Discovering an unusual skin formation can be anxiety-inducing and embarrassing. When faced with a dermatological condition, many might assume it as a cause for concern, and it is understandable to see why.
Dermatological conditions, such as skin tags and genital warts, look very similar and can be hard to determine on our own. However, they are distinctly different, with one more severe than the other. In this article, we will explore more about the two and how you can get them treated.
What are skin tags?
Skin tags are small outgrowths that can appear on any part of your body. However, they are more commonly found in regions where there are fleshy folds, such as the armpits or neck. Skin tags are generally mild and painless and do not result in any discomfort. They are generally harmless, too.
In fact, they are a common issue, affecting 50 to 60 per cent of individuals in their lifetime, especially after turning 40. Skin tags are undetectable initially. However, they begin protruding from the skin as they grow. Once they have developed, their colour would be the same as the rest of the body or slightly darker in shade.
While the exact cause of how skin tags develop is still unknown, studies have shown that genetic as well as body fold-related friction are the contributing factors. Additionally, diabetic or insulin-resistant individuals also have a higher risk of developing skin tags.
What are genital warts?
As the name suggests, genital warts typically develop in the anal or genital regions. They usaully appear as an individual protrusion or a cluster of protrusions. Similar to skin tags, genital warts are generally harmless and do not result in any discomfort or pain. Neither will they turn into cancerous cells.
However, the cause of genital warts can be a problem. The primary cause of genital arts is due to an HPV infection. With that being said, genital warts become one of the telling signs of a possible HPV infection, which can be an asymptomatic STD, making it a transmittable STD even without any signs.
Individuals with HPV can sometimes be infected for years until they develop genital warts. HPV can be very contagious and can be transmitted between sexual partners through oral, anal, or vaginal sex.
How are the two dermatological conditions diagnosed?
Based on the earlier descriptions, it is pretty straightforward to differentiate the two. Nevertheless, a medical examination is still advisable to get a more accurate diagnosis. As mentioned earlier, genital warts are a sign of an HPV infection. And there are many strains of the virus that can lead to penile, vulvar, vaginal, cervical, anal, and even throat cancer.
HPV can be categorised into low-risk and high-risk strains, with the high-risk ones being HPV 70, 68, 66, 59, 58, 56, 52, 51, 45, 39, 35, 34, 33, 31, 18, and 16. Fortunately, these HPV variants do not lead to the development of genital warts. Genital warts are generally caused by HPV 11 and 6 and are considered low-risk variants.
With that being said, that does not mean you are risk-free. Keep in mind that one can develop more than one HPV strain. Hence, it is safer to conduct a thorough STD test to make sure.
How do we treat the two conditions?
Skin tags are usually better addressed by dermatologists as they are not related to STDs. However, if you have genital warts, you will want to go to an STD clinic as the staff there are specialised in dealing with STDs and will know how to address the viral infection resulting in their formation.
Nevertheless, there are a couple of methods dermatologists employ to remove skin tags, such as:
– Hyfrecation involves burning the skin tags with electrical energy.
– Excision involves cutting the skin tags off with a scalpel or surgical scissors.
– Cryotherapy involves freezing the skin tags with liquid nitrogen.
Removal is not usually needed unless the skin tags affect the individual’s self-confidence or if they lead to further discomfort.
Genital warts, on the other hand, are treated with antiviral medications. Do note that HPV is still an incurable STD. The antiviral medication targets the genital warts, eliminating the symptom, but does not eliminate HPV itself.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, it is highly recommended to visit a doctor to assess any skin formations that have developed, whether skin tags, genital warts, or other kinds. It is even more advisable to see a doctor if they develop around your genital region, especially if they appear as sores, scabs, or warts. If you are not a doctor, you will find it complicated to diagnose the issue.
If you have any concerns regarding abnormal skin formations around your genitals, do not hesitate to contact Elyon Clinic or visit us from Monday to Saturday for a comprehensive and confidential consultation. More information can be found on our website.
