Warts

Warts are benign (not cancerous) skin growths that appear when a virus infects the top layer of the skin. Viruses that cause warts are called human papillomavirus (HPV). You are more likely to get one of these viruses if you cut or damage your skin in some way. Wart viruses are contagious. Warts can spread by contact with the wart or something that touched the wart. Warts can Grow on any part of your body and can be treated by the Dermatologists at Kathleen Hutton MD Dermatology & Associates in Newport Beach office.

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Warts are generally harmless. However, warts can be unattractive and embarrassing, and sometimes they itch or are painful (particularly on the feet).

The different types of warts include:

• Common warts usually appear on the hands but can appear anywhere on the body.

• Flat warts are generally found on the face and forehead. They are common in children, less common in teens, and very rare in adults.

• Genital warts also know as condyloma, are commonly found on the genitals, in the pubic area, and in the area between the thighs, but they can also appear inside the vagina and anal canal.

• Plantar warts are found on the soles of the feet.

• Subungual and periungual warts appear under and around the fingernails or toenails.

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The typical wart is a raised round or oval growth on the skin with a rough surface. Compared with the surrounding normal skin, warts may appear light, dark, or black (rare). Most adults are familiar with the look of a typical wart and have little trouble recognizing it. Unusual warts with smooth surfaces or flat warts in children may be more difficult for parents to recognize.

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Common warts tend to cause no discomfort unless they are in areas of repeated friction or pressure. Plantar warts, for example, can become extremely painful. Large numbers of plantar warts on the foot may cause difficulty walking or running.

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Some warts will disappear without treatment, although it can sometimes take a couple of years. Treated or not, warts that go away often reappear. All warts can spread from one part of your own body to another. Unsightly or painful warts can be treated by the Dermatologists at Jeffrey Klein MD and Associates in Newport Beach. Warts around and under your nails are much more difficult to cure than warts in other places.