All About Different Types of Bumps on the Skin (Warts, Skin Tags, Mole)

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  • Are you worried about the  bumps on your face?
  • Has your self-confidence taken a hit because of  warts and moles?
  • Are you feeling low because of skin tags, warts, and moles?

It’s true that moles, skin tags, DPN (Dermatosis papulosa Nigra) and warts, are unpleasant and confusing. It is hard for the common public to know and identify them.

The good news is that none of them pose a health danger. However, they are inconvenient, and removing them before they become an issue would make your life easier. So, if you’re wondering how to detect the difference between a mole, a wart, DPN (Dermatosis papulosa Nigra), and a skin tag before scheduling a spot removal, here’s how.

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The most common colored skin growth, a mole (medical term: nevi), appears as a little elevated dark brown patch, though the skin color can range from pink to black. Melanocytes, the pigment-producing skin cells, are widely distributed throughout our skin, yet they can cluster together to form moles. Moles can be there since birth or develop after some time in life. They usually arise in childhood and adolescence. The average adult has 10 to 40 moles. Genetic susceptibility, as well as excessive sun exposure, play a role. Melanocytes can become moles as a result of hormonal changes throughout adolescence and in pregnant women.

The majority of moles are benign, although they can become malignant in rare circumstances. Monitoring existing moles and abrupt many new eruptions, on the other hand, is a critical step in diagnosing skin cancer, also known as malignant melanoma.

Except for those that are cosmetically undesirable, most moles do not require treatment; nevertheless, in some circumstances, the mole must be removed.

Types of moles:

  • Dysplastic nevus:

 A dysplastic nevus is a type of atypical mole. Atypical moles have unusual or irregular shapes, are larger than a pencil point or eraser, and have a hazy appearance with mixed colors (brown, red, and pink). They might be elevated or flat, and they resemble melanoma. It is not melanoma, although it does have a higher chance of developing melanoma or cancer. They can appear anywhere on the body, although they’re most commonly found on the trunk. If you have four or more atypical moles, you’re more likely to get melanoma.

  • Congenital

These are types of moles which are present since birth. Congenital moles are caused by pigment-causing cells (melanocytes) in the dermis-epidermis layer of skin. These moles might be little, medium, or enormous in size. As they grow older, the huge congenital mole can become malignant.

  • Common or acquired mole

Moles that you get later in life are known as acquired moles. The majority of them are brown to dark brown in color and are prevalent in people who are exposed to the sun on a daily basis. These are smooth dome-shaped pigmented domes with a definite shape and a diameter of 3-6 mm. These moles are less likely, if not impossible, to grow cancerous. They tend to have lighter skin since their melanin levels are lower.

Depending on the location of engagement, acquired moles or nevi are further classified:

  • Junctional Melanocytic Nevi:

Melanocytic nevi arise when melanocytes concentrate or multiply between the epidermis and dermis. They are elevated, consistently pigmented, and have regular margins with a diameter of 2-6mm.

  • Compound Nevi:

With the development of the cells in the deep dermis, the melanocyte proliferates in the epidermis and migrates into the dermis. They are round or oval in shape, with a slightly raised middle portion and noticeably flattened borders.

  • Intradermal Nevi

are pigmented nevi that originate in the dermis and spread deeper into the skin. They don’t have as much pigmentation as junctional or compound nevi. They are flesh-colored, dome-shaped papules or nodules that grow as we age.

Prevention of moles:

Few preventive interventions for higher-risk groups:

  • Protection from the sun: Physical protection is provided by wide-brimmed hats and protective apparel (long sleeves or pants). Use water-resistant sunscreens with an SPF of 50+ to avoid chemical exposure.
  • Between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., avoid overexposure to the sun.
  • Regularly examine moles and sun-exposed skin for risk indicators on a weekly or quarterly basis.
  • Avoid going to a tanning salon.

Treatment:

  • Normal moles that are cosmetically undesirable can be removed with a biopsy punch, surgical excision, radiofrequency device, or CO2 laser.
  • Suspicious moles, such as aberrant or atypical moles, are not cancerous and may or may not require removal. If the stitches are removed, they must be properly stitched and checked on a regular basis.
  • Malignant moles, often known as melanoma, are cancerous moles that must be removed right away. It is necessary to undertake a surgical excision.

Skin tags are tiny growths of soft, drooping skin with a thin stalk supporting them. They can appear everywhere on the body, but they’re most frequent in skin folds like the neck, armpits, crotch, and eyelids. They affect both men and women, particularly beyond the age of 50. They are normally painless and harmless, although rubbing against clothing, jewelry, or other skin might aggravate them. They can take the form of a little flattened pinhead-sized bump, with most tags being small (2-5mm) but others growing as large as 1cm or fig 5cm in diameter. Obesity appears to be linked to the development of skin tags.

