Is It Genital Warts or Skin Tags?

Genital warts are highly contagious skin growths located around the vagina, penis, or anus and are caused by the human papillomavirus virus (HPV). Skin tags are tiny growths that occur in the folds of your skin like your neck, armpits, groin, and eyelids and are not contagious.

What are genital warts?

Genital warts are small skin growths located around the vagina, penis, or anus and are usually painless and harmless. Warts are benign (non-cancerous) and caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV), so they are highly contagious.

What are skin tags?

Skin tags are tiny growths that occur in the folds of your skin like your neck, armpits, groin, and eyelids. These fleshy growths are usually very tiny, but stick out. They can appear to be little flaps since they move around when touched. You may not notice skin tags at first because they tend to be the same color as your skin or slightly darker.

Signs of genital warts

Patches of rough or smooth bumps that appear around your vagina, penis, or anus are signs of genital warts. Genital warts are a symptom of HPV and not a separate condition. You may carry the HPV virus for months or years before having a breakout of genital warts. 

Signs of skin tags

Skin tags are easy to identify since they are unique. They are very tiny flaps of skin that appear near the folds of your body. In rare cases, they may be confused for other skin conditions like moles or warts.

Causes of genital warts

Genital warts are caused by HPV, a virus that occurs naturally and has more than 40 variations. Anyone can have HPV and most adults will contract some version of the virus during their life. Some strains of the virus cause genital warts. 

Since the virus is highly contagious, you can get it from sexual contact with another person who carries the virus, whether they have an outbreak of genital warts or not.

Causes of skin tags

The exact cause of skin tags is unknown, but genetics may be a factor since they can run in families. The most prevalent theory is that friction to the skin or the skin rubbing together causes skin tags to form. 

Since they are common among people with diabetes, insulin resistance may also be a factor. One study showed that HPV was present in a large number of people with skin tags, which points to the virus as a factor.

Diagnosing genital warts

Your doctor will complete a physical exam to diagnose warts based on their appearance. They may use a small blade to scrape away the top layers of the wart to assess its texture and complete a biopsy.

Diagnosing skin tags

Visual diagnosis is sufficient to diagnose skin tags. The only time your doctor may request additional testing is if he or she suspects a different skin condition. In that case, a biopsy will be completed to test the skin cells. You may also have to go for blood work to rule out anything that could cause harm to your body or be dangerous.

Treating genital warts

Genital warts require a special medication used to treat sexually transmitted diseases. Since they are caused by a virus, the condition can never be cured. Still, medications that contain antivirals may help to shorten your symptoms and prevent future outbreaks. 

Treating skin tags

Your doctor can remove skin tags by:

• Freezing them off with liquid nitrogen
• Burning them with a special probe tool
• Cutting them off with scissors

Home remedies for skin tags include:

• Applying a topical treatment like tea tree oil or apple cider vinegar 
• Tying a string or band around the base of the skin tag to cut of circulation

These two skin conditions are easy to tell apart by both appearance and location. Although skin tags may occur in the creases of your legs near your genitals, their texture is very different from genital warts. Genital warts will be much closer to your genitals and have more of a cauliflower-like texture compared to skin tags which are fleshy flaps of skin. 

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are common health conditions worldwide. Millions of people are diagnosed with at least one STD every year in the United States.

STDs are most likely to be spread by sexual contact including vaginal, anal or oral sex. Some STDs can even spread through intimate rubbing or grinding and non-sexual means such as through blood or blood products.

Signs and symptoms

• Genital warts that can be raised
• Flat or cauliflower-shaped

Is it curable?

No, although the infection may clear up on its own in most cases. However, treatment can help eliminate warts. Vaccines to prevent HPV are also available.

Signs and symptoms

• Minor discharge or burning with urination in men.
• Yellowish-green vaginal discharge with prominent odor, itching of the vaginal area or painful sex or urination in women.
• Only 30 percent of infected people develop symptoms.

Is it curable?

Yes, but can cause pelvic inflammatory disease and prostatitis if left untreated.

Signs and symptoms

• Burning or itching of the genitals and abnormal vaginal discharge in women.
• Discharge from the penis in men.
• Painful urination.

Is it curable?

Yes, but it can cause infertility if left untreated.

Signs and symptoms

• Burning during urination
• Vaginal or urethral discharge
• Pelvic pain in women
• Swelling of the testes and discharge from the penis in men.

Is it curable?

Yes, but if left untreated, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women that can lead to infertility. Untreated gonorrhea in men can also lead to male infertility.

Signs and symptoms

• A round, firm, painless sore on the genitals or anal area
• Rash on soles of the feet, palms or other parts of the body.
• Enlarged lymph nodes, fever, fatigue and hair loss

Is it curable?

Yes, and if left untreated, it can lead to nerve damage, blindness, paralysis and even turn life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

• Fluid-filled blisters known as herpes sores that ooze and later crust followed by healing.
• Tingling or burning sensation a day before the sores appear.
• Fever
• Chills

Is it curable?

No, but antiviral treatment can reduce the severity of the outbreak. Over the counter creams or lotions can soothe sores.

Signs and symptoms

• Nausea, abdominal pain
• Jaundice
• It is possible to go for years without symptoms.

Is it curable?

No, but there is a vaccine to prevent hepatitis B infection. Most people recover with proper treatment.

Signs and symptoms

• Flu-like symptoms
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Rash, night sweats
• Sore throat
• Recurrent mouth ulcers
• Unintentional rapid weight loss
• Diarrhea lasting for more than a week with new infections

Is it curable?

No, but proper antiretroviral medications can suppress virus multiplication in the body.

Signs and symptoms

• A thin, white, gray or green vaginal discharge
• Vaginal itching
• Foul-smelling “fishy” odor
• Burning during urination

Is it curable?

Yes

Signs and symptoms

• Itching, small red bumps or spots on the skin
• Blue spots on the thighs or lower abdomen.
• Dark brown powder (louse droppings) on the skin or in the underwear

Is it curable?

Yes

Some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have no cure, whereas others may cause infertility. Hence, prevention is the key that can be done by following safe sex practices. Here are the important ones.

• Use condoms and dental dams during sex while ensuring they stay in place
• Limit sexual activities to only one person
• Avoid casual sex

Be aware of the modes of transmission of STDs. You can gather knowledge from reliable sexual health education sources.

If you have an STD, you may have no symptoms at all initially or have mild symptoms. Do not hesitate to get tested if you feel you are at risk of STDs.

Get vaccinated. It can help prevent STDs.

Having one STD also makes you more likely to get another STD. Discuss the risks with your doctor.

Share the status of your sexual health with your partner and encourage them to do the same. Seek early treatment if tests come out to be positive for any STD and encourage your partner to get tested and treated early.