Warts are benign skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which infects the top layer of skin. They often appear skin-colored and rough to the touch but can also present as dark, flat, or smooth depending on their location. Common types of warts include:
- Common Warts: Found on fingers, around fingernails, and on the backs of hands. Often called “seed warts” because of the black dots that resemble seeds.
- Foot Warts: Also known as plantar warts, these develop on the soles of the feet. When they appear in clusters, they are called mosaic warts. They are usually flattened by pressure from walking and can be painful.
- Flat Warts: Smaller and smoother than other types, flat warts often appear in large numbers. They are common on the face in children, in the beard area for men, and on the legs for women. Shaving can irritate the skin and trigger their appearance.
- Filiform Warts: Long, narrow growths that typically develop around the mouth, eyes, or nose. Flesh-colored and fast-growing, they are often more noticeable.
- Periungual Warts: These warts develop around fingernails and toenails. They can be painful, may disrupt nail growth, and often require professional treatment to remove.
Treatments for Warts
Cryosurgery is one of the most common dermatology treatments for warts. It works by applying liquid nitrogen to the wart, freezing the tissue. Depending on the level of freezing, the skin may peel, blister, or scab as the wart is destroyed. Cryosurgery is effective not only for warts but also for conditions like seborrheic keratoses, actinic keratoses, small benign growths, and even some skin cancers.
Topical therapies are another option for wart removal. These treatments work in different ways: some gently peel away abnormal skin cells, others target and destroy the infected cells, while certain medications stimulate your immune system to fight off the virus that causes warts. Some topicals may even cause blistering under the wart, helping it lift away from the skin.
For stubborn warts, your dermatologist may recommend injectable treatments. These medications are placed directly into the wart to either kill abnormal skin cells or boost your body’s immune system to naturally eliminate the wart.