Warts: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
Warts: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
Warts can come in different shapes, sizes and colors. Most of the time warts go undetected but sometimes they can be very embarrassing. There are many different types of warts and knowing which one you have will help to better aid in the treatment process.
What is a wart?
Warts are an infection caused by the Human papillomavirus (HPV). Warts can grow on many different areas of your body including your hands, feet and even your face. They are usually raised, oval growths on the skin with rough surfaces that appear to be skin colored. Typically, they do not cause much pain unless they are in areas of repeated friction.
What are the different kinds of warts?
Common warts– these warts, also known as seed warts, appear mainly on the hands but can be found on the elbows and knees as well. Sometimes they might contain a black dot in the center which is caused by the surrounding blood vessels.
Flat warts– these warts generally appear in children. They are found on the face and the forehead. They are rather small and appear flat.
Plantar warts– these warts can cause a lot of pain. They are found on the soles of the feet and are pushed deep into the skin by the weight of your body when you are walking, which is why they hurt so badly. Plantar warts are the most contagious, spreading from person to person via direct contact with the infection.
Filiform warts– these are typically the ugliest of the warts. They are the long, narrow warts that grow on the face, neck, eyelids, or lips. They are skin colored and do not cause any pain.
Periungal warts– these warts are found under or around the finger and toenails. They are small bumps that can cause fungal infections if the infection takes place under the nail.
What are the treatments for warts?
In many cases, warts do not need treatment. However, many people want to get rid of their warts because they can be so embarrassing.
There are over-the-counter treatments you can buy that come in the form of gels, drops, pads, or the most common, aerosol freezing methods. You simply apply the treatment to the infected area every day for several weeks.
Always consult a dermatologist when you are considering wart removal.
Schedule an appointment today with one of our board certified physicians to gain more knowledge about your skin so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential!
Contact Knoxville Dermatology Group at 865.690.9467.
