Skin is a layered, constantly renewing organ. The outer epidermis turns over roughly every 28 to 40 days, while deeper layers host pigment cells, blood vessels, oil glands, and small collagen structures. When any of those components overgrow, get irritated, or get infected by a virus, a visible lesion or growth can form.
Many benign lesions, including skin tags, seborrheic keratoses, and cherry angiomas, arise from local overgrowth of otherwise normal cells, often in areas of friction, sun exposure, or hormonal change. Warts are different: they are caused by strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) infecting the top layer of skin and driving rapid cell growth in a small, localized patch.
The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that most adults develop multiple benign skin growths over a lifetime, with risk rising after age 40 and with cumulative sun exposure. At Paradise Family Healthcare, we evaluate these changes as part of routine primary care and remove them through minor surgical procedures performed in-office.
