When your skin goes bump: What you need to know about warts, boils, and skin tags

Skincare

Mar 4

Editor’s note: This article provides basic information on skin tags, boils, and warts but is not a substitute for medical advice. Consult with a doctor to get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan for your condition.

After dealing with warts and boils firsthand, I completely understood why people of long ago blamed curses and hexes whenever they developed unknown growths on their skin. I mean, my skin was perfectly fine one minute and then suddenly something was growing out of it!

Thankfully, we live in the age of science and have a better understanding of what causes these mysterious bumps on our skin and how to treat them properly. We’ve discussed a few of these in a previous article but there are three more common ones that you should know about.

Skin Tags

Is there a soft outgrowth emerging from your eyelids, neck, armpits, underboob, or nether area? Your skin is not bearing fruit - it might be a skin tag. A skin tag is identifiable by its trademark peduncle, a small stalk connected to the rest of the body. Skin tags are typically flesh-colored, or darker. They may have varying shapes: threadlike, grain-like, round, or asymmetrical.

There’s no specific culprit that causes the development of skin tags but since these are commonly found in areas where the skin folds, friction likely plays a part. Some women also get them during pregnancy. A study conducted in 2010 also links skin tags to insulin resistance, a high body mass index, and high triglycerides. On the bright side, these mean skin tags aren’t contagious. Maintaining a healthy weight reduces your chances of getting them.

Skin tags are mostly benign unless they cause pain. Some may be in areas that make daily life uncomfortable (like on areas where clothing can painfully rub against). In these cases, it’s possible to have them removed. Don’t attempt to remove it yourself! Consult with your dermatologist to determine the best way to go about it, usually by electrocautery, ligation, or surgical removal.

Boils

A boil develops when a hair follicle or gland gets infected with germs, typically staphylococcal bacteria or staph. The skin around it gets irritated, turning red and developing a lump that feels tender to the touch. It can form wherever there is a break in the skin, like a wound or a cut.

It’s interesting to note that cystic acne is actually a type of boil! A cluster of boils is called a carbuncle and can be very painful. Another painful type is a sty, a boil that develops on the eyelid. Because a boil is caused by infection, the pus inside contains staph bacteria and is contagious. It can spread to other parts of your body and to other people, via contact with the broken skin or sharing items like clothes and towels.

It may take a week or two for a boil to completely heal. Help it along by soaking it in warm water, and/or applying warm compresses as often as possible. Doing this will help draw the pus closer to the skin, with the added benefit of relieving pain. Resist the temptation of pricking your boil, as this can definitely make things worse. Once the boil starts to drain, regularly clean, apply medicated ointment, and properly bandage the area to prevent infection. I’ve personally found that hydrocolloid patches like the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch help cystic acne heal in its final days, and minimize the possibility of developing scars.

If the infected area seems to be growing in size or if you get a fever, consult a doctor immediately as this may signal a more serious infection.

Healthy skin isn’t normally affected by staph and other germs but we aren’t always aware when there are breaks in our skin. As a precaution, always keep your hands clean and avoid touching your face. If you have a boil, don’t share beddings, towels, makeup, or skin care tools with others.

Common Warts

There are many types of warts, but for this article let’s just focus on the aptly named common warts. These are raised bumps, typically rough to the touch and have a rounded top. My first experience with this happened when I was just a kid, when I noticed a bump on my thumb that wouldn’t go away. This apparently isn’t unusual. Children and teens are more prone to warts, since they haven’t developed the resistance to the root cause of warts: the human papillomavirus (HPV). Common warts typically develop on fingers and toes, but they may also grow on other parts of the body including the face and neck.

Common warts can go away on their own, but it’s best to have them removed in order to prevent spreading the HPV virus. There are certain over-the-counter remedies containing salicylic acid that can prove effective over a span of time. You can also go to your dermatologist to have them removed, typically by electrocautery or surgery. This option is the quickest way to remove common warts, and prevent it from spreading to other parts of your body as well as to other people!

Those with healthy immune systems may be less likely to develop warts, but damaged skin can make them vulnerable to HPV. Again, proper hygiene can make a world of difference in preventing the virus from spreading. If you have a wart, be more mindful with what it may come into contact with. If possible, keep it covered with a hydrocolloid patch or bandage.

Boils, warts, and skin tags are generally harmless but they can be unsightly, uncomfortable, and contagious. I’m less likely to panic now, should I discover a bump unexpectedly sprouting on my skin again, but it’s also important to take them seriously so they get proper treatment. What about you, have you had run-ins with these common skin growths? What did you do about them? Let’s trade stories in the comments!

Sources: Healthline, WebMD