- Warts: Viral infections (HPV). They are rough, contagious, and often have tiny black dots (blood vessels).
- Corns: Hardened skin caused by friction (shoes). They have a hard center core and are not contagious.
- Skin Tags: Soft, hanging flaps of skin caused by rubbing. They are benign and painless.
- The Test: Warts interrupt your fingerprint lines; corns do not.
When a bump appears on your foot or finger, it can be surprisingly tricky to tell what you are dealing with. Is it a viral infection? A reaction to your shoes? Or just a harmless tag?
Treating a viral wart like a corn (by filing it) can actually spread the virus to other parts of your body. Here is how to differentiate them correctly and choose the right skin wart removal or treatment method.
What Are Warts?
Warts are small, rough growths that appear on the skin when you’re infected by certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). They’re non-cancerous and generally harmless, but they can spread and may cause discomfort depending on their location.
How Warts Form
Warts form when HPV enters the skin through a tiny scratch or cut. The virus causes the top layer of skin to grow rapidly, creating a rough, raised bump. Warts are contagious and can spread through skin-to-skin contact or via surfaces like shared towels or gym equipment.
How to Identify Warts
Warts often:
- Feel rough or grainy.
- Are skin-coloured, white, pink, or tan
- Appear on fingers, hands, knees, or feet.
- May have tiny black dots (clotted blood vessels)
They tend to grow in clusters or alone and are sometimes mistaken for corns or calluses.
Types of Warts
- Common Warts: Usually on hands and fingers
- Plantar Warts: Found on the soles of the feet; may feel like you're walking on pebbles.
- Flat Warts: Smoother, smaller, often on the face or legs
- Filiform Warts: Long, narrow, often near the mouth or eyes
- Periungual Warts: Grow around fingernails or toenails
Options for Skin Warts Removal
At DermAlly, we offer multiple removal options for skin warts, tailored to the type and severity of the warts. These include:
- Topical Treatments: These include salicylic acid and prescription creams that gradually break down the wart or stimulate your immune system to fight the virus. Recommended for small, uncomplicated warts.
- Cryotherapy (Freezing): A quick procedure that freezes the wart using liquid nitrogen. The wart blisters and falls off within days. Suitable for most common and plantar warts.
- Immunotherapy: Uses topical agents to trigger your immune system to attack the wart. Often used when warts are resistant to standard treatment.
- Cantharidin Application: A blistering agent applied in-clinic that lifts the wart from the skin. You may notice a blister form within hours, which helps separate the wart tissue.
- Laser Removal: Targets the blood vessels feeding the wart, cutting off its supply. Ideal for stubborn or larger warts, especially on sensitive areas.
- Electrosurgery & Curettage: This involves burning the wart with an electric current, then scraping it away. Often used for thicker or more persistent warts.
- Excision (Surgical Removal): Performed under local anaesthesia, this is reserved for large, deep, or recurring warts that haven’t responded to other treatments.
What Are Corns?
Corns are thickened areas of skin that form due to repeated friction or pressure, typically on the feet. A virus does not cause them and isn’t contagious.
How Corns Form
Corns develop when the skin tries to protect itself from pressure or rubbing. Ill-fitting shoes, frequent walking, or high heels are common culprits. The pressure causes skin to build up and harden.
How to Identify Corns
You might have a corn if you notice:
- A small, hard bump surrounded by inflamed skin
- Pain when pressure is applied
- A centre that may be hard, dry, or waxy
- It’s located on the toes, between toes, or on weight-bearing areas.
Corns are often confused with plantar warts, but unlike warts, they don’t have black dots and aren’t caused by a virus.
Types of Corns
- Hard Corns: Most common; small, dense centres usually found on toes
- Soft Corns: Whitish, rubbery; form between toes
- Seed Corns: Tiny, painful; usually on the bottom of the feet
How Corns Are Treated
Our corn treatment options focus on both relief and long-term prevention:
- Professional Debridement: Removing built-up layers of thickened skin to relieve pressure instantly.
- Protective Padding: We may recommend or provide cushioned pads to reduce ongoing pressure and facilitate healing.
