Warts Specialist

What causes warts?

Warts are small growths that most commonly form on your feet and hands, although they can certainly surface anywhere on your body. These abnormal growths are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV).

In most cases, HPV enters your skin when you have a cut, wound, or abrasion. Your risk of developing warts is much greater if you have a weakened immune system, like if you’re a young child.

How do I know if I have warts?

Warts cause a wide variety of symptoms and issues, depending on where they’re located. Read below to learn more about specific types of warts.

Common warts

Common warts are skin-colored dome-shaped growths that develop on areas where your skin has breaks or cuts, like on your fingers, toes, or knees. These warts can be as small as a pinhead, or as large as 10mm.

Filiform warts

These long, narrow, flesh-colored stalks tend to surface on your eyelids, face, neck, or lips. This is why filiform warts are often nicknamed “facial warts.”

Genital warts

Genital warts often start small and soft, but can quickly spread and become quite large as they grow in clusters. These warts, which are sexually transmitted, develop on your genitals, anus, or inner thighs.

Plantar warts

If you have little blister-like growths on your feet that have black pinpoint centers — signs of clotted vessels — you may have plantar warts. Usually, these warts form on weight-bearing areas, like the balls of your feet. If they form on your hands, they’re called “palmar warts.”

Subungual and periungual warts

These warts surface as rough growths around your fingernails or toenails. They look like pin-sized lesions that can grow to rough, irregular-shaped bumps.

Do I need treatment for warts?

Yes! Even though warts aren’t a major health concern, without proper treatment, you risk spreading them to other areas of your body, or even other people. At Seacoast Dermatology, you can undergo effective wart treatments and therapies including:

• Prescription-strength salicylic acid solutions
• Freezing with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy)
• Antiviral medications
• Laser surgery
• Electrosurgery
  
  

Your dedicated dermatologist at Seacoast Dermatology, also spends time getting to the root of why you have warts, so you can learn to prevent them in the future.

If you have warts, you have options for effective treatments at Seacoast Dermatology. Click on the online scheduler, or call your nearest office to book your wart exam.