About Wart Removal
Warts are non-cancerous skin growths caused by viral infections in the skin. Some are treatable with over-the-counter medications, but others need advanced medical treatments to remove them. Viruses causing them are called human papilloma virus (HPV) and normally are skin-colored bumps that expand out from the top layer of skin. There are three types:
- Common warts
- Foot warts (plantar warts)
- Flat warts
These are normally found on the fingers, around the fingernails, and on the back of hands. They can often occur when the skin has been broken and often have a small black dot inside, which resembles a seed.
Plantar warts are normally found on the doles of the feet. These tend to grow in clusters and they rarely rise above the skin as the pressure of walking can press on them, causing them to be flat as they are pushed back into the skin. Plantar warts are normally painful and often require medical treatment to effectively treat the wart.
Flat warts are smaller and smooth compared to others. They can grow in large clusters, upwards of 100 at a time. The can occur anywhere, but are commonly found on the face for small children and on legs for adults.
Why Do Warts Occur?
These are normally passed from person to person. Some people get them based on how they are exposed to the virus. If the skin is damaged, it is easy for these to grow. Children often get them because they bite their nails or pick at hangnails. Patients with weakened immune systems tend to be at a higher risk for this skin condition.
This type of skin condition can often disappear without treatment, but some are painful, bothersome, and need to be treated by a professional. At Allen-Taintor Dermatology, we provide a number of treatment methods based on the type and the patient’s overall health. The most common treatments include the following:
- Salicylic acid – this is the most common treatment for young children. Treatments can take weeks to properly kill the skin condition. If the treatment becomes painful or starts to become sore, contact our Ogden dermatology office. We can treat them with a painting method with canthardin, which causes a blister under it and forces it to die.
- Cryotherapy (freezing) – a common method that provide favorable results.
- Electrosurgery (burning) – this common method is used to treat them.
- Laser therapy – this can be used to treat this skin condition, but often requires the use of local anesthesia to numb the area that needs to be treated.
Do you have unsightly warts or do you need treatment? Contact Allen-Taintor Dermatology in Ogden Utah for more information about removal services. You may also use our online contact form and one of our team members will contact you shortly.