What are warts?

Warts are very common, harmless skin growths caused by a virus. Warts can grow on any part of the body, but are most commonly found on the hands. Their appearance depends on their location. On the tops of the hands and face they protrude, while on pressure areas such as the palms and soles they are pushed inward. Warts do not, as many people think, have "roots" or "seeds"; the dark spots sometimes seen in warts are actually the ends of tiny blood vessels called capillaries.

Since warts are caused by a virus they may spread from person to person, but they are only slightly contagious. We do not understand why some people get warts easily while others never get them.

Do warts ever go away without treatment?

Many warts will disappear spontaneously within 2-3 years. For this reason, and because all forms of treatment causes some discomfort, we often recommend not treating warts on young children.

How are they treated?

There are several ways of treating warts. All treatments cause some amount of irritation and inflammation, and none can be absolutely guaranteed to cure every wart with one treatment. The treatment used depends on many factors, including the size, location, and the number of warts.

• Liquid Nitrogen is an extremely cold liquid that is put on the wart by a nurse or doctor until it is frozen. A blister may develop within a few hours. This may be filled with clear or dark fluid. It is best to leave the blister alone and allow it to dry; however, if the blister if painful you may prick the edge with a needle (after sterilizing the needle by holding over a flame for 2-3 seconds). If the blister roof breaks and leaves a raw surface, gently clean the area with water and apply a thin layer of bacitracin ointment (available OTC).

• Salicylic Acid medications such as Maximum Strength Wart Remover and Mediplast are available without a prescription. These medications come with directions. The acid will turn the top of the wart into dead skin (it will turn white). It is very important to scrub away the dead skin on the top of the wart a few times each week using an emery board, pumice stone, or washcloth. The dead skin will be softer and easier to remove if you soak the area first in warm water for 10 minutes. It may take several months for the warts to disappear.

How can I prevent getting warts?

• At the present time there is no vaccine or other way to prevent warts.
• Do not pick or chew at warts since this may cause them to spread.