Warts, skin tags, and moles are three of the most common reasons patients visit a dermatologist in South Delhi — and three of the most frequently self-managed, usually incorrectly. Home remedies for warts range from duct tape to garlic paste. Skin tags are cut off with scissors. Moles are left alone for years without assessment. The clinical problems with this approach are not trivial: warts treated incorrectly spread; skin tags cut at home create bleeding wounds without proper haemostasis; and moles left without assessment miss the window in which dermoscopic evaluation would identify early changes warranting action.
This guide explains what each of these three conditions is, how they are correctly diagnosed, and what clinical treatment involves — so that patients across Greater Kailash, Hauz Khas, Defence Colony, and Lajpat Nagar seeking wart removal in Delhi or mole assessment know exactly what to expect.
Key Takeaways
- Warts Are a Viral Infection: Caused by HPV (human papillomavirus), they require treatment that destroys infected tissue — not home remedies that touch only the surface.
- Skin Tags Are Benign But Should Be Removed Properly: Radiofrequency ablation or electrocautery removes skin tags cleanly, with minimal scarring and no bleeding risk.
- All Moles Deserve Dermoscopic Assessment: Not all moles are dangerous, but all moles on Indian skin warrant evaluation using the ABCDE criteria and dermoscopy — particularly those that have changed.
- Cryotherapy Is First-Line for Common Warts: Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy destroys infected tissue effectively and is the most clinically validated non-surgical wart treatment.
- Seborrhoeic Keratoses Are Not Moles: These extremely common, benign, warty-looking growths are frequently mistaken for melanoma — dermoscopy distinguishes them immediately.
Warts: A Viral Infection, Not a Surface Problem
Warts are caused by HPV (human papillomavirus) — a DNA virus that infects the basal keratinocytes of the epidermis and drives abnormal cell proliferation, producing the characteristic rough, hyperkeratotic papule. There are over 100 HPV subtypes; the ones that cause common skin warts (verruca vulgaris) are predominantly types 1, 2, and 4. These are distinct from the HPV subtypes that cause anogenital warts and are associated with cervical cancer — common skin warts are benign, but they are infectious and they spread.
Warts spread by direct contact — person to person, or autoinoculation (touching a wart on one area of the body and then touching another area). Plantar warts (on the soles of the feet) spread readily in communal areas — wet floors at swimming pools, gyms, and shower rooms. This is why untreated warts typically multiply: a single lesion that is scratched or picked spreads the virus to adjacent skin and produces satellite warts.
Types of Warts
Verruca vulgaris (common wart) presents as a rough, dome-shaped papule with a cauliflower-like surface, most commonly on the hands, fingers, and periungual areas. Plantar warts occur on the sole and appear flattened by pressure — they are often painful on walking because the lesion is pushed inward rather than growing outward. Flat warts (verruca plana) are small, slightly raised, flat-topped papules — often occurring in large numbers on the face and dorsum of the hands, and frequently spread by shaving. Molluscum contagiosum is technically caused by a different poxvirus but presents similarly — small, pearly, umbilicated papules — and is treated at the same clinic visit.
d under the breasts. They are composed of loose fibrovascular tissue covered by normal epidermis. They are not pre-malignant, not infectious, and not associated with any internal disease in most cases (though they do occur at higher frequency in patients with diabetes and obesity). They cause no medical problem — but they are frequently symptomatic when they catch on clothing or jewellery, and many patients find them cosmetically bothersome.
Skin tag removal south delhi by a dermatologist is a simple, quick procedure. At our clinic, skin tags are removed under local anaesthesia using radiofrequency ablation or electrocautery — the stalk is separated at its base, the small wound is cauterised, and the result is a flat, quickly healing skin surface with minimal visible marking. The procedure takes minutes per lesion. Multiple tags can be removed in a single session. The skin heals within five to seven days.
The home approach — using thread to tie off the stalk, or cutting with scissors — risks bleeding, infection, and incomplete removal. It also provides no specimen for histological assessment if there is any doubt about the diagnosis. At a dermatologist visit, each removed lesion can be sent for histology if there is any atypical feature, providing the peace of mind that the lesion was correctly identified.
Moles: Assessment, the ABCDE Criteria, and When to Act
A mole (melanocytic naevus) is a benign proliferation of melanocytes — the pigment-producing cells of the skin. Most adults have between 10 and 40 moles; their number peaks in the third to fourth decade and naturally reduces with age as moles involute. The vast majority of moles remain entirely benign throughout a person’s lifetime. The clinical concern is that the transformation of a melanocytic naevus into melanoma — while uncommon — does occur, and early detection dramatically improves outcomes.
