Hello, I am a dermatologist. Many people visit our dermatology clinic after attempting to self-treat skin tags or flat warts that have appeared on their face or neck using vinegar or other home remedies. Does self-treatment with vinegar and flour really work? Today, we will explore various questions about skin tags and flat warts.
Unless you are a medical professional, it is not easy to distinguish between skin tags and flat warts with the naked eye. Let me explain the differences between these two lesions in an easy-to-understand way.
- Flat Warts: These are caused by HPV (Human Papillomavirus) infection through contact. Unlike common warts, their surface is flat, and they appear as skin-colored or yellowish-brown papules. Many people mistake them for small pimples and try to squeeze them, or visit the clinic thinking they are skin tags.
- Skin Tags: Unlike flat warts, these are soft, protruding growths where the skin has stretched, and they have a stalk-like base connecting them to the skin.
For an accurate diagnosis, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist. Occasionally, even dermatologists may find it difficult to distinguish between skin tags, flat warts, or seborrheic keratosis. In such cases, a tissue biopsy can provide the most accurate diagnosis.
Why Should Flat Warts Be Treated Quickly?
Flat warts are a viral infection, meaning they can spread throughout your body or to others. The flat wart virus is known to easily invade the skin when you frequently touch your face or when skin injuries occur. Initially, one or two might appear on the face or neck, but over time, their number often increases and spreads to the entire body. Therefore, it is crucial to visit a dermatologist as soon as possible for treatment when flat warts first appear in small numbers.
10 warts spread faster than 100 warts.
As such, prompt treatment is paramount. If you start to notice lesions suspected of being skin tags or flat warts, we recommend getting a quick and accurate diagnosis from a dermatologist.
Self-Treatment with Vinegar, Flour, etc., Is Absolutely Forbidden!
If you are concerned about skin tags or flat warts, you may have come across self-treatment content using vinegar and flour on online portals or YouTube. The idea is to remove them using the acidic properties of vinegar, but this can lead to severe skin damage as described below and should never be attempted:
- Lesions are not removed
- Bacterial infection
- Burns
- Skin tissue necrosis and ulcers
- Scars and hyperpigmentation
In fact, many people visit our dermatology clinic after attempting such self-treatments. In areas where vinegar and flour were applied, not only were the lesions not removed, but severe skin damage such as bacterial infections, burns, and subsequent skin tissue necrosis or ulcers often occurred.
Additionally, some people occasionally try to cut off dangling skin tags with nail clippers or tie them off with hair to cut off blood supply. This can also lead to scars and hyperpigmentation due to bacterial infection, so please avoid unverified self-treatment methods.
The effective treatment methods for skin tags and flat warts are the same: using a CO2 laser to directly target and remove each lesion.
Features of Laser Removal
- The procedure is simple.
- It can be performed on any area.
- Flat warts and skin tags are superficial lesions, so they are relatively easy to remove.
- It does not cause many scars.
After laser treatment, managing the area well with antibiotic ointment and regenerative tape for about a week typically results in clean removal. Most cases can be sufficiently removed with a single treatment, but in severe cases, 2-3 treatments may be necessary at one-month intervals.
Recurrence and Smart Management
Unfortunately, while less frequent than before laser removal, some degree of recurrence is possible. Therefore, we recommend repeat treatments once every one or two years to gradually reduce the number of recurring lesions.
Some people ask, "If it's going to recur anyway, isn't it okay not to remove it?" As mentioned earlier regarding contagiousness, if flat warts are not removed, they can spread to others or family members through towels or cosmetics. Furthermore, if initially one or two appeared on the face and are left untreated, they can spread to the neck or body, making treatment more difficult and increasing treatment costs.
Therefore, please remember that prompt treatment is the only way to achieve the most satisfactory results at a lower cost.
The Importance of Skilled Specialists and Thorough Consultation
If an excessively strong laser is used to remove skin tags and flat warts all at once, scars may remain. Therefore, rather than choosing a clinic that promises to remove everything in one go, carefully consider whether a skilled practitioner is performing the treatment with appropriate intensity and frequency.
If you have further questions about skin tags and flat warts, we recommend consulting a dermatologist to obtain accurate information.