What Are Warts?

Warts are small, usually painless growths on the skin. They can be easily spread and are caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). Some lesions are spread through sex.

Warts may affect your appearance and can be embarrassing. They may itch, hurt or bleed and can be hard to define clinically (particularly on the feet).

CAUSES

Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which infects the top layer of skin, often through small cuts or breaks. The virus spreads through direct contact, either from person to person or by touching surfaces contaminated with HPV. Factors like a weakened immune system, skin injuries, and exposure in moist environments (like pools or locker rooms) can increase the likelihood of developing warts.

SYMPTOMS

Most warts are raised with a rough surface. Some of them can have finger-like projection.These are called “papilla” The spot where the wart is may be lighter or darker than the other skin. Rarely, warts are black and when they present like this it suggests that the lesion is traumatized with the black color being actually dried blood.

Treatment

There are many types of treatments for warts. The choice of treatment depends on the size, location and recurrence risk of the lesion. The following are a list of treatments that we sometimes employ at our office:

 

  • Podophyllin or salicylic acid
  • Duct Tape
  • Freezing (cryotherapy) to remove it
  • Burning (electrocautery) to remove it
  • Laser treatment (CO2 or pulse-dye) for difficult to remove warts
  • Immunotherapy, which gives you a shot of a substance that causes an allergic reaction and helps the wart go away, e.g. Squaric Acid, DNCB
  • Topical Imiquimod or Sinecatechins
warts on fingers

Our Locations

  • Newnan

    1615 Highway 34 East
    Suite B
    Newnan, GA 30265

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  • LaGrange

    1075 Lafayette Parkway
    Suite 240
    LaGrange, GA 30241

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Our team provides thoughtful, expert care for all your skin health needs. We are proud to offer the most advanced general, surgical, and cosmetic dermatological services in the Newnan and LaGrange areas.

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