The short version
- Warts and verrucas are the same thing — caused by a virus (HPV). A verruca is simply a wart on the sole of the foot
- Skin tags are not viral — they're small, soft, harmless flaps of skin, usually caused by friction
- Warts feel firm and rough; skin tags feel soft and hang off the skin
- All three are commonly removed by freezing (cryotherapy)
- Always get a changing, bleeding or unusual lesion checked first — not everything that looks like a wart is one
Warts, verrucas and skin tags get lumped together, but they're not the same — and knowing which is which helps you understand why they appear and how they're best dealt with. Here's a simple guide.
The three, explained
Wart
A small, firm, rough lump caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which triggers extra skin growth. Common on the hands, fingers and knees. They're mildly contagious and can spread by close contact or shared surfaces. Many clear on their own eventually — but that can take months or years, and some are stubborn or awkwardly placed.
Verruca
A verruca is simply a wart that appears on the sole of the foot. Because you walk on it, it's pushed inwards and flattened, often with tiny black dots in the centre, and it can be painful — like standing on a small stone. They're commonly picked up on wet communal floors such as swimming pools and changing rooms.
Skin tag
A small, soft, skin-coloured growth that hangs off the skin on a tiny stalk. Unlike warts, skin tags are not caused by a virus and aren't contagious. They're very common and completely harmless, tending to form where skin rubs — the neck, armpits, eyelids and under the breasts. People usually remove them for comfort or appearance rather than health.
How do you tell them apart?
- Texture: warts and verrucas are firm and rough; skin tags are soft and floppy.
- Shape: warts sit flat against or raised from the skin; skin tags dangle on a narrow stalk.
- Location: warts on hands/knees, verrucas on the soles, skin tags in skin folds.
- Cause: warts and verrucas are viral and can spread; skin tags are friction-related and don't.
How they're removed
The most common professional method for all three is cryotherapy — freezing the lesion. A very cold agent is applied to the wart, verruca or skin tag, which destroys the tissue so it dries up and drops off over the following days, sometimes needing more than one session. It's quick, done in the pharmacy, and doesn't usually require any anaesthetic.
Skin tags may alternatively be removed by simple clinical methods depending on their size and position. A good clinic will always look at the lesion first and only proceed if freezing is suitable for it.
⚠ Get it checked first if
- the lump is changing in size, shape or colour, or has more than one colour;
- it's bleeding, itching, crusting or won't heal;
- you're not sure what it is, or it's a mole rather than a wart or tag;
- it's on the face near the eye, or in a genital area.
This matters because not every lump is a harmless wart or tag — and some skin changes need proper medical assessment. We do not treat suspicious or undiagnosed skin lesions. If there's any doubt about what something is, the right first step is to have it examined by your GP, who can diagnose it or refer you if needed.
Ready to get rid of it?
Curo Pharmacy in Blackburn offers professional wart, verruca and skin tag removal by freezing (cryotherapy) — quick, done in the pharmacy, with the lesion assessed first to make sure treatment is appropriate.
About wart & skin tag removalOr call us on 01254 660473