Common skin growths
Most small bumps and spots on the skin are harmless. The most common are warts (caused by a virus), skin tags (soft flaps of skin), moles (clusters of pigment cells) and seborrhoeic keratoses (waxy, “stuck-on” growths that appear with age). They are usually removed because they catch on clothing or jewellery, bleed when shaved, spread (warts) or simply bother you. A few, especially changing moles, need checking first.
What is it?
Wart
- Looks like
- A rough, raised bump, often with tiny black dots; flat warts are smooth and small, often on the face. On the soles they can be painful.
- Cause
- Human papillomavirus (HPV); mildly contagious.
- Usual removal
- Freezing, electrocautery or radiofrequency, laser, or prescription treatments; several sessions may be needed.
Skin tag
- Looks like
- A soft, skin-coloured or brown flap on a thin stalk, on the neck, underarms, eyelids or groin.
- Cause
- Friction, age, weight gain, pregnancy, and insulin resistance or diabetes.
- Usual removal
- Quick snipping or radiofrequency under local anaesthetic; many can be removed in one visit.
Normal mole
- Looks like
- A round or oval spot, evenly brown or black, with a smooth edge, staying the same over time.
- Cause
- A cluster of pigment cells, present from childhood or appearing in young adulthood.
- Usual removal
- Only if wanted: shave or surgical removal; suspicious moles are removed whole and tested.
Seborrhoeic keratosis
- Looks like
- A waxy, rough, “stuck-on” brown growth, common on the face, chest and back from middle age. Small dark ones on the cheeks are called dermatosis papulosa nigra.
- Cause
- Age and genes; harmless and not contagious.
- Usual removal
- Radiofrequency, cautery, freezing or laser, for comfort or appearance.
Mole to check
- Warning signs (ABCDE)
- Asymmetry, an irregular Border, more than one Colour, a Diameter larger than about 6 mm, or Evolving: changing in size, shape or colour.
- Also
- A new spot that looks different from your others, or one that bleeds, itches or doesn’t heal.
- What to do
- See a dermatologist promptly. The spot is examined and, if needed, removed whole and tested.
Illustrations, not to scale. Please don't diagnose yourself from pictures; a dermatologist examines growths with a dermatoscope before removal.
How growths are removed
Removal is usually a short procedure under local anaesthetic. The method depends on the growth: radiofrequency or electrocautery for warts, skin tags and keratoses; freezing (cryotherapy) for some warts; snip removal for tags; and shave or surgical excision for moles, with testing when needed. Small marks heal over one to two weeks and fade over months.
When to see a dermatologist
See a dermatologist for any mole or spot that is new, changing, bleeding or itching; for warts that are spreading, painful or on the face; for many skin tags, which may point to insulin resistance; and before any removal, so the growth is correctly identified.
How OrnaSkin helps
At OrnaSkin, a dermatology consultation identifies the growth, checks any mole that needs attention and plans removal if wanted. Wart and skin tag removal by radiofrequency or cautery, and mole removal by shave or excision, is done at the clinic in a short visit.