As a child, it was a common thought that frogs caused warts. While that may help you keep frogs out of the house, we are here to tell you that warts are actually caused by a virus.
Warts are small, usually painless growths that appear on your skin when a virus infects the top layer. These typically harmless growths look like solid blisters. Some are skin-colored but they can be dark brown or gray-black. Wart viruses are contagious and spread by contact with the wart or when sharing towels, razors or other personal items.
There are five kinds of warts you should know about:
1. Common warts grow most often on your hands but you can find them anywhere on the skin. They are rough, dome-shaped growths that are gray-brown. These have tiny blood vessels in the core of the wart which make the wart’s center look dark or spotted.
2. Plantar warts also have tiny blood vessels in their core. These hard, thick warts grow on the soles of your feet. These may feel like you’re walking with a pebble in your shoe.
3. Flat warts are small warts that usually grow on your face, arms or legs. As the name suggests, these warts are flat and can be pink, light brown or light yellow.
4. You can find Filiform warts around the mouth, nose or beard area. These skin-colored warts usually have growths that look like threads sticking out of them.
5. Lastly, Periungual warts grow under and around toenails and fingernails. They look like rough bumps with an uneven surface and/or border. These warts can affect your nail growth.
All warts should be examined by our board-certified physicians to verify that it isn’t another type of growth. They can also recommend the best treatments for getting rid of warts. Do NOT use over-the-counter wart medications on your face. These especially need to be treated by a physician.
If you have any questions about warts or any other changes in your skin, please call us today at 865-690-9467. Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.
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