Warts are undesirable not just because of how they look on the skin but also because they can be very difficult to remove. To restore your skin and avoid the spread of warts, you may need help from a dermatologist at Paducah Dermatology. If you have warts, call one of our offices in Paducah, Benton, Murray, KY or Martin, TN, for professional treatment.
What Is a Wart?
A wart is an imperfection on the skin that causes a raised, fleshy bump to grow. Sometimes the growth can become red, crusty or scaly. The most common types of warts are general skin warts, flat warts, plantar warts (on the feet) and genital warts. Dermatologists specialize in treating flat warts, which often cluster in various surfaces of the skin and common warts which often form on the fingers or face.
How Do Warts Develop?
Warts are caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or by touching something that contains traces of the virus. Because it’s contagious, one wart can spread to other areas of the skin if the issue isn’t treated promptly. The skin can be exposed to warts due to the following:
- Touching someone who has warts
- Using the towel, washcloth, or bedsheets of an infected person
- Nail biting, which makes the skin more vulnerable to contact with HPV
- Sexual contact with someone who has HPV
- Having a weak immune system
- Poor general hygiene
Getting Rid of Warts
Warts usually go away with time, but they don’t always go away as quickly or easily as other skin conditions like acne. For the fastest treatment of warts, one of our professionals will have to administer one or more of the following treatments:
- Medication (such as salicylic acid and candida antigen)
- Cryosurgery (freezing the warts off)
- Electrocautery (an electrical pulse eliminates the wart)
- Cutting the wart away and properly preparing the wound for healing (should only be done by a professional)
- Laser surgery
Wart Removal Help from a Dermatologist
If you allow warts to go untreated, this stubborn skin condition can spread. Get help with warts in Paducah, Benton, Murray, KY, and Martin, TN by calling our team of professionals at Paducah Dermatology at (270) 444-8477 today.
