Difference between Wart and Boil

Key Difference: A wart is a rough growth that appears most commonly on the hands and fingers or on the soles of the feet. They can also appear on the other parts of the body like the face, arms or legs and sometimes grow in the genital or anal area. A boil, on the other hand, is an infection of the hair follicle. A boil is a deep folliculitis and is also called a furuncle.

Wart A wart and a boil are two common skin conditions that occur among people. They can cause severe damage if extreme cases are not treated on time. Most of the people get confused between warts and boils. Warts and boils both are raised from the skin and are of reddish and grayed colored. Even there is a similarity, they both are very different from each other.

A wart is a rough growth that appears most commonly on the hands and fingers or on the soles of the feet. They can also appear on the other parts of the body like the face, arms or legs and sometimes grow in the genital or anal area. They can resemble a cauliflower or a solid blister; and may be larger or smaller in size. Warts are generally white or pale in color and are usually visible as a harmful skin problem. They can be very painful when they get infected and inflamed. Otherwise, warts are usually painless. A wart can be removed with medical treatment or other methods that a dermatologist may suggest.

Boil A boil or a furuncle can be defined as a skin outbreak in the form of a swollen bump. A cluster of boils is known as a carbuncle. It generally appears like a pimple. They are mainly caused due to a bacterial infection that happens due to infected hair follicles. A pocket of pus is developed and this is referred to as a boil.

A boil is a deep folliculitis, an infection of the hair follicle. It is caused by an infection of the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Boils result in a painful swollen area on the skin caused by an accumulation of pus and dead tissue. Boils may cluster together, joining to form one head. These boils are called carbuncles. If a boil forms on the eyelid, it is called a sty. Boils should not be popped, as it may lead to the spreading of the infection, including a blood infection. Boils usually pop by themselves.

Comparison between Wart and Boil:

	Wart	Boil
Description	A wart is a rough growth that appears most commonly on the hands and fingers or on the soles of the feet.	A boil is a skin infection that starts in a hair follicle or oil gland.
Easily affected area	Hands Finger Feet Arms Legs Face	Face Neck Armpits Breasts Groin Buttocks
Caused by	Virus – Human Papilloma Virus	Staphylococcus
Types	Common warts Plantar warts Genital warts Mosaic warts Periungual warts Flat warts	If a boil forms on the eyelid, it is called a sty. If several boils appear in a group, this is a more serious type of infection called a carbuncle.
Symptoms	Warts may appear as a bump with a rough surface, or it may be flat and have a smooth surface. Tiny blood vessels grow. They are usually rough, gray, brown and dome shaped growth.	Initially a hard, red, painful swelling usually less than 4 cm in size. Later, the swelling becomes softer, larger and more painful. Then, a pocket of pus is formed on top of the boil, a raised temperature; Nearby lymph nodes (glands) may become swollen.
Reduce or Preventions	Avoid touching warts Do not share razors, towels, socks, or shoes with another person. Someone with no visible warts can still be carrying the virus. Avoid walking barefoot on warm, moist surfaces where the wart virus may be alive. Wear shower shoes when using public showers, locker rooms, or pool areas. Keep your feet dry. If your feet sweat heavily, wear socks that absorb moisture or wick it away from the skin. Avoid irritating the soles of your feet. Warts grow more easily if your skin has been injured or broken in some way.	Use an antibacterial body wash or soap to kill and prevent bacteria from clogging your skin pores. One should bathe regularly, 1 to 2 times per day to keep your skin clean. Drink 2 to 3 liters of water daily. Exercise daily at least 20 minutes to help circulate blood and flush waste from your system. Don’t share or come into contact with blankets or towels that have been used by someone with boils.