Warts

Warts are common skin growths, often appearing during childhood and adolescence, but can occur in  individuals of any age. Warts are caused by a virus and are transmitted by touch.

What are warts and will I get them?

Most common warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are over 150 types of HPV, but only a few strains cause warts. 

 

According to the Mayo Clinic, most warts are spread through skin contact or sharing towels and washcloths. Warts spread through breaks in the skin.

Risk factors for common warts

Children and younger adults are at highest risk of contracted warts because their bodies may have not built up enough immunity to the HPV virus.

Treatment of warts

Most warts go away on their own; however, some people choose to have them removed due to a cosmetic concern or if the wart is spreading to surrounding skin.

 

Your doctor will suggest different methods depending on the size, location and symptoms of your wart(s). These include:

  • Freezing. Liquid nitrogen is applied to the wart. Freezing is effective because it blisters the skin under and around the wart. The dead skin then falls off within a week or so.
  • Minor surgery. The wart is removed surgically; however, this may lead to scarring.
  • Laser treatment. Lasers cauterize tiny blood vessels, and the infected tissue dies, causing the wart to fall off.
  • Salicylic acid. Wart medications with salicylic acid remove layers of a wart over time. Your doctor may suggest this therapy in combination with freezing your wart.

Get checked at Dermatology of Athens

If you’re concerned about your warts, schedule an appointment with Dermatology of Athens. We’ll perform a professional skin check and offer a game plan for the removal of any concerning lesions.

 

To schedule your appointment with us, give us a call at 706-353-8220 or email us at info@dermathens.com.