Wart removal

Viral warts are small, fleshy growths. They’re classified as an infection on the top layer of your skin, or epidermis.

What causes warts?
Warts are caused by viruses in the human papillomavirus, or HPV, family. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI), but isn’t solely spread through sexual contact. Rather, these viruses commonly invade your skin through a cut or scrape. Once the virus enters your body, it can cause cells to rapidly grow on the outer layer of skin, ultimately resulting in a skin growth referred to as a wart.

Are viral warts common?
Yes, warts are very common. It’s likely that most individuals develop at least one common wart in their lifetime, generally on their hands. However, although everyone is at risk for developing a wart, some individuals are more prone to developing these growths through the HPV virus.

Those who are more susceptible to warts include:

-Children—Tend to share germs easier and more often while playing with others.
-Teens
-Individuals who bite their nails or pick their hangnails—Create small cuts in the skin.
-Individuals who have a weak immune system—More prone to infection.

Are warts contagious?
As mentioned previously, warts are extremely contagious. Warts, or rather HPV viruses, are easily spread through either skin-on-skin contact or through direct contact with an object used by a person with the virus. Meaning, you can come in contact with this virus anywhere—on a door knob, a dirty pencil, your shopping cart, even money.

What are the different types of warts?
There are over 100 different versions of the HPV virus, the virus that causes warts. Meaning, there are also hundreds of different types of warts.

Different types of warts are classified by both their appearance and location on your body. Each type of wart also responds to different dermatologic treatments, which is why we recommend seeking professional treatment when handling these skin growths.

At Ziva Skin and Hair Center, we diagnose and treat all variations of warts. Some of the most common types of warts we see include:
Common warts
Flat warts
Plantar warts
Condyloma

Common warts
Commo warts are by far the most common wart, thus the name. Typically, most patients describe these types of warts as looking like a cauliflower. They’re dry, flaky, and white. Although common warts can impact any part of your body, they generally appear on elbows, knees, fingernails, and toes.

Flat warts
vary from common warts, in that they don’t have a raised appearance. Instead, flat warts are smooth and flat. Additionally, they’re also classified as being dry, small, and white. You’ll commonly find these growths occurring on the faces of children or on the legs of women, as they’re easily spread through shaving.

Condyloma
Condyloma, or genital warts, are also caused by the HPV virus like every other variation of this skin growth. However, unlike the other types of warts, genital warts are generally transmitted through sexual interactions. When impacted by this type of wart, you’ll notice a soft growth occurring in your inner thighs, pubic region, or buttock.

How are viral wats treated?
At Ziva Skin and Hair Center, to cater to all our patients’ needs, we offer a wide range of treatment options, depending on the severity of your wart(s).

Some of our most common wart treatments include:
Electrosurgery and curettage: Electrosurgery involves gently burning your wart through an electrical current. After, curettage involves scraping off the remaining of your wart with a small instrument. These two medical techniques are commonly used together.

Podophylin: A solution is applied to your skin by skin care professionals so side effects can be monitored appropriately. The solution works to exfoliate your skin and instigate an immune reaction to remove warts from sensitive areas on the body.
Cryotherapy: Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze your wart as a method of elimination. After application, the designated area may feel numb for a short period of time.

To determine which treatment is right for you, we recommend visiting one of our clinic to first determine which type of wart you have. Different warts respond to different dermatological treatments, so it’s important to classify your wart before selecting a treatment option.