Causes:

Skin tags are caused by clusters of collagen and blood vessels becoming stuck inside thicker portions of the skin, or skin rubbing against skin. Skin tags tend to be more common in the following areas: Obesity and being overweight Hormonal changes and high levels of growth factors cause pregnancy. Skin tags run in the family Diabetes type 2.

Treatment:

The most typical reason for removal is for cosmetic reasons, since ugly growth can cause self-esteem concerns, and in certain cases, it can become irritating from rubbing against clothing, jewelry, or other skin, necessitating removal.

After confirming that the area to be treated is numb, one of the procedures listed below is performed:

A high-frequency alternating electric current is used to cauterize and remove the skin tag with electrocautery.

  • Cryosurgery: A probe carrying liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the skin tag off.
  • Ligation: An older day’s treatment involves tying a knot at the base of the skin tag to cut off the blood flow to it.
  • Excision: A scalpel or surgical scissors are used to remove the tag.

You may need to take analgesics and antibiotics after the procedure to ease pain and prevent infection, respectively.

Your dermatologist can assist you in determining the cause of your skin problem and can also help in assessing if skin tags, moles, DPN, and warts removal is right for you or not. Your dermatologist can then develop a treatment plan that is right for you. That one visit could make a significant difference in your quality of life for years to come. However, given the delicate nature of the procedure, it’s best to work with a board-certified dermatologist that can ensure the process is safe and effective.

If you and your dermatologist agree that procedure is the best choice for you, your dermatologist will devise a tailor-made treatment plan exclusively for you. Your dermatologist will consider a variety of factors when developing this plan, including your main cause of skin problem, location, severity, etc. If you have taken any kind of previous skin-related treatment, be sure to tell your dermatologist about that before the treatment begins.

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) infect the skin or mucosa, causing warts to emerge as tiny, fleshy growths or bumps on any area of the body. Verruca is a medical word for a fungus.

What are the different kinds of warts?

HPV infections cause keratin, a hard protein found on the top layer of the skin, to develop excessively and quickly. HPV strains that cause warts in different areas of the body cause distinct types of warts.

Each variety has a particular appearance and appears in a different place of the body. The following is a list of the most frequent types of warts:

  • Common warts, also known as Verruca Vulgaris, are most commonly found on the backs of hands and feet, primarily on the fingers and toes, but they can appear elsewhere. They have a stiff, gritty surface that is somewhat grayer than normal skin. They range in size from a pinhead to a pea, with diameters ranging from 1mm to 1cm. They may contain black specks (like seeds) on their surface, which are actually microscopic blood clots.
  • Verruca plana (plane warts): Flat warts commonly form on the faces of children, men’s beards, and women’s legs. They are skin-colored to somewhat brown or yellow in hue and have a flat top surface.
  • Plantar warts are warts that appear on the bottoms of the feet. Unlike other warts, they grow into your skin as a result of the pressure from walking and standing. They are flat, tough, and have black spots on the surface. They can be found singly or in clusters. Plantar warts can make walking difficult and can be mistaken for calluses. Mosaic warts are a type of plantar wart that occurs in a big cluster.
  • Filiform Warts: Filiform warts are thread-like, spiky, or small brushes that occur around the lips, eyes, nose, or chin, and can be uncomfortable due to their proximity to sensitive facial areas.
  • Genital Warts: They appear on your genitals as little, dispersed, skin-colored lumps or as a cluster of bumps (cauliflower). A few strains of HPV that are sexually transmitted can produce warts in and around the genitals, which can lead to cervical cancer, a potentially fatal disease.
  • Periungual warts: Warts that form around and under the toe or fingernails are known as periungual warts. They can be painful and have a negative impact on nail development.

Prevention:

DO

DON’T

Do try to get rid of them at the earliest Do not try to remove the wart on your own.
Do maintain good self-hygiene & keep your hand & feet dry Do not pick or scratch your warts
Do keep your skin intact, if the skin has been cut or opened the virus is more likely to enter Do not share towels, clothing, socks, or soaps with others
Do cover warts with a plaster or bandage Do not walk barefoot in public places, if you have a plantar wart
Do wash your hands regularly Do not shave or do electrolysis where the wart is located
Do get warts evaluated promptly Do not share your sports gear
Do check children’s feet frequently for warts Do not bite your fingernails or the cuticles
Do consult the dermatologist Do not try home remedies
Do wear waterproof shoes or sandals (flip-flops) in public showers and pools or in a locker room Do not have sexual contact if you have warts in the genital area

Treatment:

If left untreated, the wart may heal up on its own in a few months to a year, but it can also spread infection, cause secondary bacterial infection, involve the soft tissues, cause discomfort, and in rare circumstances, develop to cancer in the genital strains of HPV.

