Warts, Genital Warts, and HPV Treatment

What are Warts?

Warts are growths on your skin caused by an infection with humanpapilloma virus, or HPV. Types of warts include:

Common warts, which often appear on your fingers
Plantar warts, which show up on the soles of your feet
Genital warts, which are a sexually transmitted disease
Flat warts, which appear in places you shave frequently

In children, warts often go away on their own. In adults, they tend to stay. If they hurt or bother you, or if they multiply, you can remove them. Chemical skin treatments usually work. If not, various freezing, surgical and laser treatments can remove warts.

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Wart Treatment

A variety of treatments are available depending upon the age of the patient, the location of the wart, and the type of wart.

Salicylic acid gels, solutions, or plasters may be prescribed for daily home treatments.
Cantharidin is a chemical that can be applied in the dermatologist’s office.
Cryotherapy is freezing with a cold liquid gas called liquid nitrogen.
Electrosurgery (burning) is performed in the dermatologist’s office.
Laser treatment can also be used for resistant warts that have not responded to other therapies.
Surgery or cutting may be used to remove the wart.
Imiquimod is a cream that causes an inflammatory response which makes the wart go away.
Bleomycin is an anti-cancer drug that may be injected into each wart.
Interferon is injected into warts to boost the immune reaction and cause rejection of the wart.
Immunotherapy attempts to use the body’s own rejection system.

There are some wart remedies available without a prescription; however, you might mistake another kind of skin growth for a wart and end up treating something more serious as though it were a wart. If you have any questions about either the diagnosis or the best way to treat a wart, you should seek a dermatologist’s advice.

Adapted from U.S. National Library of Medicine

Frequently Asked Questions – Warts

How do you get warts?
Are warts contagious?
Can I spread warts from one part of my body to another?

Yes, you can. For this reason, it is important not to pick at your warts and to wash your hands promptly and thoroughly any time you touch one of your warts. If you have warts in an area where you shave, keep in mind that shaving over the wart could transfer the virus to the razor and then spread it to other areas of your body.
Why do some warts have black dots in them?
Can warts be prevented?

Though skin warts can’t be prevented, there are a number of precautionary measures you can take to minimize your risk of acquiring warts. One of the most important things you can do is to wash your hands regularly. Also, try to keep your skin healthy, moisturized, and free of cuts. If you bite your fingernails or cuticles, do your best to stop. Biting nails creates an opening for viruses to enter your skin. Be careful to use clean, fresh towels at the gym or in other public locations, and always wear rubber-soled flip-flops or sandals in public locker rooms and showers.
Will warts go away on their own?

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