
Warts are non-cancerous skin growths caused by a viral infection in the top layer of the skin. Viruses that cause warts are from human papillomavirus (HPV) family. Presently there are over 60 types of HPV warts. Warts are usually skin-colored and feel rough to the touch, but they can be dark, flat and smooth.
Types of warts: Plantar warts are warts on the bottom of the feet. Flat warts can be found on the face and on the body, trunk, legs and feet. Warts in the genital area are called venereal warts. The appearance of a wart depends on where it is growing. Often warts have black dots in them (seed warts) caused from broken blood vessels in the warts.
Spreading Warts: Warts are contagious and can be spread from person to person. This is particularly true if the skin is injured. Shaving the face in men and shaving the legs in women can spread warts. Do not use another personTs razor. Children and adults can spread warts by picking them and biting their fingernails that have warts. Some people are just more likely to catch the wart virus than are others, just as some people are more prone to catch a cold. Patients with a weakened immune system also are more prone to a wart virus infection.
Wart Treatment: Warts may disappear on their own without treatment over days, months to years. Since the body may spontaneously develop an immune response against the wart at anytime Õfolk» remedies, burying a penny or hypnosis may appear to have removed the wart. However, early treatment or 1-2 warts may prevent multiple warts that can be painful, cosmetically bothersome and may take months to disappear.
Over-the-counter remedies for warts are available at DermatologistRx. Any wart treatment at home should be used as directed on the package and should be discontinue, at least temporarily, if the wart becomes sore.
Common warts in young children can be treated at home by their parents on a daily basis by applying salicylic acid gel, solution or plaster.
Foot warts are difficult to treat because the bulk of the wart lies below the skin surface. However, a good regimen to treat plantar or foot warts is the following.
See your Dermatologist:
The Dermatologist should see warts that do not respond to
over-the-counter treatment. Dermatologists are specially trained to
select the best treatment for the type and location of the wart. Various
treatments include:
All products should be used as directed on the product container. Any product that causes irritation should be discontinued. The information provided at DermatologistRx is not a substitute for a face-to-face consultation with a dermatologist or your physician.