WHAT ARE WARTS?
Warts are skin infections caused by viruses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) family. They are usually found on the fingers, hands, and feet and are usually painless with the exception of the warts on the soles of the feet.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF WARTS
Common warts– Usually found on fingers, hands, knees, and elbows, a common wart is a small, hard bump that’s usually grayish-brown. It has a rough surface that may look like the head of a cauliflower, with black dots inside.
Flat warts, also called juvenile warts- These are about the size of a pinhead, are smoother than other kinds of warts, and have flat tops.
Plantar warts– Found on the bottom of the foot, plantar warts can be very uncomfortable – like walking on a small stone.
Filiform warts– These have a finger-like shape, are usually flesh-colored, and often grow on or around the mouth, eyes, or nose.
ARE WARTS CONTAGIOUS?
If you pick at a wart, the virus can spread to other parts of the body. Also, a tiny cut or scratch can make any area of skin more vulnerable to the virus. It is unlikely that the virus would be spread to another person. (And, you can’t get a wart from holding a frog or toad!)
TREATMENT OF WARTS
A viable reason to treat warts is to prevent them from spreading further. Various treatments are described below. Hubbell Dermatology and Aesthetics can perform many of these surgeries in Lafayette to remove any unsightly warts.
Dr. Hubbell Recommends:
- Using prescription medications to put on the wart
- Burning the wart off (using a light electrical current)
- Freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen (called cryosurgery)
- Injecting the wart with Candida (Yeast) Injections
- Avoid rubbing, scratching or picking at the wart, which can cause infection, or cause the virus to spread to another part of the body.
