What are warts and what causes them. How can warts be removed surgically. What non-surgical treatments are available for wart removal. Why do warts sometimes recur after treatment. What are the symptoms of plantar warts. Who is most at risk for developing warts.

Understanding Warts: Types, Causes, and Transmission

Warts are small, noncancerous skin growths caused by various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). These viral infections trigger excessive cell growth in the outer layer of skin, resulting in a thick, hard growth known as a wart. While warts can appear anywhere on the body, they most commonly develop on the hands and feet.

There are several types of warts, including:

• Common warts: typically found around fingers, nails, and feet
• Plantar warts: develop on the soles of the feet
• Genital warts: transmitted through sexual contact

Warts are contagious and can spread through direct skin-to-skin contact or by touching surfaces contaminated with the virus. They affect people of all ages and genders, but certain factors can increase the risk of developing warts.

Who is most susceptible to warts?

While anyone can develop warts, some individuals are more prone to these viral growths:

• Children and teenagers
• People with weakened immune systems
• Individuals who have had warts before
• Those who frequently walk barefoot in public areas like locker rooms or swimming pools

Recognizing Plantar Warts: Symptoms and Characteristics

Plantar warts, also known as verrucas, are a specific type of wart that develops on the soles of the feet. These growths can be particularly uncomfortable due to the pressure placed on them while walking or standing. Identifying plantar warts is crucial for seeking appropriate treatment.

Common symptoms of plantar warts include:

• Small, rough growths on the bottom of the foot
• Hard, thickened skin over the affected area
• Black pinpoints within the wart (often referred to as “wart seeds”)
• Clusters of growths on the sole
• Tenderness or discomfort when walking or standing
• Interruption of the normal lines and ridges of the foot
• White or light-colored lesions

Plantar warts can persist for months or even years if left untreated. The pressure from walking can cause these warts to grow inward beneath a thick layer of skin, making them more challenging to treat than warts on other parts of the body.

Surgical Wart Removal Techniques: Freezing and Laser Therapy

When it comes to removing stubborn or persistent warts, dermatologists may recommend surgical interventions. These procedures are typically reserved for cases where other treatments have failed or for warts that are particularly large or painful.

Cryotherapy: Freezing Warts with Liquid Nitrogen

Cryotherapy is a common and effective method for removing warts. During this procedure, a dermatologist applies liquid nitrogen to the wart, causing it to freeze. As the skin thaws, the wart begins to die and eventually falls off.

Key points about cryotherapy:

• It’s a quick outpatient procedure
• Multiple treatments may be necessary for complete removal
• Mild discomfort and blistering may occur after treatment
• Healing typically takes 1-2 weeks

Laser Surgery: Vaporizing Warts with Focused Light

Laser surgery is another surgical option for wart removal. This technique uses a narrow beam of intense light to vaporize the blood vessels feeding the wart, effectively killing the tissue.

Benefits of laser wart removal:

• Precise treatment with minimal damage to surrounding tissue
• Effective for deep or resistant warts
• Can treat multiple warts in a single session
• May require fewer treatments than other methods

Non-Surgical Wart Removal Options: Medications and Home Remedies

While surgical interventions can be effective, many warts can be successfully treated with non-surgical methods. These approaches are often less invasive and can be suitable for mild to moderate cases of warts.

Topical Medications and Injections

Dermatologists may prescribe or recommend various medications to treat warts:

• Salicylic acid: Available over-the-counter, this medication gradually peels away the infected skin
• Imiquimod: A prescription cream that stimulates the immune system to fight the wart
• Fluorouracil: A chemotherapy drug that can be applied topically to destroy wart tissue
• Bleomycin: An anticancer drug that can be injected directly into the wart

Immunotherapy and HPV Vaccines

Some treatments focus on boosting the body’s natural defenses against HPV:

• Candida antigen injections: Stimulate the immune system to fight the wart
• HPV vaccines: FDA-approved vaccines that can prevent certain types of HPV infections

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Treatments

For mild cases, OTC treatments can be an effective and cost-efficient option:

• Salicylic acid pads or liquids
• Freezing sprays (cryotherapy kits)
• Duct tape occlusion

The Persistent Nature of Warts: Understanding Recurrence

One of the most frustrating aspects of wart treatment is the potential for recurrence. Even after successful removal, warts can sometimes return, leading many to wonder why this happens.

Why do warts come back after treatment?

Several factors contribute to the recurrence of warts:

• Incomplete removal: If any part of the wart remains, it can regrow
• Persistent HPV infection: The virus may remain in surrounding skin cells
• Weakened immune system: Some individuals may struggle to fight off the HPV virus
• Reinfection: Exposure to the same or different HPV strains can cause new warts

To minimize the risk of recurrence, it’s essential to follow through with the complete treatment plan and take preventive measures to avoid reinfection.

