Warts

About 10% of people worldwide have warts. If you notice warts that don’t go away or increase in size, see the experts at Integrated Dermatology of West Palm Beach in West Palm Beach, Florida. Board-certified dermatologists Andrew Nesterovitch, MD, and Kathleen Herne, MD, offer wart removal methods that eliminate unsightly warts and reduce the risk of them spreading to other areas. Schedule an evaluation by phone or online today.

What are warts?

Warts are small growths that often appear on your fingers, hands, or toes — but they can develop anywhere on your body. They’re caused by a virus and spread from person to person via touch or shared objects. While often harmless, warts can become bigger, spread to other areas, and be embarrassing when left untreated. See your dermatologist for wart removal.

What are the symptoms of warts?

Warts can appear as:

• Small growths
• Grainy skin bumps
• Growths with tiny black dots (clotted blood vessels)
• Rough growths
• Fleshy bumps

Warts might also become painful if they rub against jewelry or clothing, bleed, burn, or itch. It can take 2-6 months for warts to develop after you’re exposed to a wart-causing virus. 

They may go away on their own over time, but many people remove warts for cosmetic reasons and to prevent the growths from spreading.

What causes warts?

Warts appear because of the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are more than 100 types of this virus. Some cause warts on your hands or feet, while others (genital or anal warts) spread via sexual activity. Warts spread from person to person via skin contact or shared personal items. 

Due to differences in immune functioning, not everyone develops warts after coming in contact with the HPV virus. Children, teenagers, and people with weakened immune systems have a higher chance of developing warts. Biting or picking at your nails is a risk factor, too. 

To reduce the chance of spreading warts, avoid touching them, picking at warts, and sharing personal items with other people. 

How are warts diagnosed?

Diagnosing warts at Integrated Dermatology of West Palm Beach involves discussing your medical history and examining your warts. Your dermatologist may look at a wart under a magnifying glass, scrape off the top wart layer to look for pinpoint dots, or take a wart biopsy (tissue sample) and send it to a lab for analysis.

How are warts treated?

The treatment for warts is to remove them, as it might take a year or longer for warts to go away on their own without treatment. Your dermatologist may use any of the following wart-removal methods:

• Topical wart medications
• Injections
• Acids
• Freezing
• Excision 
• Laser treatment

Home-based treatments, such as non-prescription wart removal peels, liquid nitrogen products, and duct tape, may also work, but can cause damage to the skin or other issues. They aren’t as effective as the wart-removal treatments available at Integrated Dermatology of West Palm Beach.

To take advantage of wart removal, call the Integrated Dermatology of West Palm Beach office or schedule an appointment online today.