Are skin tags like warts?

Skin tags are often mistaken for warts as both can be skin coloured and stand proud from the skin surface.

However, skin tags are simply caused by friction over a long period of time but warts are due to infection by a virus called the human papilloma virus (HPV).

This is the reason why skin tags are found in areas of friction whilst warts are found usually in the areas of contact with other people, where the virus is passed on and enters the skin. Common places for warts to be found are therefore the fingers, hands, feet (where they are called verrucas), around the mouth and the genitals.

The difference between the causes of skin tags and warts means they are treated differently when it comes to removing them, more information on warts.

Can skin tags be spread or caught?

As skin tags appear as a result of friction alone and are not caused by a virus or bacteria, they do not spread nor are they contagious. This means that when they are treated, they are gone. The only way to develop more would be for more friction to occur and new ones to be formed.

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