What are warts?
Warts are benign (noncancerous) growths that most often appear on the hands and feet. Warts can look flat and smooth, dome-shaped, or have a cauliflower-like appearance.
Sometimes, warts disappear on their own without treatment. Others respond to over-the-counter medicines like salicylic acid. Medical treatment is available for warts that are large, in sensitive areas, or resistant to self-care.
What kinds of warts are there?
The Aesthetic and Clinical Dermatology Associates team treats many kinds of warts, including:
Common warts
Common warts are skin-colored, dome-shaped growths that usually develop over broken skin. This kind of wart can appear anywhere on your body, but they’re most likely to develop on your fingers, toes, and knees.
Filiform warts
Filiform warts are long, narrow, flesh-colored stalks that appear on your eyelids, face, neck, or lips.
Flat warts
Also called plane warts, flat warts appear on your face or forehead. They’re flesh-colored or white and are most common in children and teenagers.
Genital warts
Genital warts are sexually transmitted and highly contagious. These lesions develop on the genitals and require medical treatment.
Plantar warts
Plantar warts develop on the soles of your feet and have a rough, cauliflower-like appearance. Because they grow on a weight-bearing surface, plantar warts can be painful.
Subungual and periungual warts
Subungual and periungual warts develop around your finger or toenails. They begin as nearly undetectable lesions that can grow into pea-sized bumps with uneven borders. These warts can interfere with healthy nail growth. They require medical treatment.
What causes warts?
Warts can spread from person to person or to other parts of your body. Different strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) cause different kinds of warts. Some HPV strains spread through sexual contact. However, many strains spread through casual skin contact or shared objects like towels.
How are warts treated?
The Aesthetic and Clinical Dermatology Associates team assesses your warts and recommends the best treatment. However, eliminating warts takes time. You’ll probably need to try several methods.
Wart treatments include prescription-strength medications, freezing (cryotherapy), laser treatment, and minor surgery.
For professional treatment of warts, call Aesthetic and Clinical Dermatology Associates today or request an appointment online.
