WARTS
Skin warts are small, rough, benign growths caused by human papilloma virus (HPV). Warts are highly contagious and can spread through direct contact or by touching objects that have come into contact with the virus. They commonly appear on hands, fingers, feet, and sometimes other parts of the body can also be involved.
Types of Warts
- Common warts: Usually found on fingers and hands, these have a rough, grainy appearance.
- Plantar warts: Found on the soles of the feet, they may feel like a hard lump and can be painful.
- Flat warts: Smaller and smoother than other types, flat warts often appear on the face, arms, or legs.
- Filiform warts: These have a thread-like appearance and typically grow around the mouth or nose.
- Periungual warts: Develop around fingernails and toenails, and can be painful and affect nail growth.
Treatment Options
- Cryotherapy: Freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen can kill the tissue and help it fall off over time.
- Electrosurgery and curettage: The wart is burned with an electric current and then removed.
- Laser therapy: Lasers can destroy wart tissue by targeting the blood vessels feeding the wart.
- Immune therapy: Treatments like imiquimod cream boost the immune system to fight the virus causing the wart.