Simple efforts to minimize the spread of infection, preventive, medication, and interventional treatments are all part of the treatment. Many people with a healthy immune system don’t need therapy because the lesions heal on their own without the need for medical intervention.

However, because it is an infectious condition that can move from one place to another inside the same body, it justifies treatment.

  • Medicine: Topical therapies are considered first-line therapy in the treatment of warts. Retinoic acid cream, salicylic acid preparations, 5-FU, and podophyllotoxin cream are examples of topical creams (anogenital warts). Irritating the skin and stimulating the immune system are diphencyprone (DCP) and imiquimod.
    For any type of wart, oral immunomodulators such as levamisole and zinc sulfate are utilized, which have an effect on the immune system. In cases of significant wart involvement, antiviral cidofovir (topically, intravenously, or intralesionally) is employed.
  • Duct tape occlusion is achieved by covering the wart with a thin piece of duct tape for two months. This therapy can be used to treat common or plantar warts, and it works best when combined with topical therapy.
  • Interventional therapy is recommended if medical treatment fails or our immune system does not respond to the infection in a way that allows it to heal on its own.
  • Interferon, an intralesional immunomodulator, is used to increase your immune system’s ability to fight HPV, which is commonly used to treat genital warts. Bleomycin, an intralesional cytotoxic drug, may prevent infected cells from replicating. Recalcitrant warts are treated with these intralesional treatments.
  • Chemical cautery: High-concentrated trichloroacetic acid, silver nitrate, phenol, cantharidin, and formic acid are used in chemical cautery. Cantharidin liquid is frequently used in young children since it is painless. A blister forms beneath it after application, pulling it off the skin.
  • Photodynamic therapy: A topical or systemic aminolaevulinic acid is taken in by dividing cells, converted to protoporphyrin, and then photoactivated to cause cell destruction in an infected area of the wart.
  • Cryotherapy: Cryotherapy includes using liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart. When a wart is frozen, a blister forms under and surrounding it, which eventually rips the wart away from the skin. The operation is a little unpleasant and will most likely require multiple sessions. It normally works effectively, but on dark skin, it might cause discoloration and scarring.
  • Surgery

Surgery is normally undertaken only if the other treatments have failed. There are several surgical options for eliminating warts, all of which are described below and are normally performed after a local anesthetic is administered:

  • Curettage is the process of removing a wart using a sharp knife.
  • Electrosurgery cauterizes the skin tissue using a tiny probe and an electric current. Common warts, filiform warts, and foot warts all respond well to this treatment.
  • Excision is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of tissue with a sharp blade and the subsequent closure of the wound.
  • Laser surgery: destroys warty tissue with ablative lasers such as co2 and erbium YAG.

However, electrosurgery is the most effective way to eliminate or cauterize warts.

DPN (dermatosis papulosa Nigra) is a type of dermatosis that affects people with darker skin (African). They’re a smooth, round, black or dark brown, flat, or papular lesion that’s most commonly found on the cheeks and around the eyes, but can also be found on the lower face, neck, chest, belly, and back.

How is it caused?

DPN has an unknown cause. Darker skin is particularly vulnerable throughout puberty. UV exposure (photoaging) and genetic propensity have both been proposed.

Signs and symptoms

DPN is characterized by black or dark brown, flat, or small bumps that appear on the cheeks and around the eyes; they can also be present on the lower part of the face, neck, chest, belly, and back.

They vary in size from 1 to 5 mm in diameter.

They normally begin around puberty and tend to get larger and more numerous with time.

DPN can be uncomfortable or unpleasant, and it’s unsightly.

Treatment:

DPN is a harmless condition that does not require treatment. However, if the pimples become uncomfortable or unpleasant, or if they grow in number and size, they will make you look unattractive.

As listed below, there are several treatment options for dermatosis papulosa nigra, all of which

are commonly performed with topical anesthetic.

Surgical techniques:

  • Curettage is when the lesions are scraped using a little scooping device.
  • Electrocautery involves cauterizing skin tissue using a tiny probe and an electric current.
  • Cryosurgery includes utilizing liquid nitrogen to freeze the lumps away.

Laser:

Different lasers are used in laser therapy to remove the bumps. Lasers have shown to be effective in removing or reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

  • Carbon-dioxide laser: This produces light with a specified wavelength in the mid-infrared band (10600 nm), and its energy is a viable alternative for DPN.
  • The Erbium Yag laser is a solid-state laser that emits a wavelength of 2940nm, which is closer to the top layers of skin or the water peak spectrum. It is the most successful, least painful method of removing DPN.
  • A potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) crystal: YAG laser is used in this approach.

