What is the Difference Between Wart and Cyst

Both warts and cysts are skin growths that can resolve without treatment or may require treatment. However, they have different etiologies.  A wart is a small, hard, rough, non-cancerous growth on the skin, whereas a cyst is a closed sac-like structure filled with liquid, semi-solid, or gaseous material that can occur within the tissues in any part of the body.

The key difference between wart and cyst is their cause. Warts are mainly caused by human papillomavirus infection, while common causes of cysts include infections, genetic conditions, tumors, chronic inflammatory conditions, defects in cells, blockages of ducts in the body, and parasites.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Wart 
3. What is a Cyst
4. Similarities – Wart and Cyst
5. Wart vs Cyst in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Wart vs Cyst
7. FAQ – Wart and Cyst

What is a Wart?

Wart is a benign growth that develops on the skin and mucosa. Warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Warts affect approximately 10 % of the worldwide population. The signs and symptoms of this condition may include dome-shaped, flat, rough, bumpy, smooth, thread-like, or small black or brownish dots. These growths may appear skin-colored, brown, grey, or black and are typically around 1 mm in size.

Warts can be diagnosed through physical examinations and skin biopsies. Furthermore, the treatment options for warts may include over-the-counter compounds having salicylic acid, a liquid mixture containing chemical cantharidin, medical freezing, immunotherapy, surgical removal, and laser therapy.

What is Cyst?

A cyst is a closed capsule or sac-like structure containing liquid, semisolid, or gaseous material like a blister. Cysts can occur anywhere in the body, including ovaries, kidneys, spine, breast, skin, etc. Cysts vary in size. They can be microscopic or bigger in size and are even able to displace internal organs. The symptoms of this condition are fluid-filled microscopic or very large closed or saclike structures, pain, headache, etc.

Moreover, the common causes of cysts are genetic conditions, tumors, infections, chronic inflammatory conditions, defects in the cells, blockages of ducts in the body, parasites, injuries that break the vessel, etc. Cysts can be diagnosed through physical examinations, CAT scans, and MRI scans. Furthermore, treatment options for cysts may include steroid therapy, speech therapy, and surgery.

Similarities Between Wart and Cyst

1. Both warts and cysts can occur on the skin.
2. They can be diagnosed through physical evaluation.
3. Both are not life-threatening.
4. Both these two growths can resolve without any treatment or may require treatments such as specific medications and surgery.

Difference Between Wart and Cyst

Definition

1. A wart is a benign growth that develops on the skin and mucosa.
2. A cyst is a closed capsule or sac-like structure containing liquid, semisolid, or gaseous material occurring anywhere in the body, including ovaries, kidneys, spine, breast, skin, etc.

Causes

1. Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
2. Cysts are caused by infections, genetic conditions, tumors, chronic inflammatory conditions, defects in the cells, blockages of ducts in the body, parasites, and an injury that breaks the vessel, etc.

Signs and Symptoms

1. Symptoms of warts include dome-shaped, flat, rough, bumpy, smooth, thread-like, or mall black or brownish dots, skin colored, brown, grey, or black, usually 1 mm in size skin growth.
2. Symptoms of cysts include fluid-filled microscopic or very large closed or saclike structures, pain, headache, etc.

Diagnosis

1. Warts are diagnosed with physical examination and skin biopsy.
2. Cysts are diagnosed with physical examination, CAT scan, and MRI scan.

Treatment

1. Warts are treated with over-the-counter compounds that contain salicylic acid, a liquid mixture containing the chemical cantharidin, medical freezing, immunotherapy, surgical removal, and laser therapy.
2. Cysts are treated with steroid therapy, speech therapy, and surgery.

The following table summarizes the difference between wart and cyst.

Summary – Wart vs Cyst

Wart and cyst are two skin conditions. Both these two growths can resolve without treatment or may require treatments such as specific medications and surgery. However, they are caused by different causative agents. Warts are mainly caused by human papillomavirus infection. On the other hand, the common causes of cysts are infections, genetic conditions, tumors, chronic inflammatory conditions, defects in the cells, blockages of ducts in the body, and parasites. Moreover, the wart is a benign growth that develops on the skin and mucosa, whereas a cyst is a closed capsule or sac-like structure containing liquid, semisolid, or gaseous material. In addition, cysts can occur anywhere in the body, including the ovaries, kidneys, spine, breasts, and skin. This summarizes the difference between wart and cyst.

FAQ: Wart and Cyst

1. Why do people get warts?

• Warts are tiny skin infections caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Children get warts most often. However, teens and adults can get them too. In some cases, warts are sexually transmitted and appear in the genital area.

2. How can I remove a wart?

• Non-prescription over-the-counter products such as salicylic acid are available as a patch, ointment, pad and liquid to remove warts. Other warts need to be removed through medical freezing, immunotherapy, surgical removal, and laser therapy.

3. What causes a cyst?

• Cysts are fluid-filled sac-like structures that can develop in tissues in any part of the body, including ovaries, kidneys, spine, breast, skin, etc. They are caused by infections, tumors, parasites, and injuries that can cause cysts.

4. Will cysts go away on their own?

• Some cysts, such as epidermoid cysts, normally often go away without any treatment. Most cysts don’t cause problems or need treatment. However, some cysts need treatments like steroid therapy, speech therapy, and surgery.

5. Are cysts harmful?

• Most cysts are benign or non-cancerous. However, some cysts can be cancerous or precancerous and must be removed. Moreover, if a cyst is filled with pus, that means it’s infected and could lead to abscess formation. Therefore, if people feel pain when touching a cyst, they need to contact a qualified doctor.

Reference:

1. “Cysts: Types, Pictures, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International.
2. Carey, Elea. “Warts: Types, Images, Treatment, and More.” Healthline, Healthline Media.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Large plantar warts” By Marionette – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Myxoid-cyst-left-index” (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia