Frequently Asked Questions about Warts:
What is a wart?
A wart is a common infection of the skin that is caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Warts are typically small, rough, scaly and cauliflower-like in appearance. Warts are contagious, and can occur on any skin or mucus membrane.
How does someone get warts?
Warts are passed from person to person, sometimes indirectly. The time from the first contact to the time the warts have grown large enough to be seen is often several months. The risk of catching hand, foot, or flat warts from another person is small.
How many kinds of warts are there?
There are several different kinds of warts including:
Common Warts: usually grow on the fingers, around the nails and on the backs of the hands. These warts are more common where skin has been broken, for example where fingernails are bitten or hangnails picked.
Foot Warts/Plantar Warts: are warts that grow on the soles (plantar areas) of the feet or toes and are called plantar warts. When plantar warts grow in clusters they are referred to as mosaic warts. Most plantar warts do not stick up above the surface like common warts, because the pressure of walking flattens them and consequently they grow deep into the skin. Like common warts, these warts may have brown or black dots within them. Plantar warts have a bad reputation because they can be painful, feeling like a pebble in the shoe, and can be quite difficult to rid. Let the staff of Aesthetic Dermatology offer you the latest and most effect treatment remedies for these particularly stubborn warts.
Flat Warts: are smaller and smoother than other warts. They tend to grow in large numbers - 20 to 100 at any one time! They can occur anywhere, but in children they are most common on the face. In adults they are often found in the beard area in men and on the legs in women, where shaving occurs. Spreading the virus by shaving probably accounts for this. There are many safe treatments for these pesky warts. Call us today for an appointment.
Can I treat my own warts without seeing a doctor?
There are some wart remedies available without a prescription. However, most over the counter remedies are ineffective, and may cause unwanted and irritating side effects. Patients may also mistake another kind of skin growth for a wart, and end up treating something more serious as though it were a wart. If you have any questions about either the diagnosis or the best treatment for your wart, you should contact a member of Aesthetic Dermatology.