The most darkening dots on the skin appear to be the same, hence there is a vast variation between them. To receive a successful therapy, it is necessary to know how to differentiate between these skin spots. Moles and warts are one of them which bother many people when it comes to skincare.
Moles vs Warts
The main difference between Moles and Warts is that they take a long time to develop, and once malignant, they start to alter. A mole differs from a freckle in that it includes pigment and hair whereas they are absent in warts. Warts can appear on your hands, knees, and feet, as well as other parts of your body. They are hard lumps that sit deep in the skin, unlike moles.
Moles are frequent skin patches that may be seen on almost everyone’s skin. These moles usually appear at a young age and continue to develop until the person reaches maturity. On average, a person possesses between 10 and 40 moles on his or her body.
Warts can appear on your hands, knees, and feet, as well as other parts of your body. They are hard lumps that sit deep in the skin, unlike moles. They may appear smooth on the outside, but they are calloused on the inside. All warts are caused by a virus, which, like all viruses, is infectious.
Comparison Table Between Moles and Warts
| Parameters of Comparison | Moles | Warts |
| Type | Not Contagious | Contagious |
| Colour | Brown | Colourless |
| Caused by | Caused by Sun Damaged and Genetics | Caused by Virus |
| Appears on | Sun Exposed Areas | Areas with Thick Skin |
| Affects Skin | Deeply | Deeply |
| Can cause | Skin Cancer | No Severe Disease |
What are Moles?
Moles are dark dense circles on the skin that occur when skin cells accumulate in one spot rather than being uniformly distributed over the skin. Moles are frequent skin patches that may be seen on almost everyone’s skin. These moles usually appear at a young age and continue to develop until the person reaches maturity. On average, a person possesses between 10 and 40 moles on his or her body. Moles have a round shape and come in a variety of hues, ranging from black to brown. The size of a mole varies, too, based on the type of mole. Whenever the skin is exposed to sunlight for an extended period, moles develop.
Although moles have a chance of developing into skin cancer, this is an extremely rare occurrence. Normal moles are brown or tan and are not multicoloured. If your mole appears to be different colours in brown, tan, black or even read — it’s an indication it’s changing into something else.
Moles are also defined by their spherical form. It might be skin cancer if your area is uneven and continues to grow in size.
Moles can be flat or elevated, but they rarely change their appearance until they are in danger. A warning indication is when an area goes from flat to elevated. Consult your dermatologist if a mole appears to be changing or becoming irregularly coloured. If you have an unusual mole, they will most likely remove it and send it to test.
What are Warts?
Warts are a tiny growth on the skin with a rough feel and a form that mimics that of a cauliflower.
Warts are caused by a member of the human papillomavirus (HPV) family of viruses. The appearance of a wart is entirely dependent on its placement on the body and the thickness of the person’s skin.
Plantar warts develop on the foot, whereas palmar warts form on the hand. Warts mostly afflict youngsters, with studies showing that one in every three children has them, compared to only 3 to 5% of adults. This might be significant due to a person’s immune system developing as he or she develops from a kid to an adult.
They are solid lumps that sit deep in the skin, unlike moles. They may appear smooth on the outside, but they are calloused on the inside. Other warts are caused by a virus, which, like all viruses, is infectious. When you get a wart, it implies you came into touch with someone who has a wart virus, whether it was by shaking hands or sharing a towel.
Ask your dermatologist to freeze the wart for the quickest cure. This destroys the virus-containing cells, allowing your skin to recover without warts.
Main Differences Between Moles and Warts
- It’s a mole if the skin patch is dark in colour, such as brown or black. It’s a wart if the skin patch is colourless.
- If you touch a skin area and it feels smooth, you know it’s a mole. It’s a wart if the skin on the location is scratchy.
- If the black spot appears on the arms, chest, face, or back then, it is a mole; if the spot appears on the hard skin, such as the hands, feet, elbows, or knees, it is a wart.
- Moles are caused by sunlight exposure and genetics while Warts are caused by a contagious virus.
- Moles can cause skin cancer whereas, warts don’t hold any danger for disease.
Conclusion
Moles and Warts both cause damage to the skin and should be treated as soon as possible for the hygiene of your body and skin. Moles, for the most part, are considered harmless. Although there is a risk that the mole will develop into skin cancer, this is quite unlikely. However, warts are a virus, and because they are infectious, they must be treated as quickly as possible to prevent them from spreading.
Various over-the-counter medicines can be used to treat warts, but it is a painful process that many people don’t stick with and abandon in the midway. The best therapy for warts is to visit a dermatologist and have the wart frozen.
References
- https://premierdermde.com/difference-between-moles-vs-warts/
- https://www.skincityindia.com/blog/moles-vs-warts-whats-the-difference-between-moles-warts/
- https://www.epiphanydermatology.com/blog/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-skin-tags-moles-warts/