Warts: Kissing Toads?
Written by: Bes Paragas, PA-C
No, you didn’t really get that wart from kissing toads, though you may have been told so in childhood. Warts are rough growths that form on the skin. Caused by the HPV virus, warts form when the virus enters the skin through a cut. They can spread to other parts of the body or to other people through contact. Some types of warts may also be spread through environmental contamination via showers or locker room floors.
Most people will deal with warts at some time during their lives. Let’s look at three common types of warts:
Verucca vulgaris, also known as common warts, are usually found on the hands and fingers. They may be very tiny, or large and lumpy.
Flat warts, aka verucca planae, frequently arise on the face and forehead, but are also found on the hands and lower legs.
Plantar and palmar warts grow on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet. Plantar warts in particular can cause walking to become quite painful.
While warts are benign (non-cancerous), they are often bothersome. Luckily, there are several treatment options available:
Topical treatments such as salicylic acid or cantharidin cause a blister to form, separating the wart from the skin, then drying until it eventually falls off.
Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen uses a similar method to cause blistering and drying up.
Curettage and electrodessication involving scraping and cauterizing may be appropriate for larger or more stubborn warts.
While your local dermatologist is here to help when you are dealing with warts, you can reduce your risk by following some simple precautions:
Avoid touching warts, including your own. Picking at them can cause spreading.
Avoid biting your fingernails - it can lead to tiny breaks in the skin, which allow the virus to enter.
Avoid brushing, shaving, or trimming areas around warts. If you must, use a separate razor or clipper, and a disposable emery board.
If you find yourself in pain due to a wart, if you’ve tried using over-the-counter products but they’re just not working, if you’re not sure if a bumpy growth *is* a wart, or if you just want to go straight to the experts, your dermatology office is a simple phone call away.