All About Warts
Warts are one of those skin conditions that have a great deal of mystery surrounding them, including misconceptions about how they are caused, how they spread and whether or not to seek treatment. In today’s Skin School blog, we are doing to clarify some things for you about warts and give you some helpful information if you or someone you love is suffering from them.
Warts are small, usually painless growths on the skin. Caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV), most warts are generally harmless. All warts are spread from one part of your body to another and they can be spread from one person to another, but this isn’t common.
Typically, warts are raised, round (or oval) growths on the skin and they have a rough surface. Warts may be lighter or darker than the surrounding skin tone with smooth or flat surfaces.
There are different types of warts, including common warts which usually appear on hands and don’t tend to cause pain. Flat warts appear generally on the face and forehead, more commonly in children and sometimes teens, but less common in adults. Plantar warts are a painful variety and usually appear on the soles of feet. Warts affecting fingernails or toenails are called subungual and periungual and occur under or around the nail. A final type of wart and one that affects the genitals is called condyloma.
A board certified dermatologist, such as one of the members of our team here at Knoxville Dermatology can diagnose warts by examining your skin. Sometimes a biopsy is needed to confirm that the issue in question is in fact a wart and not another skin ailment, such as skin cancer.
One thing you can do if you suspect you have a wart is cover it with a bandage to prevent spreading it. Special foot cushions can help alleviate the pain caused by plantar warts, but in the case of warts or any other skin condition, you should never neglect to provide proper care to avoid further issues.
If you experience any of the following signs or symptoms, you should contact a physician:
- signs of infection (red streaking, pus, discharge, or fever) or bleeding
- pain associated with the wart.
- anal or genital warts.
- if you suffer from diabetes or a weakened immune system (for example, HIV) and have developed warts.
- any change in the color or appearance of the wart.
Are you suffering from warts or other skin issues? Skin health should be taken seriously, but we’re here to help. Schedule an appointment today with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.
Contact Knoxville Dermatology Group at 865.690.9467.
