What are warts?

Warts are non-cancerous skin growths that develop on the top layer of the skin. They are used by a virus called human papilloma virus (HPV).

Are there different kinds of warts?
Warts differ depending on the type of human papilloma virus, on their shape, and on which part of the body they are located.  Common warts are small, round, solid growths on the skin.

They usually grow on the fingers, around the nails, and hand, but can appear anywhere,  particularly where the skin has broken,  for example, where fingernails are have been bitten or hangnails picked. Foot warts are hard lumps, sometimes painful, and often with multiple black dots on the center.

They develop on the pressure points of the soles (plantar) of the feet and are thus called plantar warts.  Most plantar warts do not stick out above the surface because the pressure of walking flattens them and pushes them back into the skin. Mosaic warts are a group of tightly clustered warts that usually grow on the hands or the soles of feet.  Flat warts are small, smoothly flattened, tan or flesh colored warts, which can occur in large numbers at any one time most often on the face, neck, hands, wrists and legs. Filiform or digitate warts are thread or finger-like warts, usually on the face, especially near the eyelids and lips.

How do you get warts?
Warts are passed on directly through skin contact or indirectly. They can also spread from one part of one's own body to another part.  While warts can be contracted anytime, they occur more easily when the skin is  amaged. Patients with a weakened immune system also are more prone to a wart virus infection.

Do warts need to be treated?
For children, treatment may not be necessary, since warts can disappear without treatment over a period of several months to years.  However, warts that are bothersome, painful,  or rapidly multiplying should be treated.
For adults, treatment is necessary, since warts in adults typically do not disappear. Because of the risk of spreading the virus to others or to other parts of one's body, treatment is necessary. Furthermore, there is the matter of unsightly growths.

How do dermatologists treat warts?

Dermatologists are trained to use a variety of treatments, depending on the age of the patient and the type of wart.
Topical therapy – removal of dead surface skin cells usually using salicylic acid, blistering agents and immune system modifiers applied over several weeks to months to obtain favorable results. Cryotherapy – freezing the wart (generally with liquid nitrogen),  creating a blister between the wart and the upper layer of the skin, after which the wart and the surrounding dead skin falls off by itself.  Repeat treatments at one to three week intervals are often necessary.
Electrosurgery – burning the wart, with curettage if necessary. It usually takes one treatment,  but healing of the wound may take several weeks and may leave a scar.
Laser – The Carbon Dioxide lasers may be used to remove warts, but this treatment method also removes much of the surrounding tissue and generally results in scarring.  The Pulse dye laser provides the new hope for the removal of a wide range of warts that are resistant to traditional therapies, without presenting a high risk of scarring. It targets the small blood vessels that feed the wart. Depending on the number of warts, as well as their size and location, a typical treatment runs from 10 to 30 minutes. The number of treatments required varies from case to case.  Simple warts may require one to two treatments, while deeper and more resistant warts may require additional treatment sessions. The cost depends on the number of warts to be removed, as well as their size, type and location.

What about the problem of recurrent warts?
Sometimes it appears as if new warts appear as fast as old ones go away. This may happen because the old warts shed virus into the surrounding skin before they were treated. The best way to limit this occurrence is to treat new warts as quickly as they develop so they have little time to shed virus into nearby skin. A check by your dermatologist can help assure that the treated wart has resolved completely.  Is there any on going research about warts?
Research is moving on rapidly.  There is great interest in new treatments, as well as the development of a vaccine against warts. Hopefully there will be a solution to the annoying problem of warts in the not too distant future.

References:
TMC Department of Medicine Section of Dermatology

Note:   This information is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advise, diagnosis or treatment. If you or someone you know have any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is advisable to seek professional help.

How can The Medical City help you?
The Medical City offers a roster of competent dermatologists who may assess and treat people with warts.  
For any inquiries please call:

CENTER FOR WELLNESS AND AESTHETICS
Tel. No. (632) 988-1000 / (632) 988-7000 Ext. 6576 / 6492 / 6386

CENTER FOR PATIENT PARTNERSHIP

Tel. No. (632) 988-1000 / (632) 988-7000 ext. 6444