Wart Removal
Wart Removal
Your trusted source for professional and friendly medical services. In this section, we’ll provide you with essential information about our wart removal services, covering common warts, plantar warts, and genital warts. Our goal is to help you understand the causes, symptoms, and available treatments for these conditions, so you can make informed decisions about your healthcare.
Common Warts: Understanding the Basics
What are Common Warts?
Common warts, also known as Verruca vulgaris, are skin growths caused by an infection in the top layer of the skin, typically resulting from human papillomavirus (HPV). It’s important to note that having common warts does not indicate the presence of the sexually-transmitted infection (STI) responsible for genital warts. HPV encompasses various strains, and common warts are usually spread through person-to-person contact or contact with contaminated objects like towels or gym equipment.
Recognizing Common Warts:
- Common warts often appear fleshy, grainy, and small.
- They can be white, pink, or tan in color.
- The texture is rough to the touch.
- They are usually raised above the skin’s surface and are mostly round.
- Common warts are typically painless unless located on the bottom of the foot, where they are known as plantar warts.
Plantar Warts: A Closer Look
What are Plantar Warts?
Plantar warts differ from common warts in that they grow inward, creating hard and thick growths on the bottom of the foot or at the base of the toes. These warts are often contracted indirectly, such as by using communal showers without protective footwear or sharing shoes with others. In some cases, plantar warts may contain “black seeds,” which are clotted blood vessels.
Identifying Plantar Warts:
- Plantar warts are typically hard and thick, with a flat surface.
- They may include “black seeds” within them.
- People with plantar warts may experience pain or tenderness while walking or running.
Genital Warts: A Critical Concern
What are Genital Warts?
Genital warts are caused by a sexually-transmitted infection and can vary in size and location. These warts may not always cause symptoms but can lead to pain depending on their size and location. Genital warts are primarily spread through sexual contact with an infected person.
Where Genital Warts Appear:
Genital warts may be found in specific areas, including:
- Around the vaginal canal opening in women.
- Under the foreskin on an uncircumcised penis.
- On the shaft of a circumcised penis.
- Cervix, vagina, urethra, perineum, perianal skin, scrotum.
- Within the anus (typically in individuals with a history of anal contact).
Treatment and Prevention:
While genital warts can be treated and removed, it does not guarantee freedom from the HPV infection. Treatment may reduce viral DNA, and spontaneous resolution is possible. It is essential to work with your medical provider to prevent HPV spread to other sexual partners.
