Warts
Warts are a very common condition that can affect individuals of any age and any part of the body. They are non-cancerous growths that often appear as rough and raised bumps. They are caused by a type of virus known as the Human Papilloma Virus. Warts are contagious and can be spread through physical contact. Warts are not dangerous but can cause discomfort when they become irritated. They are also cosmetically unappealing.
What treatments are available?
Warts, if left untreated, can resolve on their own. However, this process can take up to 2 years before the body becomes fully immune to the virus. Since nobody wants a wart that persists for that long, we aggressively treat warts. The key to treating warts is to stimulate the immune system to recognize the wart virus and develop immunity. There are a variety of treatment options that can be utilized to recruit the body’s immune system. These treatment regimens can be used in isolation or in combination.
If you have questions concerning Warts, call our office and schedule an appointment to meet with Dr. Myers. At your visit, Dr. Myers will work with you to develop an individualized treatment plan for your condition.
Improving Warts
Warts can be persistent and can take a few treatments to resolve completely. In order to speed up this process, we will educate you on several at-home treatment strategies to help clear warts. These at-home treatments, in combination with the in-office procedure, have a high success rate of clearing warts.
- Liquid Nitrogen
We use liquid nitrogen to freeze the area. This causes an inflammatory reaction. - Cantharone
This is a solution that is applied in office and causes an immune reaction at the site of the wart. This is generally a painless procedure. - Curettage
This involves scraping the wart to get rid of the top layer of dead tissue. This is often done in combination with other treatments. - DNCB
A topical ointment that causes a strong inflammatory reaction at the wart site. - Injections
If warts are severe, an injection with a strong anti-wart medicine can be injected into the wart.
Wart Myths
There is a great volume of myths and misinformed home remedies where warts are concerned, but most of these are just that, myths, so it is important to get a qualified opinion from your local dermatologist. Dr. David Myers, a local dermatologist in Utah County, explains about some common wart myths in the video below.
About
Dr. David Myers
Dr. David Myers is a board certified dermatologist and Fellow of the American Society for Mohs Surgery. His expertise and attention to detail make him a trusted doctor in his community.