- Footwear Assessment: Addressing the source of friction is key. We’ll help identify improper footwear or gait issues that contribute to corns.
- Topical Keratolytics: Medicated creams or ointments may be prescribed to soften thickened skin over time.
- Custom Insoles or Orthotics: For recurring or painful corns, we may refer you for custom insoles or orthotics to redistribute foot pressure.
Our approach prioritises comfort and prevention to help you stay pain-free in the long run.
What Are Skin Tags?
Skin tags are soft, skin-coloured growths that hang off the skin. They’re completely benign and often go unnoticed unless irritated.
How Skin Tags Form
Skin tags form when skin rubs against skin, making them common in areas like the neck, underarms, and groin. They’re more likely to appear with age and can be linked to genetics, weight gain, or hormonal changes.
How to Identify Skin Tags
Skin tags typically:
- They are soft, smooth, and slightly raised
- Dangle on a thin stalk (peduncle)
- They are not painful unless caught on clothing or jewellery
- It doesn’t change much over time.
They’re easily mistaken for warts, but they don’t have a rough texture or black dots.
How Skin Tags Are Removed
If skin tags are irritated or causing cosmetic concerns, they are typically removed in these ways:
- Snip Excision: A quick procedure using sterile surgical scissors to remove the tag. Minimal downtime and discomfort.
- Cryotherapy: Freezing the skin tag with liquid nitrogen, causing it to fall off naturally after a few days.
- Laser Removal: Suitable for sensitive areas or multiple tags, laser treatment offers precise removal with minimal irritation.
In Summary: Warts vs Corns vs Skin Tags
| Feature | Warts | Corns | Skin Tags |
| Cause | HPV (viral infection) | Repeated friction or pressure | Skin friction, hormonal changes |
| Texture | Rough, grainy | Hard with dense core | Soft, smooth, often dangling |
| Painful? | Sometimes | Often (with pressure) | Rarely |
| Contagious? | Yes | No | No |
| Common Areas | Hands, feet, face | Toes, soles, pressure points | Neck, underarms, groin |
| Diagnosis | Appearance + history | Visual exam + location | Visual inspection |
| Removal Options | Cryotherapy, laser, excision | Debridement, footwear, creams | Snip excision, cryotherapy, laser |
| When to Seek Treatment | Painful, spreading, or persistent | Painful, recurrent, or inflamed | If irritated or for cosmetic reasons |
How Doctors Diagnose These Skin Growths
While warts, corns, and skin tags may look alike, dermatologists can usually tell them apart by:
- Appearance
- Location
- Skin texture
- Patient history (such as recent friction, new shoes, or viral exposure)
In rare cases, a biopsy may be recommended to rule out other skin conditions. At DermAlly, our dermatologists perform a thorough visual and tactile assessment to ensure an accurate diagnosis.
Book a Skin Growth Assessment
If you have a skin bump you’re unsure about, don’t wait to find out what it is. Book a skin growth assessment at DermAlly to understand what you’re dealing with and get a personalised treatment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I cut off a skin tag myself?
We strongly advise against it. Using non-sterile scissors can lead to infection, and skin tags can bleed surprisingly heavily if the stalk contains a blood vessel.
Why do my warts keep coming back?
Warts are viral. If even microscopic infected cells are left behind, the wart can regrow. This is why professional treatments like Laser or Cryotherapy are more effective than OTC creams; they reach deeper to destroy the root.
Are corns the same as calluses?
Not exactly. Calluses are diffuse, flat areas of thick skin (usually painless). Corns are smaller, deeper, and have a painful, hard center “plug”.
Our articles are written and reviewed by Dr. Coni Liu (MRCS, FAMS) and Dr. Heng Jun Khee (MRCP, FAMS), Ministry of Health-accredited Consultant Dermatologists at DermAlly.
Both are Fellows of the Academy of Medicine (Dermatology) and previously served as Consultants at the National Skin Centre (NSC), bringing extensive experience in medical, surgical, and aesthetic dermatology. They are committed to making expert-led skin education accessible, practical, and clear, helping patients look and feel their best through evidence-based care rooted in science and compassion.