The ABCDE melanoma criteria is the standard clinical framework for mole assessment:
| Criterion | What to Look For | Clinical Significance |
|---|---|---|
| A — Asymmetry | One half does not match the other | Benign moles are typically symmetrical |
| B — Border | Irregular, ragged, or poorly defined edges | Benign moles have smooth, well-defined borders |
| C — Colour | Multiple shades of brown, black, red, white, or blue | Benign moles are uniform in colour |
| D — Diameter | Greater than 6mm (pencil eraser size) | Most benign moles are smaller |
| E — Evolution | Any change in size, shape, colour, or symptoms | The most important criterion — change warrants urgent assessment |
The ABCDE criteria is a useful screening guide but it is not sufficient for definitive assessment — which is where dermoscopy mole evaluation comes in. Dermoscopy is a handheld illuminated magnification device that allows the clinician to examine the internal architecture of a pigmented lesion — the pattern of pigment network, blood vessels, and other structural features that are invisible to the naked eye. Dermoscopy significantly improves the sensitivity and specificity of mole evaluation compared to naked-eye assessment alone, and is the standard tool used at our clinic for all pigmented lesion assessment.
Seborrhoeic Keratoses: The Most Commonly Confused Lesion
Seborrhoeic keratosis removal is a separate category from mole removal — but seborrhoeic keratoses are the lesion most frequently confused with moles and with melanoma by patients who have not had dermoscopic assessment. These are extremely common, benign, warty-looking growths that appear with age — rough-surfaced, stuck-on appearance, ranging from tan to very dark brown or black, occurring on the face, trunk, and upper limbs. They are not melanocytic, not pre-malignant, and not infectious. Dermoscopy shows a characteristic appearance — comedo-like openings and milia-like cysts — that distinguishes them immediately from melanocytic lesions. Treatment, when desired for cosmetic reasons or because they are irritated by friction, is by radiofrequency ablation or cryotherapy.
“The most important thing a dermoscopic assessment tells a patient is not ‘this is dangerous’ — it is ‘this is definitively benign, and here is why.’ That certainty is worth more than years of anxiety.” — Dr. Rajat Kandhari
For wart removal, skin tag removal, mole assessment, or any pigmented lesion evaluation in South Delhi, book a consultation at Dr. Rajat Kandhari’s clinic.
S-79, Greater Kailash Part-1, New Delhi 110048 | Monday–Saturday, 9am–8pmCall or WhatsApp: +91 9315479193
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How many sessions of cryotherapy are needed to remove a wart?
Most common warts resolve with two to four sessions of liquid nitrogen cryotherapy, spaced two to three weeks apart. Plantar warts and periungual warts may require additional sessions. Flat warts on the face typically respond well to a combination of cryotherapy and topical agents over four to six weeks.
Q2. Will skin tag removal leave a scar?
When removed correctly by radiofrequency ablation or electrocautery at the base of the stalk, skin tags heal with minimal visible marking — typically a small, flat, pale area that fades over four to six weeks. Scarring is more likely with incorrect home removal techniques that create irregular wounds without proper haemostasis.
Q3. Should I get all my moles checked?
Any mole that has changed in size, shape, or colour — or that is new in adulthood — warrants dermoscopic assessment. A full-body mole check is a reasonable proactive step for patients with many moles, a family history of melanoma, or significant lifetime sun exposure. Dermoscopy provides definitive evaluation and eliminates the need for anxiety about individual lesions.
Q4. Can warts come back after treatment?
Yes, particularly if the underlying HPV infection is not fully cleared from the surrounding tissue. Recurrence is most common with plantar warts and periungual warts. A complete treatment course — all sessions attended, adjunct topical treatment as prescribed — minimises recurrence. In immunocompromised patients, warts are both more persistent and more likely to recur.
Q5. How do I know if a dark spot is a mole or something else?
The only way to know definitively is dermoscopic assessment by a dermatologist. Seborrhoeic keratoses, dermatofibromas, blue naevi, and haemangiomas can all resemble moles to the naked eye. Dermoscopy distinguishes between them based on internal architecture — a five-minute clinical examination provides a definitive answer that no photograph or online guide can.
Q6. Is molluscum contagiosum treated the same way as warts?
Molluscum contagiosum is caused by a different virus from HPV and is treated differently. Cryotherapy is effective; manual expression of the central plug under sterile conditions is another approach for accessible lesions. In children, many clinicians prefer a watchful waiting approach as the condition resolves spontaneously in 12 to 18 months — treatment is prioritised when lesions are spreading rapidly or causing significant distress.
Q7. Where is the clinic located?
S-79, Greater Kailash Part-1, New Delhi 110048. Accessible from GK-1, GK-2, Hauz Khas, Defence Colony, Lajpat Nagar, Malviya Nagar, and Saket. Monday to Saturday, 9am to 8pm. +91 9315479193.