Viral Warts

What are viral warts?

Viral warts refer to benign rough, skin-colored growths that occur due to exposure to HPV. You can contract the virus by touching a wart or touching a surface that came in contact with a wart. Having an open cut or sore may increase your risk of getting the viral infection.

What are the different types of warts?

There are more than 100 strains of HPV, which means there are several types of warts. Some of the warts most often seen include:

Common warts

Common warts form rough bumps that tend to be skin-colored with a dark center. Children are most likely to develop these types of warts, which may appear on the face and hands.

Plantar warts

Plantar warts grow on the sole of the foot. Instead of creating a noticeable outward growth, plantar warts grow into the skin and can be painful.

Flat warts

Flat warts are small and smooth and tend to grow in large numbers. They often appear on the face and hands.

Filiform warts

Filiform warts create growths that develop thin, long threads. They tend to grow quickly and are most often found on the face and hands.

The team at Dr. Robert A. Norman Dermatology can determine the type of warts you have during your evaluation.

How are warts diagnosed?

Your skin care expert at Dr. Robert A. Norman Dermatology conducts a thorough evaluation when you come to the office with concerns about your skin. You can expect your initial evaluation to take 30-90 minutes. During your examination, your specialist reviews your medical history and evaluates your skin.

Your specialist may be able to diagnose your warts during this evaluation. If there’s any uncertainty, a skin biopsy may be requested, although this is rarely needed to diagnose viral warts.

What are the treatments for viral warts?

The team at Dr. Robert A. Norman Dermatology develops individualized treatment plans for the management of viral warts based on your age and the severity of your case. Some of the treatment options include:

Cantharidin

Cantharidin is a medical treatment that gets painted on your wart, causing it to blister and fall off naturally.

Excision

Excision refers to surgical removal of the wart.

Cryotherapy, electrosurgery, or curettage

The team at Dr. Robert A. Norman Dermatology may be able to remove your viral wart using cryotherapy (freezing), electrosurgery (burning), or curettage (scraping). The method used may depend on the types of warts you have and the severity of your skin condition.

While your specialist can remove your viral wart growths, removal may not prevent new growths from forming.

For clearer skin from a compassionate team, call Dr. Robert A. Norman Dermatology today or request an appointment online.

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