Warts

A viral infection of the skin caused by HPV.

These bumpy growths might seem like a harmless change in the skin’s surface, but there is more to it. Warts are a viral infection of the skin caused by HPV and it’s essential to know what can be done for your warts.

What are Warts?

At one point or another, you may have had a wart. This is a bumpy growth that can appear on any part of the body. They are known to develop because of an infection or virus and there are ways for them to be safely removed.

What Causes Warts?

What many people misunderstand is the cause of warts. Warts result from transmission of the human papillomavirus or HPV. The virus infects the skin usually through small cuts or openings in the surface. It causes skin cell growth on the exterior, which leads to the grainy and bumpy appearance that we call warts.

Symptoms of Warts

While the symptoms are minimal, and they don’t usually cause any pain or discomfort, you’ll want to look out for them. All of the following are possibilities when you have common warts:

• Grainy bumps on the skin.
• Flesh-colored or pink bumps with or without peppery dots.
• Rough skin growths.
• Black blood vessels throughout the bumps.

When to Seek Professional Help

Many individuals experience little to no discomfort other than the appearance of warts. It’s important to pay attention to some of these symptoms because they may lead to further, more serious issues.

• Painful growths.
• Failed treatment of warts.
• Warts interfering with normal activities.
• Uncertainty about the growth.
• The repeated appearance of warts.

In some cases, continuous development of warts may actually be a sign of an underlying immune system issue, so you want to pay close attention to how often you’re experiencing warts.

Treatment and Prevention

There are many modern treatment options available such as freezing warts or chemical compounds. These treatments are non-invasive, and some are even available over the counter at a local pharmacy.

To prevent warts in the future, you want to avoid contact with someone else who has them. This includes walking barefoot in public pools and showers. If you develop a wart, do not pick at it because you can spread.

At first sign of a wart – contact us! It is best to treat it soon as it is discovered.