Preventing Wart Transmission and Recurrence

While it’s not always possible to prevent warts entirely, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing or spreading them:

• Avoid walking barefoot in public areas like locker rooms and swimming pools
• Keep feet clean and dry
• Don’t touch or pick at existing warts
• Wear flip-flops or sandals in communal showers
• Avoid sharing towels, socks, or shoes with others
• Strengthen your immune system through a healthy diet and lifestyle
• Consider HPV vaccination to prevent certain types of warts

When to Seek Professional Help for Wart Treatment

While many warts can be treated at home, there are situations where it’s best to consult a dermatologist or healthcare provider:

• The wart is painful or interferes with daily activities
• Home treatments have been ineffective after several weeks
• You’re unsure if the growth is actually a wart
• The wart is on your face or genitals
• You have diabetes or a weakened immune system
• The wart shows signs of infection (redness, swelling, pus)

A dermatologist can provide a proper diagnosis and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan based on the type, location, and severity of your warts.

Advances in Wart Treatment: Emerging Therapies and Research

As medical science progresses, new treatments for warts are continually being developed and refined. Some promising areas of research include:

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

This treatment involves applying a light-sensitive medication to the wart and then exposing it to a specific wavelength of light. The combination triggers a reaction that destroys the wart tissue.

Intralesional Immunotherapy

By injecting substances that stimulate the immune system directly into the wart, this approach aims to enhance the body’s natural ability to fight the HPV infection.

Combination Therapies

Researchers are exploring the effectiveness of combining different treatment modalities, such as cryotherapy followed by topical immunomodulators, to improve outcomes and reduce recurrence rates.

Targeted Antiviral Medications

As our understanding of HPV improves, scientists are working on developing medications that specifically target the virus responsible for warts, potentially offering more effective and less invasive treatment options.

While these emerging therapies show promise, it’s important to note that they may not be widely available or suitable for all cases. Always consult with a healthcare professional to determine the best treatment approach for your specific situation.

In conclusion, warts are a common skin condition caused by HPV that can affect people of all ages. While they can be stubborn and recurring, a variety of treatment options exist, ranging from over-the-counter remedies to surgical interventions. By understanding the nature of warts, recognizing their symptoms, and taking preventive measures, individuals can effectively manage and treat these viral growths. As research continues to advance, we can look forward to even more effective and targeted treatments in the future.

Remove Warts for Good with These Skin Treatments – Professional Surgical Dermatology Services

Warts often appear on our hands and on our feet but can appear on other areas of the body too. They can be both painful and embarrassing to live with. With the help from a dermatologist at the Dermatology & Mohs Surgery Institute you can finally learn how to get rid of your warts for good. The dermatologist can provide a variety of treatments based on the severity of the condition and location of the warts.

What is a Wart and What Causes Them?

Warts are small, noncancerous skin growths that appear when the skin is affected with a virus within the human papillomavirus (HPV) family. HPV triggers extra cell growth, making the outer layer of skin thick and hard. This thick and hard skin is the wart. Warts on hands and warts on feet are the most common spots warts develop on. They’re also common in both men and women of all ages. Warts are contagious and are typically passed through direct skin contact. Warts can be described as common warts, plantar warts or genital warts.

Common warts appear around the fingers, nails and feet. They are small and feel like rough, hard bumps. Plantar warts are on your feet. Since you are walking on your feet, these warts grow into your skin from the pressure of walking and standing. Genital warts are passed on through sexual intercourse and can pass on if not taken care of. Whether you are experiencing common warts, plantar warts or genital warts there are different wart removal methods available based on your situation and your needs. Surgical and nonsurgical methods can be attempted.

Surgical Wart Removal Methods

Depending on the severity, there are different ways a dermatologist can get rid of the warts. Surgical options include both freezing them or laser surgery. When freezing (cryotherapy) is performed the wart is destroyed by freezing it with liquid nitrogen. The skin begins to thaw and the wart eventually falls off. While this method is common and effective, multiple treatments are often needed to see complete removal. Another common method used to remove warts is laser surgery. The laser emits a narrow beam of light which helps vaporize HPV growths.

Non-surgical Wart Removal Methods

While surgical removal may be necessary for some cases of warts, non-surgical may be the best option for others. Non-surgical options include injections, HPV vaccines and other-the-counter (OTC) treatments. There are two HPV vaccines that are FDA-approved and can be used to help stop the growth of the HPV. Injections are also able to be used to assist in killing the virus. Lastly, OTC treatments can be used to self-treat the warts. Topical solutions are available that can be put on daily. Depending on the severity of the warts, this could be the most cost-effective and efficient option.

