All about Warts

What is it?

• Benign (not cancerous) skin growths that appear when a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV) infects the top layer of the skin. It is easier to catch the virus when you have a cut or scrape on your skin, which is why many children get warts.

• What do they look like?

• Warts commonly look skin-colored and feel rough, but you can also find warts that are darker, flat, and smooth.

• Warts most often grow on fingers around the nails and backs of hands as well as on the soles of the feet; however, they can grow in many places on the body.

• Are warts contagious?

• Yes, warts can spread by contact with the wart or something that touched the wart.

• How are warts treated?

• Dermatologists treat warts using various methods, such as cantharidin, cryosurgery (freezing), electrosurgery, excision, laser treatment, chemical peels, or immunotherapy, depending on the type and severity of the wart. Although warts can often go away on their own, treatment helps remove them and prevent new ones from forming.

SOURCE: American Academy of Dermatology (AAD.ORG)