Skin Tags vs Warts vs Moles
How to Tell Them Apart – and When to Get Them Checked
Spot a new bump, lump or growth on your skin and the first question is usually the same: what actually is this? Skin tags, warts and moles are three of the most common skin lesions we see at Skin Surgery Laser Clinic, and while they can look surprisingly similar at a glance, they’re very different in cause, appearance and how they should be treated.
Here’s how to tell them apart, and when it’s worth getting something checked by a doctor.
Skin Tags
What they are: Small, soft, harmless growths of skin that usually hang off the surface on a thin stalk.
What they look like:
- Soft and skin-coloured, sometimes slightly darker
- Often small (a few millimetres), though they can grow larger
- Typically appear where skin rubs against skin or clothing – neck, armpits, groin, under the breasts, eyelids
- Painless unless caught or twisted
What causes them: Skin tags form where skin folds and rubs repeatedly. They’re extremely common, particularly with age, weight gain, and during pregnancy, and tend to run in families.
Do they need treatment? No – skin tags are entirely benign and don’t need to be removed for medical reasons. Most people choose removal simply because the tag catches on clothing or jewellery, or because they’d prefer it wasn’t there.
Find out more about Skin Tag Removal →
Warts
What they are: Small, rough growths caused by a viral infection of the skin (HPV – human papillomavirus).
What they look like:
- Firm and raised, often with a rough, textured surface
- Can appear singly or in clusters
- Common on hands, fingers and feet (verrucae are simply warts on the sole of the foot)
- Sometimes have tiny dark dots visible on the surface (small clotted blood vessels)
What causes them: Warts are contagious and spread through direct contact or via broken skin, including at swimming pools, gyms and changing rooms. The immune system usually clears them eventually, but this can take months or, in some cases, years.
Do they need treatment? Not always – many warts do resolve on their own over time. However, they can be painful (particularly verrucae, which are pressed into the sole of the foot when walking), embarrassing, or simply persistent despite over-the-counter treatments. In these cases, professional removal is often the quickest and most effective option.
Find out more about Wart Removal →
Moles
What they are: Clusters of pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) in the skin, present from birth or developing over time, particularly in childhood and adolescence.
What they look like:
- Round or oval, with a well-defined edge
- Can be flat or raised
- Colour ranges from skin-toned to brown or black
- Usually stay the same size, shape and colour over the years
What causes them: Everyone has moles. The average adult has somewhere between 10 and 40. They’re a completely normal part of skin, and most people will never need to have one removed.
Do they need treatment? This is the one category where “just leave it” isn’t always the safest answer. While the vast majority of moles are entirely harmless, changes in a mole can occasionally be an early sign of skin cancer. This is why checking your moles regularly matters, and why any change is always worth having assessed by a doctor.
What to watch for – the ABCDE rule:
- Asymmetry: one half doesn’t match the other
- Border: irregular, blurred or notched edges
- Colour: uneven colour, or multiple shades within one mole
- Diameter: larger than around 6mm (roughly the size of a pencil eraser)
- Evolving: any change in size, shape, colour, or a mole that starts to itch, bleed or crust
If a mole ticks any of these boxes, or simply looks or feels different to your other moles, it’s always worth getting it checked promptly.
Find out more about Mole Removal →
Quick Comparison
| Skin Tag | Wart | Mole | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texture | Soft, hangs off a stalk | Rough, raised | Smooth, flat or slightly raised |
| Cause | Skin friction | Viral infection (HPV) | Pigment cells in skin |
| Contagious? | No | Yes | No |
| Common locations | Neck, armpits, eyelids, groin | Hands, feet, fingers | Anywhere on the body |
| Goes away alone? | No (but harmless) | Sometimes, over time | No (stable is normal) |
| When to worry | Rarely | If painful, spreading or persistent | If changing in size, shape or colour |
Not Sure Which One You Have?
It’s genuinely common to be unsure – even skin tags, warts and small raised moles can look alike side by side. If you’re uncertain, or notice any change in an existing lesion, the safest step is always to have it looked at by a doctor rather than guess.
At Skin Surgery Laser Clinic, our doctors can assess any skin lesion in person and advise on the right course of action, whether that’s reassurance, monitoring, or same-day removal. Many patients are seen and treated in a single appointment.
Have a Free Photo Assessment →
Not sure where to start? Send us a photo and one of our doctors will give you an initial assessment before you book an in-person consultation.
About Skin Surgery & Laser Clinic
Founded in 2003 by Dr Ross Perry, an experienced medical doctor and leading skin specialist, Cosmedics Skin Clinics provides premium independent medical treatments across London and Bristol.
Our modern clinics specialise in private mole removal using advanced surgical and laser techniques. Every procedure is performed by highly trained doctors and surgeons, ensuring the highest standards of clinical excellence. Beyond targeted mole removal, our medical team treats a wide range of common skin conditions, including sebaceous cysts, skin tags, warts and lipomas, using precise freezing, laser or surgical excision methods.
For ultimate peace of mind, we also offer a comprehensive, top-to-toe full-body mole check to screen for early signs of skin changes.
Ready to find out more? Book your consultation today by completing our online enquiry form or calling our friendly patient coordination team directly on 020 7386 0464.
