Warts

Wart Treatment in Hagerstown

Anyone that has ever read or heard a fairytale knows that warts typically have a negative connotation.

In reality, they are benign and non-cancerous skin growths that occur on the outer layers of skin.

Causes of Warts

Warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) and are more likely to occur when a patient has a cut or broken skin.

Children, nail biters, and those with a compromised immune system are at higher risk for HPV.

Warts Are Contagious

In addition, warts are highly contagious and can spread through direct contact with the wart or individual or through indirect contact with an item that the wart or person touched.

Warts can also spread from one body part to another.

It typically takes a few months after contraction of the virus for warts to appear and become noticeable.

Signs and Symptoms of Different Types of Warts

There are several types of warts based on their clinical presentation and location on the body.

Common warts typically occur on areas of broken skin such as the hands, fingers, and nails and can easily spread to the face. They often appear as a rough bump with a black dot.

Foot or plantar warts grow on the soles of the feet in a flat or inward manner. Many patients describe these warts as painful, and they sometimes contain a black dot.

As their name suggests, flat warts are smoother and smaller in appearance. They can present on any part of the body and often develop in groups of 20-100 warts.

Children tend to get them on the face, men are prone to flat warts in their beards, and women may note them on the legs.

Diagnosis on Physical Exam

Warts can be diagnosed on physical examination by a dermatologist. Rarely, they may need to be biopsied for additional information.

Treatments for Warts

If a wart is not painful or bothersome, it is often left untreated.

However, if a patient elects to have a wart removed there are a variety of options including: cryotherapy (freezing), electrocautery (burning), curettage (scraping), or excision.

Lasers, chemical peels, injectable medication, and immunotherapy can also be used on warts that are very difficult to remove.

To learn more about wart causes, symptoms, management and treatment options in Hagerstown or the surrounding Frederick area, contact us today to schedule a consultation.