What are Warts?
Warts are a common skin condition, most often found on the hands, fingers, and around the fingernails. They can look like small flesh-colored bumps that can appear in clusters in the knees and elbows too. Warts are caused by the Human Papillomavirus, otherwise known as the HPV. Although mostly harmless, warts can be unsightly and bothersome. Many times, over-the-counter wart removal treatments are not enough, and the wart must be removed by a professional dermatologist. Our board-certified dermatologists at Snyder Dermatology in Austin, TX, carefully remove warts of all shapes and sizes.
What Causes Warts?
The cause of common warts is actually the human papillomavirus. HPV lives in the flat, thin cells that are found on the skin’s surface and also on surfaces of the mouth, throat, head, penis, vagina, cervix, and anus. Out of the 100 HPV types, about 60 cause warts. Warts occur due to direct contact with HPV cells, which can easily spread from person to person through skin-to-skin contact. You can also develop warts after making contact with a surface or object that was touched by someone infected with HPV, like gym equipment. In most cases, the virus is spread when the skin is broken via a scrape or hangnail.
Symptoms of Warts
Common wart symptoms include bumps that are tender, grainy at the top, and fleshy feeling. The area with the wart can be rough to the touch. Plantar warts look like light brown or flesh-colored lumps that are speckled with tiny, black spots, which are clotted blood vessels. Plantar warts most often appear on the soles of the feet. Flat warts have a smaller, smoother, and flatter appearance and are often found on the face and sometimes the legs. Genital warts appear in the pubic area, on the genitals, and in or around the vaginal area or anus. These warts appear as small, pink, red or flesh-colored growths. They often appear in clusters of 3 or 4 and can spread rapidly. Though usually not painful, they can bleed or itch.
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Have questions or want to schedule an appointment? Contact us today to speak with a member of the Snyder Dermatology team. We’re here to address your concerns with compassionate and effective care.
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Dr. Parker has been my dermatologist for years, and she is terrific. She saw my 14-year-old for the first time yesterday yesterday, and was very thorough, knowledgeable, and kind. She guided her through a skin care routine, and gave her lots of tips about keeping her skin fresh. We feel so lucky to know Dr. Parker.
-Sarah K.
“Dr. Rene Snyder is saving me from skin cancer. Over the years she has found numerous precancer spots on me, each time treating them with great care and minimal discomfort. And she offers a wide range of cosmetic treatments so I can age gracefully. I’m a lifelong fan.”
-Kim S.
Having been a patient of Snyder Dermatology for over 10 years, they have consistently demonstrated professionalism, courtesy, and sensitivity to patient needs and concerns. Their staff and Dermatologists are highly trained and the best in the Healthcare industry. I wholeheartedly recommend them.
-Jim B.
Board-Certified Dermatologists
MEET OUR DOCTORS
Snyder Dermatology is the premier practice for medical and cosmetic dermatology in Austin, TX. Centrally located, our dynamic team of board certified dermatologists focus on providing patients with the most advanced medical care and treatment options. Our practice is distinguished by our compassion, our desire to fully understand our patients’ needs, and our commitment to being good stewards in the communities where we live and work.
How to Treat Warts
After a wart has been treated, there is still the possibility that it will come back, that is why effective initial treatment is so important. One of the most popular ways to treat a wart is by freezing it with liquid nitrogen. Once treated, a blister will form on and around the wart, killing the infected tissue and causing it to fall off in about a week’s time. Topical treatment using cantharidin, a chemical extracted from a blister beetle, will cause the wart to become aggressively inflamed and blistered, effectively lifting it away from the uninfected tissues. Like freezing a wart, treatment with cantharidin will cause the tissue of the wart to die and fall off. This is a popular method due to it being relatively pain-free. Other medications to treat warts include injection of bleomycin into the wart, which will kill the virus from the inside out, and Aldara, which is a prescription cream that can be applied directly to the wart. Surgery may be needed to cut away the wart when other methods are ineffective.
Schedule a Consultation
Though most warts prove to be harmless, and some patients choose to use home treatments, they often don’t work. In addition, warts can spread, become bothersome, and can lead to cosmetic issues. In any case, getting them checked out by a trained medical professional is normally a good idea. He or she can examine the wart to determine the type and best course of treatment. Call our office today for a consultation to get rid of any warts you may have now, as well as prevent them from reoccurring in the future. Our office has the staff, tools and experience to get you back to a wart-free existence.