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Verrucas (Warts): Information and Treatment

August 9, 2019
By: Dermatology Consultants of Frisco

Warts are lesions which come about when the human papillomavirus affects the skin.

HPV attacks the Keratinocyte cells, thus causing thickening and hyperkeratinization. For this reason, warts are extremely easy to diagnose.

They occur in different areas of the body and range in size and shape. A significant portion of people have at least one wart in their lifetime. Although they aren't harmful, their occurrence is more common in children in comparison to adults. As a viral skin infection, it occurs through direct contact with affected persons or objects. 7 to 10 % of children have heightened susceptibility to warts. This is largely due to how often kids come in contact with infected surfaces. Also, the scrapes and scratches gotten from roughhousing provide entry points for HPV into the body. Some occur in single forms while others in a cluster. They may cause irritations because of their locations on the body.

The appearance of warts helps to explain the kinds of warts one has. These include the following types;

  • Common warts
  • Plantar and palmar warts
  • Flat warts
  • Filiform warts
  • Periungual warts

Common Warts

These are the most common of all warts. They are round, raised and rough surfaces which occur primarily on the hands and legs. They generally have the same color as the sufferer’s skin.

Plantar And Palmar Warts

These are non-cancerous growths that are very common to children. The palmer warts appear on the palms while plantar warts appear on the foot. They are sometimes mistaken to be malignant growths; however, this is not the case.

Flat Warts

Also known as juvenile warts, they occur mostly in children and young adults. They are smooth, brownish bumps which are flat shaped. Their appearance is on the face, legs, and hands.

Filiform Warts

These are also known as facial warts. This is due to their appearance around the eyelids and the mouth. They are long and narrow.

Periungual Warts

These are common in children who bite their nails. They form around the toe and fingernails. When fully grown, they resemble cauliflower and spread in a cluster.

A dermatologist makes a diagnosis through the shave biopsy test. A piece of skin is removed and examined under a microscope to investigate the abnormal growth at hand. This shows whether the growth is benign or not and can give insights as to why you feel any pain.

Wart Removal Procedures

If one requires treatment for warts, the following are the available solutions.

  1. Cryotherapy: The procedure freezes the affected area to prevent further growth of the wart.
  2. Electrocautery: This involves burning warts with a low voltage electrical probe.
  3. Excision: This involves cutting of warts with a surgical knife.
  4. Laser Removal: This involves heating the blood in the vessels in the wart to destroy it.

When looking for a dermatologist in the DFW area, visit the Dermatology Consultants of Frisco. They are licensed to perform and oversee all wart removal procedures. Make an appointment for your skin diagnostics today.