If you are in Bloomington, Illinois or the surrounding areas and have experienced warts and are ready to find a treatment plan, complete this form to get in touch with a dermatologist at the Dermatology & Mohs Surgery Institute. We look forward to helping you become pain free and gain your confidence back.

Why Does a Wart Keep Coming Back After Removal?

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Rachel N. Verville

March 14, 2023

The National Library of Medicine states that up to 10% of adults can experience warts in their lifetimes. Warts—especially plantar warts—can be uncomfortable and frustrating, and they can keep coming back even after removal. 

Keep reading to learn more about what plantar warts are, the symptoms to watch for, and the reasons they keep coming back. 

What Are Plantar Warts?

Plantar warts are rough, small patches that develop on your feet. It is common to find them on the heels, toes, or in other areas of the foot that carry the most weight. 

Sometimes called a verruca, a plantar wart has one main cause: human papillomavirus (HPV). You can get the HPV virus via cuts or skin breaks on the bottoms of the feet, which cause keratin to build up on the skin. This buildup causes the wart. The pressure can also cause the wart to start growing inwardly under a thick skin layer. 

HPV is a common virus that grows in moist, warm places, like around swimming pools and locker rooms. 

There are some common symptoms of plantar warts, including:

• Small, rough growths on the bottom of the foot
• Hard, thickened skin over the spot
• Black pinpoints in the area
• A cluster of growths on the sole
• Tenderness or discomfort when walking or standing
• Growth that interrupts the normal lines of the foot
• White or light lesions

The wart can last for months, and some warts last for years. Those who are more prone to plantar warts are people who have weakened immune systems, children and teenagers, people who have had warts before, and people who walk around barefoot in areas where the HPV virus may be present. 

When to See a Doctor

Most plantar warts resolve on their own, but there are some signs that can tell you it may be time to reach out to a doctor for help.  

If you find that the growth bleeds or if you notice changes in color or shape, you should contact a specialist. Other signs include a wart that keeps coming back, one you cannot resolve with over-the-counter medications, or one that interferes with your activities. 

If you have diabetes or a weakened immune system, or if you are not sure if the growth is a wart, you want to reach out to a foot and ankle specialist. 

Why Does a Plantar Wart Keep Coming Back?

It is common for plantar warts to return even after you have received treatment. If the wart comes back, this usually means the HPV is still in your body. Since the HPV that causes warts is mild, it is not a huge concern, but do remember to avoid scratching a wart because blood from it can cause other warts to grow. 

Since warts can easily spread to other parts of the body, always wash your hands after touching the one on your foot. 

Preventing Plantar Warts

You can prevent plantar warts by wearing sandals or other foot protection when walking around pools, locker rooms, and public showers. If you are under 26 years of age, you can also get the HPV vaccine, which can protect you against the virus. If you have a wart anywhere on your body, make sure to wash your hands after touching it. 

If you have a plantar wart and want to prevent future ones, you should change your socks daily and keep the wart covered. 

You also want to keep your feet clean and dry and remember not to pick or scratch at a wart. You should also avoid sharing shoes or socks with other people. 

Treating Plantar Warts

The best treatment for plantar warts will depend on the severity of the discomfort you feel when walking and the length of time you have had the wart. To diagnose the wart, a specialist might just look at it, or they may remove the top layer of skin with a surgical blade to be able to check for the dots that signify clotted blood vessels. 

For some people, switching to more comfortable shoes or wearing shoe inserts and supports can be a great help and can go a long way toward treating the wart.  

You may also want to consider padding or taping the affected foot to help alleviate discomfort and pressure. If necessary, a podiatrist will also recommend orthotic devices to make mobility easier. 

For more severe cases of plantar warts, you may have to get salicylic acid treatments or cryotherapy, which involves applying liquid nitrogen to the wart to remove it. 

Most prescription-strength medications for warts contain salicylic acid. The acid helps remove the wart one layer at a time. These medications can also strengthen your immune system, making it more difficult for the wart to return. 

Cryotherapy uses a spray or swab to apply liquid nitrogen to the wart. This freezes the wart, forming a blister around it. The dead skin falls off after a week or so. It is also an option that can help strengthen your immune system. 

Podiatry Specialists Can Help 

Plantar warts can negatively impact your life, making it harder to move and more difficult to enjoy your normal activities.  

If you find that the plantar wart you have keeps coming back or seems to get worse, it is always important to reach out to a podiatrist to help you resolve the issue. They can diagnose the issue correctly and offer the best treatment option. 

You can get the relief you need from plantar warts with a bit of professional help. 

