Mole VS Wart: Breaking Down Their Differences

Feb 26, 2024 | Medical Dermatology

Many people aim to have flawless skin. It’s considered a key element to being attractive. Flawless skin is like the elusive Holy Grail. They’re both myths.

Experts define flawless skin as a complexion that’s smooth and glowing. It’s skin with an even tone and color. It has no blemishes, marks, or spots. It’s a rare individual who doesn’t have a blemish. Most will see moles and warts when they look in a mirror.

One study showed that the average individual has around 40 moles. Warts are more complicated. An individual can have a hundred or more plane warts. These imperfections are often benign. Most people don’t even know what moles of warts are.

Mole vs Wart: Which is which

Moles and warts are the two most common skin irregularities people have. Most people think of them as being the same. They’re two different things.

Moles are skin growths with a black, brown, or reddish hue. It’s called nevi in medical circles. Many societies call moles nature’s birthmarks. Most of us already have a mole or three at birth. Then more of these marks will appear during our lifetime.

Moles are either flat or have a bumpy texture. They’re caused by melanocytes, a skin pigmentation. Moles can be the result of genes or exposure to sunlight. They can also appear in any part of the body.

Warts have a different and scarier origin. These growths appear as small bumps or rough lesions. They can appear on various parts of the body. You can have warts on your limbs, your fingers, and soles. Warts can also grow on your face or in your private parts.

Warts are due to an infection of the human papillomavirus or HPV. These growths are contagious. You need to have them removed as soon as you can.

Which is More Dangerous?

Warts and moles aren’t a danger to your health most of the time. They can be annoying since they mar your otherwise flawless skin. Many people feel self-conscious when they have many moles or have warts.

You still have to be mindful of warts and moles though. The former is a virus infection. It’s contagious so you have to be careful not to spread it. You’ll need professional help to remove them from your skin. Moles can become a melanoma, which is a kind of skin cancer. This happens when they’re exposed to too much UV radiation.

What’s the Best Course of Treatment?

There are several ways to treat moles and warts. You can try some good, old-fashioned home remedies. You can also go with a doctor’s recommendation.

One such home remedy is a baking soda and water mix. People will put some of the mixture on the mole. They’ll then cover it with a bandage. A more modern solution is to undergo mole removal surgery. This can be an outpatient procedure done by a dermatologist. They can shave off or remove the mole from your skin. Many do this for cosmetic reasons. But it’s also done as a way to test for skin cancer.

There are also home remedies for warts. Most of these involve softening and removing skin layers. You can apply salicylic acid on them. Soaking the wart in warm water for about 20 minutes reportedly helps too. Some cover their wart with duct tape.

Some warts are best left to professionals. You should never remove warts on sensitive parts of the body. This includes the face, mouth, and genitals. You can also go to your doctor for a liquid nitrogen treatment. Your doctor will freeze the wart with it. A blister will form around and under the wart. The doctor can then lift it off after a week.

Surgery is another option. Doctors recommend this when a wart doesn’t respond to the other treatments. The dermatologist or doctor can cut it off. Or they will burn it with electricity. These can be painful so you’re given a shot of anesthesia. Surgery can leave scars though.

One Last Thing

Healthy skin is possible with Flagler Dermatology. We’re one of the top skin clinics in West Palm Beach. We’re dedicated to giving our clients top-notch skin care. We use the latest research, technology, and medicine. We combine them to create a treatment plan tailored to your needs. We offer medical and surgical dermatology. We also specialize in cosmetic dermatology. Give us a call at 561-584-8460. You can also send us a message here. Let’s start your journey to radiant skin.

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