Warts are very common and usually benign, but they can make it hard to feel confident about the way your skin looks.
These small growths on the surface of your skin can be raised or flat and can differ in color. Some can be the same color as your skin but have small dark dots. Others are raised and seem to be attached by a tiny stem. Some warts have a smooth texture, while others are rough or bumpy. You can have a single wart or a cluster of many warts.
If you’re troubled by warts and how they make your skin look, help is available through the care of Christopher Smith, MD, and the team at Christos Doctors Inn Walk In Health Care in Lauderhill, Florida. We provide dermatology services, including safe and effective wart removal.
HPV is a common virus that has more than 100 different types. While most strains of HPV seem harmless and don’t create symptoms, a few types can cause warts on the genitals and other areas of the body.
You may be aware that certain strains of HPV are known to cause cervical cancer as well as other cancers that affect the throat and genitals. But the strains of HPV that cause warts do not cause cancer.
If you develop warts, you can always try at-home removal efforts to clear away the abnormal tissue. Some research shows that covering a wart with duct tape can remove it over time.
But it takes weeks to see results, and if your warts are on a part of your body that’s visible to others, this option might not be a good fit. Of course, you should never use duct tape on sensitive areas of your body, as it can cause significant irritation.
There are also a number of over-the-counter products that claim to help you remove warts at home, on your own. Some contain salicylic acid, which removes warts one layer of tissue at a time. Other options use extreme cold temperatures to remove the abnormal tissue in layers.
Working with a medical professional is the best way to permanently eliminate warts, and the virus that causes them, without damaging the surrounding skin. There are several different approaches available, and your practitioner begins by assessing your skin and determining which option offers the best fit for your needs.
Topical solutions can wear away wart tissue, including a concentration of salicylic acid made available only to medical professionals. Cryotherapy is also available, and uses carefully controlled cold temperatures to remove abnormal skin growths. There are also methods that use heat to damage wart tissue.
All of these options work by triggering your body’s innate healing abilities. Your body responds to the treatments as though they are injuries, and rushes to remove the damaged tissue and replace it with healthy tissue.
A minor surgical procedure can remove warts that are exceptionally large, painful, or not responsive to the techniques mentioned above. Usually, however, warts require less invasive treatment options.
If you notice unusual growths on your skin, it’s important to work with a medical professional trained in dermatology care. While warts are very common, some skin growths that look like warts could be a more serious skin problem.
Most at-home products aren’t strong enough to damage your skin, but they’re often ineffective in clearing up warts effectively. If you don’t want to wait for weeks to see if a home remedy is working, our team can eliminate the problem and help you achieve smoother skin in a shorter timeframe.
Many warts go away on their own within a couple of years. But if you’re troubled by the look or feel of warts on your skin, professional treatment is a much quicker process.
Let us provide the care you need for healthy skin. Contact Christos Doctors Inn Walk In Health Care by calling, walking in, or booking online.
