What Are Warts?

Warts are noncancerous growths on our skin that can occur like flats, bumps, rough patches, or smooth skin-colored or brownish growths. They are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and are usually painless. However, in some cases, they can be bothersome or painful too.

Are Warts Contagious?

Yes, warts can be contagious. So, if you have warts and someone comes in close contact with you or you share clothes or grooming tools with them, they can also start getting warts. You can even spread warts on yourself.

While they are usually, people seek treatment as they are a sore for the eyes. However, if they start becoming painful or bothersome or change their appearance or colors, consult a dermatologist to figure out what exactly is happening. You should also seek medical care if your warts are spreading too fast. In these cases, it is important to get the growths diagnosed and make sure if there are any cancerous cells present.

How Are Warts Removed?

Warts are meat removed manually by a dermatologist. There are some topical creams that may help remove warts but they are either too slow or have a high risk of leaving scars. Let’s look at some better alternatives:

• Cryotherapy: In this procedure, liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the wart. This causes it to blister and fall off. It is done under local anesthesia to ease any discomfort. It is the most popular and effective treatment for warts removal However, if you have an extensive number of warts, multiple sessions may be needed.
• Electrosurgery: Electrosurgery is more effective on larger scars. It involves using an electric current to cut off a wart and cauterize the area to prevent infection and bleeding. It leaves some scope for scarring.
• Laser Treatment: In this procedure, concentrated light energy is directed at the root of the wart. It cuts off the blood supply and causes the wart to fall off.
• Curettage: This method is used for large warts or where the wart didn’t respond to other treatments. The surgeon will apply local anesthesia and use a scalpel to scrape out the wart manually. However, this method has a risk of scarring.
• Immunotherapy: Since warts are caused by a virus, simply removing the warts isn’t enough. You have to flush out the virus from your system. This is where immunotherapy can help. It uses medicines to assist your immune system fight the virus.