Warts

While harmless, warts can be an uncomfortable cosmetic concern that many are eager to treat. At Redwood Empire Dermatology in Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, and Oakmont, California, the board-certified dermatologists offer several effective wart removal treatments for clearer, healthier-looking skin. Call Redwood Empire Dermatology today or schedule an appointment online today to learn more about warts.

What are warts?

Warts are small, rough growths that are caused by a virus and can develop nearly anywhere on the body. Most warts appear on the hands, fingers, elbows, knees, or toes. Warts can also grow on the soles of the feet. While warts aren’t dangerous, they can be uncomfortable. These growths tend to disappear over time, but they can be a cosmetic concern.

What are the symptoms of warts?

Warts look like grainy, skin-colored growths. Some are small and develop in groups, while others are large and appear alone. Warts can also develop small black specks. These are clotted blood vessels that often appear in common warts. While most warts don’t hurt, they can if they grow in areas that incur pressure. 

Plantar warts, which develop on the soles of the feet, can be especially uncomfortable. These warts typically sit beneath thick, callused skin. You may not even realize you have a plantar wart because it resembles a callus. A plantar wart can feel like you have a pebble in your shoe. Over time, it can even affect your gait.

What causes warts?

The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes many different types of warts, including those on your hands and feet. HPV can enter through small breaks in your skin. Some strains can only cause warts through sexual contact. Genital warts are highly contagious, and proper treatment is necessary to keep flare-ups at bay.

Many risk factors can increase your chances of developing warts, including:

• Being a child or young adult without immunity
• Being immunocompromised
• Picking at existing warts and spreading the virus
• Skin-to-skin contact with an individual who has warts
• Sexual contact with an individual who has genital warts

If you have warts on your hands, avoid biting your fingernails or irritating the growth with pumice stones or nail files.

How are warts treated?

After examining your wart, your dermatologist at Redwood Empire Dermatology can recommend the appropriate treatment. The most common treatments for warts include:

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy freezes your wart with liquid nitrogen. The treatment is fast and effective at removing most types of warts.

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid is a prescription-strength medication that carefully removes the wart layer by layer until the growth is gone.

Laser therapy

Laser therapy targets the small blood vessels that give common warts their blood supply, making the lesion easier to remove.

Call Redwood Empire Dermatology today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about warts.

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