Warts

Warts affect how your skin looks and can spread to others. At Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic, you'll find the right level of care for all types of warts. Our primary care providers, dermatologists, OB-GYN providers and urologists provide effective treatments and support.

What are warts?

Warts are growths on the skin that are usually small and painless. Most warts are harmless and go away on their own, although it can take months to years. Warts can also be contagious.

Treatment can restore your skin's appearance and prevent the spread to other areas of your body or other people.

Causes of warts

Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV lives in squamous epithelial skin cells found on the skin's surface and in mucosal membranes that line your body openings. Certain HPV types prefer specific locations in your body.

According to the American Cancer Society, there are more than 200 types of HPV. Some HPV types increase your risk of cancer, such as cervical cancer. However, these viruses do not cause warts. The HPV types that cause warts typically do not cause cancer.

Wart symptoms

One or more raised bumps are typically the only symptom. The bumps may be lighter or darker than your skin. They may be round, flat, smooth or rough. Some warts have black dots, which are blood vessels.

Wart types

Warts are grouped by where they occur and what they look like. The different types include:

• Common warts: Rough bumps that often occur on your hands, but can be anywhere
• Filiform warts: Warts with tentacles or threads that usually develop on the face
• Flat warts: Flat, smooth bumps, often occurring in large numbers on the face
• Genital warts: Warts of varying appearance that are sexually transmitted and grow on the genitals, around the pubic area and inside the vagina and anal canal
• Mucosal papillomas: White patches that appear on mucous membranes, typically in your mouth or vagina
• Plantar warts: Flat warts that grow on the soles of your feet and can be painful
• Subungual and periungual warts: Thickened, cracked skin that develops under and around your fingernails and toenails

Wart diagnosis

Doctors usually diagnose warts based on their appearance. In some cases, your doctor may recommend a skin biopsy to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other skin conditions, such as skin cancer. This test involves removing all or part of the wart for laboratory analysis.

Wart prevention

To prevent warts:

• Avoid touching a wart on your body or another person.
• Don't share personal items, such as towels and nail clippers, if someone has a wart.
• Use moisturizer and avoid biting your nails and cuticles to prevent cracks, cuts and tears in your skin. If cuts do happen, clean and cover them to prevent HPV from getting in.
• Wash your hands often.
• Wear flip-flops or shoes in public spaces, especially locker rooms and pools.

To prevent genital warts:

• Always use condoms when you have sex.
• Get the HPV vaccine.

Wart treatment

Treatment can help get rid of warts more quickly than letting them go away on their own. It also reduces the risk of spreading the virus to other people and other areas of your body.

At-home treatment for warts

You can treat some warts at home using over-the-counter medicines that you apply to your skin. Don't use at-home treatments for warts on your face or genitals or that are changing, painful, itchy or bleeding. These warts need to be examined by a doctor. You should also see a doctor when you're not sure if the bump is a wart, or if you have a weakened immune system.

Most over-the-counter wart removers contain salicylic acid or a solution that freezes the wart. Follow the instructions for best results but be patient. It takes time for the wart to fully clear. Talk to your doctor if the wart doesn't respond.

How doctors treat warts

Doctors use a variety of medications and procedures depending on the wart type and how difficult it is to treat. Your treatment may include:

• Prescription-strength salicylic acid
• Burning and scraping (electrocautery and curettage)
• Cantharidin solution, which causes blistering under and around the wart
• Freezing (cryotherapy)
• Laser treatment
• Topical chemotherapy, immunotherapy, antiviral and other medications
• Trichloroacetic acid, a powerful medication your doctor applies in the office