Hello,

Today, I’d like to talk about the removal methods and precautions for skin growths that can appear under the eyes, on the face, and even all over the body—such as skin tags, syringomas, flat warts, and milia.

 

They all look quite similar, so how can we tell them apart?

 

Flat Wart　　　　　　　　　　　　Skin Tag　　　　　　　　　　　　Skin Tag
Syringoma　　　　　　　　　　　　Sebaceous Hyperplasia　　　　　　　　　　　　Milia

Small lesions are sometimes difficult to distinguish with the naked eye.

 

Since each type of lesion has its own distinct appearance, a magnifying scope is often used for an accurate diagnosis.

 

However, in reality, aside from milia, the removal methods are almost the same, so there is not much need to differentiate them precisely.

 

If you notice small bumps on your face or body and are concerned about them,
never try to squeeze them yourself—make sure to see a dermatologist for proper treatment.

 

(Flat warts, in particular, are contagious and should not be touched.)

Characteristics and Identification of Flat Warts

Flat warts appear skin-colored and have a flat, plate-like shape.

 

The most important point is that they are caused by a virus.

 

Flat warts tend to recur and can spread to other areas of the body.

 

For this reason, patients with flat warts need to be aware of procedures they should absolutely avoid, as they may lead to side effects.

 

Avoid treatments that involve repeatedly pricking the face with needles. If a needle that has punctured a wart touches a normal area again, the virus can spread.

(This includes treatments like skin boosters such as Rejuran or Juvelook, needle-based high-frequency devices like Potenza, or MTS.)

 

*Note: The actual removal process for flat warts is relatively simple.

 

Characteristics and Identification of Skin Tags

The characteristics of skin tags are simple.

 

As shown in the photos, they protrude from the skin and can vary in color—ranging from skin-toned to brown or even black.

 

Skin tags rarely recur and can be easily removed by cutting them off.

 

Characteristics and Identification of Syringomas

Syringomas are commonly found under the eyes.

 

At first glance, they may look similar to flat warts or milia, but under magnification, they appear round and have a shiny surface, as if something is inside.

 

They vary in size—some are small, while others can merge together and form larger lesions.

 

However, removing syringomas is very difficult.

なぜなら、汗管腫は組織学的に汗腺の異常な増殖であり、真皮の深部にあるため、

一度に除去しようとすると、必ずと言っていいほど傷跡が残ります。

 

したがって、汗管腫の除去はどこのクリニックでもできるわけではありません。

 

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皮脂腺増殖症の特徴と見分け方

Sebaceous hyperplasia is also relatively easy to identify.

 

A key feature is that the center of the lesion is indented.

 

The color is usually skin-toned, though it can appear slightly yellowish.

 

As the name suggests, it is a condition caused by the overgrowth of sebaceous glands.

 

Like syringomas, it is located deep within the skin, but fortunately, treatment for sebaceous hyperplasia is relatively easier compared to syringomas.

 

Characteristics and Treatment of Milia

Milia are characteristically round, small, and appear to contain tiny white grains, making them easy to distinguish.

 

The removal process is also simple—by creating a small opening in the surface of the skin and gently extracting the contents, milia can be easily removed.

 

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Can all of these be treated? Do they come back?

 

Lesions that are easy to treat: flat warts, milia, skin tags

Lesions that are difficult to treat: syringomas, sebaceous hyperplasia

 

Flat warts, milia, and skin tags, which are relatively easy to remove, can typically be eliminated in a single session with a success rate of over 90%, and they rarely recur.

 

Syringomas and sebaceous hyperplasia are considered difficult to treat for two main reasons:

First, they tend to recur easily.

Second, due to the nature of these lesions, their roots are located deep within the skin.

Attempting to remove them all at once can leave significant scarring.

 

Therefore, treatment for syringomas and sebaceous hyperplasia should always be performed by an experienced specialist.

After one session of syringoma treatment at our clinic
Left: 2023.12.10 → Right: 2024.01.22

 

※ Please note that side effects such as redness and pigmentation may occur.

 

Since milia, flat warts, and skin tags are relatively easy to treat,
we recommend prioritizing affordability when choosing a clinic.

 

However, if you have syringomas or sebaceous hyperplasia under the eyes,
there is a higher risk of scarring, so we strongly recommend checking the clinic’s equipment in advance.

 

While all of the treatments mentioned above, including mole removal, can be performed using CO2 lasers,
deep-rooted or larger lesions like syringomas or sebaceous hyperplasia under the eyes should be treated with an Erbium laser or Agnes tip.

 

※ CO2 laser removal is not recommended for these deeper lesions.

 

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Summary in 3 Points

 

1. Although the lesions above may look similar and have similar treatments, never squeeze or touch them with your hands.

2. Shallow moles, skin tags, flat warts, and milia can be removed with over 90% success in a single session. We recommend looking for a reasonably priced clinic.

3. Treatment of deep moles, syringomas, and sebaceous hyperplasia is more complex and requires good equipment and skilled techniques.

 

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That concludes the information about syringomas, skin tags, flat warts, and milia.

 

We hope this has been helpful to many of you.

 

If you have any questions about the treatments, please feel free to leave a like or comment.
We’ll be happy to answer them kindly and thoroughly.

 

Thank you very much.

 

📍 Primi Clinic
3F, 52 Seongsuil-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea