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Genital Warts: An Uncomfortable but Important Topic

Photo Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos

Photo Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos

Did you know that about 1% of sexually active adults in the U.S. have genital warts at any given time? Warts, in general, are not fun to deal with, and if you find yourself dealing with the discomfort they cause down below, your Knoxville Dermatology Team can help.

Genital warts stem from the most commonly transmitted STI (sexually transmitted infection) – the human papillomavirus or HPV. Warts usually appear within weeks or months after contact – even if your partner shows no sign of infection. Sometimes genital warts can be so small that you don’t even see them. You may begin to see small groups of bumps in or near your groin area. They can also occur on your lips, mouth, tongue or throat. Other telltale symptoms may include discharge, itching or bleeding.

No infection should go untreated, so if you suspect anything, please call one of our certified dermatologists to schedule an appointment. Genital warts MUST be treated by a doctor and cannot be cured by other over-the-counter wart medication. Don’t be shy when it comes to asking for help with this issue. We’re here to help restore your physical comfort!

If you have any questions about STIs or about 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.

Warts 101: the Grinch Can Have ‘Em

Don’t let the possibility of warts deter you from reaching out to shake your uncle’s hand or to show off that new engagement ring during the holidays. Though they are stubborn and seem to pop up with no warning, they can be easily treated!

First, be aware that it is possible to spread the infection. Don’t pick at your wart, as this can cause it to spread to other parts of your body. Also, if you have an open wound, be especially careful. Warts can be contagious and passed along to others if an infected person comes in contact with an open wound.

There are many over-the-counter remedies, but nothing knocks out a wart quite like a visit to a trusted dermatologist. Two popular in-office treatments are cryotherapy or lasers and electrotherapy. One uses extremely cold temperatures and the other uses heat to cauterize the water. Both are equally effective and depend on your preference and the stubbornness of the wart. Schedule a consultation with one of our certified dermatologists, and we’ll help you ward off the warts!

5 Types of Warts to Know

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.