Warts

What are warts?

Warts are a noncancerous skin condition caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). You may be more likely to get warts if you have an open cut or your skin is damaged. Warts are contagious, so you can easily pass the virus to another person by touching them.

Warts are common in people of all ages and if your wart is bothering you, Bay Ridge Dermatology can remove it.

What are the types of warts?

There are several different types of warts and the team at Bay Ridge Dermatology can identify the type you have during an examination.

Common warts

These types of warts are usually found on the hands and fingers, but easily get transferred to the face. They’re bumpy and flesh-colored, and sometimes have a dark spot in the center, referred to as a seed. Children frequently get common warts.

Filiform warts

Fast growing warts that occur on the face that look like threads or fingers.

Flat warts

Small, smooth warts that appear on the face or legs. These warts usually appear in numbers and you can grow as many as 100 at a time.

Plantar warts

Warts that occur on the bottom of your feet that usually grow in clusters. Depending on where or how they grow, plantar warts can be painful.

How can I get rid of my warts?

While warts can disappear on their own, if you wart isn’t going away, you should come into Bay Ridge Dermatology for an evaluation and treatment plan. The team offers a number of options to help get rid of your warts.

Wart removal options include:

• Cantharidin: topical medicine that causes a blister to form under the wart
• Cryotherapy: freezing the wart
• Excision: surgically removing the wart
• Electrosurgery: burning and cauterizing the wart

If your warts are in a difficult place or difficult to get rid of, the team may recommend other treatments, such as laser therapy, chemical peel, injection with bleomycin, or immunotherapy.

Will warts grow back after treatment?

Unfortunately, there’s no cure for HPV and if you have the virus, you may continue to get warts after treatment. The best way to prevent new warts from growing is by having the warts removed by the Bay Ridge Dermatology team as soon as they appear on your skin.

For wart removal with care and precision, call the office or request an appointment online.