What are warts?

Warts are common skin growths that develop after infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). They spread through direct contact and are particularly common in school-age children.

There are different types of warts, including:

Common warts

Common warts can develop on any dry skin, but they’re most likely to come up on your hands. They may form clusters.

Flat warts

Flat warts are less noticeable than common warts. They often develop on the face or legs.

Plantar warts

Plantar warts or verrucas come up on your feet. They may be uncomfortable if they’re on a part of your foot that bears a lot of weight.

Why might I need wart treatment?

You might need wart treatment if your warts are uncomfortable or unsightly. Warts are widespread due to HPV (the wart virus) being so common. However, many people who come in contact with HPV don’t develop warts because their immune system attacks the virus.

Warts develop when HPV enters your skin via a scratch or wound. The infected skin cells start growing and reproducing more quickly, producing thickened skin bumps. It could take around 12 months for warts to appear following infection.

You don’t have to treat your warts, and they may well disappear of their own accord after a while. However, it could take five to seven years for an adult’s warts to go away and two years for children’s warts, which is a long time if your warts are troublesome.

What wart treatments are available?

There are numerous possible wart treatments you could try. Two of the main ones are:

Salicylic acid

With this treatment, you put a salicylic acid solution over the warts several times daily, peeling the old layers off before reapplying.

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is a treatment where your provider applies liquid nitrogen to your warts. Liquid nitrogen is extremely cold, so it destroys the top layer of skin cells.

Other treatments include:

• 5-fluorouracil and bleomycin ointment or injections to stop cell growth
• Antiviral medications like acyclovir or imiquimod and zinc
• Cutting or scraping warts off (curettage)
• Laser surgery
• Photodynamic therapy (PDT)

It’s not advisable to cut warts out as it can result in scarring and may cause an infection. It’s also unreliable, as new warts often grow in the same place.

Find out more about the best way to treat your warts by calling Integrated Dermatology of NJ or requesting an appointment online today.