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How Are Genital Warts Different From Skin Tags?

How Are Genital Warts Different From Skin Tags?

Written By Niyati Pandya - March 20, 2024
Read Time - 3 min read

Are you wondering if that abnormal outgrowth or skin lump on your body is a skin tag or signs of genital warts? It can be difficult to tell at times.

Skin tags and genital warts are both common conditions that affect people of all ages and genders. One can be easily confused due to their similar appearance.

It's critical to distinguish between these two conditions because one of them, genital warts, is infectious, meaning it passes from one person to another. Skin tags, on the other hand, are not contagious as they are formed due to external factors like friction in the skin folds due to natural movement.

This article should help anyone distinguish between skin tags and genital warts, caused by an HPV infection

What Are Genital Warts?

Genital warts are small skin growths that typically occur around the genital or anal areas in clusters or individually.1 They do not result in any pain and are usually harmless. Genital warts are not cancerous and are caused by a sexually transmitted infection called Human Papillomavirus (HPV).2 The condition is highly contagious and spreads through skin-to-skin contact, most commonly during sex.2

There are over 200 genotypes of HPV viruses; some are high-risk that can cause cervical cancer, while others are low-risk infections.3 Only 10% of those who are exposed to HPV will develop genital warts.3 However, 90% of genital warts cases are caused by some low-risk HPV genotypes like 6 and 11.4

What Are Skin Tags?

Skin tags can be defined as small skin outgrowths in the regions of your body that have fleshy folds.5 Almost 50-60% of adults may develop at least one skin tag during their lifetime.6 It is observed that skin tags are more common once you enter your 40s.6 Moreover, people with diabetes, obesity or a family history are prone to developing such tags on their bodies.6

Skin tags are usually painless and do not cause discomfort.7 You can talk to your doctor and have them removed surgically if they are a cosmetic concern or snag on your clothes/jewellery and bleed.7 Sometimes, the skin tags may even fall off entirely by themselves. This happens if the tissue has twisted and died as a result of a lack of blood supply.7

Differences Between Genital Warts And Skin Tags

Let’s talk about the differentiating factors between these two conditions in detail!

Appearance

Skin tags either look like a deflated balloon or even a grain of rice which is connected to the skin via a thin stalk.8

Unlike skin tags, genital warts may be flat, cauliflower-shaped or pedunculated (have finger-like projections).4 They have a wider base and are usually firmly attached to the body.

Areas Of The Body That Can Be Affected

Skin tags grow on body areas where there is more friction on a daily basis like the neck, armpits, eyelids, under breasts, thighs, genitals or groin folds.9

Genital warts are infectious and spread through direct skin-to-skin contact. Therefore they affect areas of skin that are not prevalently protected during sexual contact and are injured (by minor cuts) during sex. You can find them affecting the shaft of the penis, urethra, vagina, vulva, cervix, or skin around the anus.10

Pattern Of Development

Usually, you might observe a singular skin tag in an area. It is possible to have more than one skin tag on your body.5

Genital warts also develop singularly or in groups/clusters.3 However, genital warts are infectious, they may spread to adjacent tissue more easily than to distant areas (via scratching and shaving).11

Texture

Skin tags are extremely smooth to the touch.8 They can twist easily because they have a relatively thin base and a larger top.8

Genital warts have a rough and irregular surface that looks like cauliflower. They are generally flat and small, almost making them invisible.12

Colour

Skin tags can be skin-coloured, brown or red lesions.6

The colour of genital warts is variable but is prone to being skin-coloured and may occasionally be a little darker than the patient’s skin.3

In Conclusion

While skin tags and warts are frequently confused with one another due to their similar appearance, they are caused by completely distinct factors. If you have any doubts about the atypical growths on your private parts, consult your doctor and get a pap smear or an HPV DNA Test. LifeCell offers an at-home self-collection HPV Test - Female which is designed to identify high-risk HPV strains that can lead to cervical cancer in the long run. Genital warts are caused by low-risk HPV strains which are not detected by our test. Therefore, if you suspect the skin spots are genital warts or have been exposed to Human papillomavirus, you should see your doctor right away.

References

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