What causes warts, moles & skin tags?

The majority or people within their lifetime will experience a wart, mole or skin tag. These are normal skin lesions and mostly harmless. Some people can find their skin lesions unsightly or uncomfortable, for example a skin tag that regularly catches on clothing. This leads to people searching for ways to have them removed

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• Warts and verrucae - a common skin condition caused by a virus known as Human Papilloma Virus or HPV. Warts tend to be small lumps often found on the hands but can also be found on other parts of the body. Verrucae are typically flatter and found on the soles of the feet. They can be spread through contact with contaminated surfaces such as showers or swimming pools and with direct skin contact. They are harmless but can sometimes be painful, unsightly and embarassing.

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• Moles - dark or skin coloured lesions found on the skin. Moles are often round in appearance and it is normal for them to fade or disappear with age. Sometimes new moles appear and they are known to get darker during pregnancy. Any changes to an existing mole, or any new moles that appear should always be checked by a doctor for potential melanoma (a type of skin cancer). You can prevent cancerous moles by limiting sun exposure during strong sunlight hours, not using sunbeds or sunlamps and regularly wearing a high factor sunscreen.

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• Skin tags - these are small, harmless flesh-coloured growths made of loose collagen fibres covered in skin. They vary in size and although typically small can grow to beyond 5cm. The cause of skin tags varies, however they typically occur in skin folds where the skin is loose and rubs against itself. Obesity can therefore increase the chances of developing skin tags but they can also appear for no apparent reason. Skin tags are known to develop in pregnancy, with age, and are common for those with type 2 diabetes.

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