Although there are various treatment options for dermatosis papulosa nigra, some of them can cause skin pigmentation changes and scar formation. The treatment will not prevent the development of new lesions. It is preferable to get treatment from a reputable dermatology clinic that uses advanced laser technology and is familiar with the particular features and treatment outcomes of ethnic skin.

The cost of skin tags, moles, DPN, and warts removal depends on the type and severity of the skin condition you have and if additionally PRP is needed for the faster and better healing of the skin condition. Single session cost can vary from Rs. 3000 to Rs. 8000 depending on what is being treated.  The procedure usually requires 3-6 sessions based on your skin’s needs.

Allure Medspa which is renowned for its state-of-the-art internationally acclaimed services offers affordable and cost-effective cosmetic procedures. To know more about the cost of your procedure requests a consult by filling the form below. Your consultation is your chance to ask questions about skin peeling treatments and put your mind at rest. Our surgeons and cosmetologists will be there to offer full explanations and answers to all of your queries.

Alternatively, our counselor will call you at a convenient time. Request a consultation right away

If you are wondering which treatment works best for your skin problems, a dermatologist can assist you in making that decision as their in-depth medical knowledge could help in determining which procedure would give promising results. With all procedures, side effects are possible. In the skilled hands of a board-certified dermatologist, side effects tend to be minor and temporary.

Dr. Shweta is one of the most renowned names in cosmetic treatment in Mumbai serving thousands & thousands of patients happily, including Bollywood celebrities and many patients from out of the country. Treating various skin conditions requires deep medical knowledge and years of experience as these lesions look similar to lots of other conditions. Dr. Shweta’s credentials are your best option for getting a correct diagnosis followed by a customized treatment plan.

As you have read, there are lots of options for the treatment of various skin conditions. Different faces need different sets of options and only a well-seasoned doctor could identify what set of treatments could work for you. She has expertise in solving the issue of skin that needs cosmetic attention. She has extensive experience and expertise in performing cosmetic procedures like laser therapy, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, CO2 laser, and many more with delivering optimum results with 110% patient satisfaction every single time.

We at Allure Medspa in India, have world-class facilities in place to cater to your every need when it comes to cosmetic treatment. Here we have dedicated ourselves to give you the best results. If you have decided upon undergoing stretch mark treatment, here we have a wide range of procedures including surgical treatments for stretch marks under one roof to cater to all your needs.

To learn more about stretch marks treatment and find out if it’s right for you, call our clinic:

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Q: How to remove DPN from the face naturally?

A: There are no creams or ointments available to safely treat and reduce DPN. Putting the juice from a garlic clove on the damaged area and wrapping it with a bandage could work as a natural cure.

Q: What causes moles all over your body?

A: Melanocytes (skin cells) develop in clusters or clumps, resulting in moles. Melanocytes are cells that create melanin, the natural pigment that gives your skin its color. They are found all over your body.

Q: How to remove warts near the eye?

A: You can opt for procedures like cryosurgery, laser, surgical excision, medicines, etc. to remove warts near your eye. Your dermatologist will suggest you a treatment option according to your needs.

Q: What is the fastest way to get rid of a skin tag?

A: Place a cotton ball soaked in apple cider vinegar on top of the skin tag. For 15-30 minutes, cover the cotton ball with a bandage to hold it in place. Remove the item and wash the affected area. Repeat this process every day until the skin tag falls off.

Q: Can toothpaste remove skin tags?

A: People use toothpaste for a variety of reasons, including reducing pimples and healing bug bites. However, there is no scientific evidence that toothpaste eliminates skin tags effectively or safely. A skin tag should be removed with the help of a professional, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Q: How can moles be removed?

A: Moles, especially those that aren’t malignant, can be easily removed with a small surgical surgery. This form of mole removal can be done without having to go to the hospital. Moles can be scraped off, burnt away, or surgically removed. There is a small chance of infection, although most adverse effects are minimal.

Q: What kind of mole is dangerous?

A: The most serious kind of skin cancer, malignant melanoma, begins as a mole and kills over 10,000 individuals each year. Melanomas are most commonly black or brown, although they can also be skin-colored, pink, red, purple, blue, or white.

Q: Should moles be removed?

A: The majority of moles are harmless and pose no threat. A mole does not need to be removed unless it is bothering you. However, eliminating the mole is a possibility if you don’t like how it affects your appearance or if it’s becoming itchy from rubbing against your clothes.

Q: Do warts go away on their own?

A: The majority of warts fade away on their own after a few months or years. Warts can appear anywhere on the body and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Common warts, for example, are most commonly found on the hands, but they can appear elsewhere.

Q: Can stress cause warts?

A: Yes. Stress results in the release of hormones that accumulate over time. The immune system’s ability to resist viruses like the one that causes warts is weakened by these hormones.

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