentation depending on the part of the skin. Moles are a harmless dark pigmentation on the skin, while warts are granular protrusions that overlap over the other.

These main characteristics help you determine the difference between one infection from the other. By knowing these facts, you can easily know how to manage or treat each skin manifestation in an individual manner.

A broader view

Moles – dark spots found on the human integumentary system that peeks out naturally which can be caused by too much sedimentation of melanocytes in one part of your skin and tends to produce pigmentation which results to your mole. Moles, in majority, can become benign but is not necessarily considered to be cancerous although there are occurrences that moles can lead to melanomas which are known as a skin cancer. When this happens, the melanoma must be immediately removed.

Moles vary in size and shape which can be flat, raised or even smooth and some can show hair growth. Moles don’t have the tendency to hurt or itch when touched and they are typically harmless although, because of the possibility that some moles can develop in melanomas, as soon as one feels that the mole produces signs of infection, he must consult a doctor at once.

Warts – rough, small tumors, warts usually appear on the feet and hands. Because of the viral infection that is known as Human Papilloma Virus or HPV, warts is considered to be contagious by contact of an infected person by the use of personal things like shirts or towels. A wart is not considered to be dangerous and has the tendency to disappear in a couple of months.

Because warts can be transmitted from person to person contact, infection is probable. If one is sexually active and he or she has warts on the genitals, the person is a candidate for genital wart infection and should be treated immediately.

Skin tags – benign, harmless, and small tumors that appear on parts of skin surfaces like armpits, groin and eyelids, skin tags can range from grain size to sizes of golf balls. Skin tags are due to bunches of blood vessels and collagen encapsulated inside a thick piece of human skin. For this reason, skin tags should cause no alarm although some find it quite unattractive and may cause bleeding when rubbed by clothing or irritation occurs. One can get rid of skin tags through medical interventions like burning or cutting it.

Some of the causes of skin tags are particular drugs and pills like steroids which are effective in bodybuilding, hormones and injection of insulin.

In order to manage moles, warts and skin patches, it is necessary to consult a skin specialist to advise you on the right procedure. It is also necessary to change the lifestyle and the diet, because some infections of the skin are due to a deficiency of potassium, vitamins and minerals.