Warts, also known as verruca, those small, hard, painless growths on the skin, aren’t just found on ogres and witches. Although they may be associated with these nasty creatures, they are the most common viral infections seen in dermatology offices. They appear as small benign growths commonly on the hands and feet but can appear anywhere on the body. They can appear at any age.
What Are Warts?
Along with ogres and witches, the myth of getting warts from a toad only happens in fairy tales. They are caused by a group of viruses called human papillomavirus (HPV). There are many forms of HPV that can affect the skin. The virus causes the top layer of skin to grow rapidly, forming a growth. They are contagious and spread by person-to-person skin contact and even by contaminated surfaces/objects such as swimming pools and showers. They can even spread from one part of the body to another by touching the wart and then another part of your body spreading the infection to other areas of your body.
How To Get Rid Of Them
While most warts go away on their own within months or years, because they are contagious and easily spread, it is in your best interest to treat them. The most effective treatment is to freeze them with liquid nitrogen. On average, they need two to three treatments with liquid nitrogen; each treatment separated two to three weeks apart. At-home therapies such as salicylic acid are good additional treatments to use. Duct tape is often a home treatment you’ll read about, but there is no scientific evidence that it is an effective one. Any treatment is more effective if it is started when the bumps are small, so best to act sooner rather than later.
Avoiding The HPV Virus
HPV flourishes in moist, warm places, so it’s best to wear shoes or sandals in locker rooms, pool decks, and other humid places. If you have warts, be careful about sharing your towels, socks, and shoes.
If you want to get rid of those pesky warts, visit one of our dermatology doctors at our offices located in the Fairfield County, CT towns of Danbury, Norwalk, and Ridgefield. We specialize in general medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology in Connecticut including acne, skin cancer, eczema, moles, hair loss, rashes, shingles, and scars.