Warts

For many patients of the Forefront Dermatology, formerly Asarch Dermatology, warts can be an embarrassing and aggravating skin condition for which they seek treatment. Warts are benign skin growths that appear when a virus infects the top layer of the skin.

What Are Warts?

Warts are non-cancerous growths on the top layer of the skin.

What Causes Warts?

Warts are caused by a virus interacting with the skin. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the virus that causes warts. You are more likely to get one of these viruses if your skin is cut or damaged in some way.

Are Warts Contagious?

Wart viruses are contagious and spread easily, especially when the patient scratches them. Warts can spread either through direct contact with the wart or through something that touched the wart. Warts spread in children very quickly because of a child’s difficulty in resisting the urge to scratch.

How Are Warts Treated?

Warts are not dangerous, and most will go away on their own without any treatment. However, if the patient finds them unsightly, treatment can be done with topical medication, freezing or laser treatment.