Warts

What causes warts?

Warts are noncancerous growths that develop when a viral infection, known as human papillomavirus (HPV), enters your skin. Not everyone who comes into contact with HPV develops warts. Your risk of developing warts is higher due to:

• Having a weakened immune system
• Having a history of warts anywhere on your body
• Being younger — warts are common among children and teens

Although warts can affect any part of your body, they most commonly develop on areas where you have cuts or scrapes. This is why warts are known for popping up on areas where you shave, such as your face or legs.

When should I see a doctor for warts?

Even though warts aren’t a serious medical concern, if they’re not properly treated, they can continue coming back, spreading to other areas, or even spreading to other people. It’s important to schedule a wart evaluation at Integrated Dermatology of Clinton if your warts are:

• Causing pain
• Spreading to the bottoms of your feet
• Not responding to over-the-counter medications

Whether you have a single wart, a cluster of warts, or warts that have spread to other parts of your body, rest assured, the team at Integrated Dermatology of Clinton has a solution.

How are warts treated?

Your wart treatment plan depends on the severity of your wart outbreak, as well as your personal health history. Treating warts can include any of the following therapies:

• Immunotherapy
• Laser treatments
• Chemical peels
• Cutting out the wart (excision)
• Freezing medicine (cryotherapy)
• Electrosurgery and curettage

You may also benefit from a cantharidin treatment, which involves applying a topical solution to your wart. Cantharidin causes a blister to form underneath the wart, which forces the wart to die. You have to come back to the office about a week later to have the dead wart clipped away.

Once your dedicated dermatologist at Integrated Dermatology of Clinton treats your current wart outbreak, they spend time with you teaching you how to prevent and lower your risk future wart issues.

Before your warts worsen or spread, get started on treatment at Integrated Dermatology of Clinton. Request an appointment online, or call the office directly.