How Are Warts Removed?
- Posted on: Oct 31 2024
Warts are small, grainy skin growths that are usually harmless and go away on their own over time – but most patients want them gone ASAP.
The skin care experts at Asarch Dermatology are here to help you say goodbye to wart worries. If your warts keep growing, they hurt or bleed, interfere with your lifestyle, or are a cosmetic concern, we can safely remove them for you.
But all warts are not created equal. Keep reading to learn about various types of warts, how we diagnose them, and what your treatment options might be.
What are warts?
Many patients would probably say, “A nuisance, that’s what!”
Warts are non-cancerous growths caused by the human papillomavirus virus (HPV) that can develop anywhere on your skin, even inside your mouth. You are more likely to get warts if your skin is cut or damaged in some way. It may take a few months for warts to grow large enough to see.
Unfortunately, warts are contagious and can spread by skin-to-skin contact with the wart or something that touched the wart (such as clothing, towels, or razors). The virus that causes warts can live on surfaces for up to six months, especially in warm and moist environments like shower floors or gym locker rooms.
Warts are often skin-colored and feel rough, but they can also be dark (ranging from brown to grayish-black), flat, or smooth. Some warts contain a sprinkling of black dots, which are actually clotted blood vessels.
Types of warts
Dermatologists classify warts based on how they look and what parts of your body are affected. For example:
Common warts
Common warts typically appear on your hands and range from the size of a pinhead to a pea. They are more likely to occur when your skin is broken, such as from biting fingernails or picking at hangnails. Common warts often feel like rough bumps and may have small, seed-like black dots inside.
Flat warts
Flat warts can grow anywhere on your body. Children tend to get them on their face, while women get them on their legs, and men get them in their beard area. Flat warts are usually smaller and smoother than other warts, but also grow in larger numbers (20-100 at a time).
Genital warts
Genital warts are a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that gets passed through skin-to-skin contact, affecting your genitals and/or rectum. Genital warts are small, hard nodules that may itch, burn, or bleed.
Plantar warts
Plantar warts are commonly found on your feet, especially the soles. Plantar warts are often flat and grow inward, but may also contain black dots. These warts can grow quite large, which may cause pain when you stand or walk.
How we diagnose warts
Your Asarch dermatologist can usually tell if you have a wart by looking at it. In rare cases, we may need to perform a skin biopsy to be certain.
Treatment options for warts
Warts often go away on their own, but it can take up to two years. If warts are affecting your daily life for any reason, it’s time to ask your Asarch dermatologist about professional treatment. Options include:
Freezing
During this procedure (also known as cryotherapy), your Asarch dermatologist applies liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart. The liquid nitrogen causes a blister to form under and around the wart, killing the tissue. The dead tissue then peels off in a week or so. You may need multiple treatments to achieve complete wart removal.
Laser treatment
If other removal methods haven’t worked, your Asarch dermatologist might suggest laser treatment (or photo-based therapy). This procedure uses laser light to heat and destroy the tiny blood vessels inside the wart, cutting off its blood supply. The wart eventually dies and falls off after successful treatment. However, there may be minor scarring.
Topical treatment
There are many over-the-counter options for wart removal. Most contain salicylic acid, which dissolves warts one layer at a time. You may need to apply the product every day for several months to get rid of the wart completely.
For faster results, your Asarch dermatologist can treat the wart with cantharidin, a chemical that causes a blister to form under and around the wart. You must return to the office the following week to have the dead wart removed.
Stop playing the wart waiting game
Warts may be harmless but they can have a huge impact on your physical comfort, and even more importantly, how you feel about yourself and your skin.
Are you ready to be wart-free? You don’t have to wait months or years! Schedule an appointment with Asarch Dermatology today to learn about your wart removal options.
Posted in: Skin Care
