Warts, also referred to as Verrucae, are growths on the skin produced by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They are typically considered to be harmless. However, warts may be disfiguring and unpleasant, and they may itch or hurt sometimes, particularly on the feet.
The many forms of warts include the following:
- Common warts have a rough or prickly surface and are most frequently found on the hands, but they can arise elsewhere.
- Flat warts are smaller and smoother than round warts and are most commonly found on the face and forehead. If they form on the legs or neck, they can spread by shaving.
- Genital warts (condyloma) are most frequently found on the genitals, pubic region, and between the thighs. They can manifest themselves within the vaginal and anal canals. A tiny fraction of these warts cause cervical and anal cancers.
- Plantar warts are a kind of wart that develops on the soles of the feet and may be quite painful. These warts are more challenging to cure and may require repeated treatments.
Warts occur subungual and periungual, beneath and around the fingernails or toenails. Additionally, some warts may be more resistant to treatment and require several sessions.
While some warts resolve independently, the majority might remain for an extended time and require treatment. Warts can spread from one region of your body to another due to their infectious nature.
There are several techniques for removing warts. Certain over-the-counter medicines may assist in the removal of smaller warts. Unfortunately, these medicines are ineffective against bigger or thicker warts, such as those on the foot.
Our Buckeye dermatologist will review the different treatments available for eradicating your warts. These include topical medicines, scraping and applying a topical solution, freezing or cauterizing, and other treatments.
Warts will disappear naturally. This is especially true in the case of children who have warts. Warts may not disappear as easily or as quickly in adults as they do in children. Although the majority of warts are benign, they will be treated by our dermatologists.
Why you should treat a wart as soon as it appears
The wart virus is incurable, meaning that warts might reappear in the same location or a different one. At times, it appears as though new warts form as quickly as old ones disappear. This is a result of old warts shedding viral cells into the skin before treatment. This shedding enables the growth of other warts surrounding the original warts. The most effective approach to avoid this is to have new warts treated as soon as they occur.
Common warts caused by a virus are spread by physical contact. In some cases, it might take as long as two to six months after the virus has infected your skin before a wart appears. Common warts are typically non-cancerous. Even though warts may vanish on their own over a period of time, many people opt to have them removed because they find them to be uncomfortable or unsightly.
If you cannot remove the wart, the wart is painful, or you have many warts, you should consult a Buckeye dermatologist.