Laser wart removal for children | Children’s section

Warts are benign skin growths that do not pose a direct threat to health. And yet they are recommended to be removed, especially in children. Contrary to popular belief, they cause trouble not only of an aesthetic nature:

1. Warts are caused by the penetration of the human papillomavirus (HPV), some strains of which are oncogenic. Thus, harmless growths can degenerate into malignant tumors. HPV is transmitted through physical contact (eg, handshakes, touching), objects (dishes, towels, toys) and common areas (toilets, bathrooms, swimming pools, etc.). And warts, in turn, are foci of infection. Their owner is able to infect others. Also, in the presence of warts, the infection can spread to other areas of the skin, where new growths form. In addition to removing the neoplasms themselves, consultation with a specialist is necessary.
2. Even if warts do not cause any inconvenience now, they can be accidentally injured at any time. Especially often this happens in mobile and restless children.

Warts occur in people of absolutely any age, but children are more susceptible to this “scourge” than adults. After all, their immunity is still being formed and is often unable to resist various infections.

Removing warts on your own, especially folk remedies, is not recommended under any circumstances. Self-activity in this matter can turn into serious problems:

• Incorrect use of certain means causes burns.
• If another person removes warts without taking precautions, they can become infected with the HPV virus.
• There is a risk not to remove, but only severely injure the wart, as a result of which it can degenerate into a malignant formation.
• It is possible to spread the infection to other areas of the skin.

Removal of warts in children is carried out in different ways, but today laser treatment is considered the best. Other methods can take a lot of time, be accompanied by pain and other unpleasant sensations, and leave noticeable scars on the surface of the skin.

Advantages of laser wart removal

The laser method has significant advantages over other methods:

• No age restrictions. The laser can remove warts even in babies.
• Efficiency. The neoplasm is removed in one session, in its place there is only a small, almost imperceptible depression, which disappears over time.
• Bloodlessness and sterility. Direct skin contact is not made.
• High precision. By controlling the depth of penetration and the power of the laser, the specialist removes only the wart from the child, without affecting nearby tissues.
• Efficiency. The procedure only takes a few minutes! The child will not have time to get bored and capricious!
• Fast rehabilitation, absence of inflammatory processes. In the period after the procedure (10-14 days), the area where the wart was located requires minimal care.
• Painless. This factor is especially important if the patient is a child. Adults can endure discomfort, and children, as a rule, are very afraid of pain.
• Functionality. With the help of a laser, warts are eliminated on any part of the body.
• Prevention of subsequent growths. The laser minimizes the risk of new warts.

After the procedure, you can lead a normal life with minimal restrictions: during the recovery period, you should refrain from visiting pools, baths and sunbathing.

How is the procedure carried out?

Laser wart removal is as follows:

1. The area to be treated with the laser is disinfected with a special agent.
2. Local anesthesia is administered. After a few minutes, you can proceed directly to the removal of the neoplasm.
3. The wart is exposed to a laser.
4. A small burn remaining at the site of the neoplasm is decontaminated with an antiseptic.

After the procedure, crusts form on the areas subjected to laser treatment. You can not pick them off – after a while they will come off on their own. So that the child does not have the temptation to tear off these crusts, they should be sealed with a plaster.

Laser wart removal for children in St. Petersburg

We offer the service of removal (treatment) of warts in children in St. Petersburg. Specialists have experience working with children and know how to find an approach to them, so the procedure is quick and hassle-free.

In St. Petersburg, we remove warts on any part of the body. Below is a table with the most popular tumor locations.

We are happy to welcome our little patients to the German Family Clinic! Call 432-32-32, (812) 337-12-12

Laser removal of warts in Kaliningrad

One of the most unpleasant phenomena on the skin is warts. Probably, you all remember how mothers and grandmothers tried to get rid of them with all sorts of methods. Today, medicine does not stand still and can offer you truly effective and painless methods to combat formations on the skin. And perhaps laser wart removal is one of the most effective methods.

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Services and prices

Pain relief 100 rub.

Getting to know laser wart removal

If you notice round or oblong flesh-colored nodules on your body, then most likely these are warts. But to say exactly what kind of neoplasm, of course, only an experienced doctor can tell you. And we will be happy to provide you with advice at the Katarina Health and Beauty Factory.

We can offer our customers laser removal of:

• plantar warts;
• flat warts;
• common warts;
• senile warts;
• genital warts.

The price of laser wart removal may vary, as it depends on the size of the nodule, the laser used, and the qualifications of the specialist who will perform the operation.

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that there are some contraindications to this procedure. These include:

• cancer;
• fever and colds;
• high blood pressure;
• inflammation on the skin.

Our specialists

There are contraindications. Required
specialist advice.

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