About Warts
Warts are a common skin condition usually found on the hands, fingers, and around the fingernails. They tend to look like small, fleshy peas, but they may vary in size. It is also common for warts to appear in clusters on the knees and elbows. Warts are caused by the HPV, otherwise known as the human papilloma virus. Although warts are harmless for the most part, they can be unsightly and bothersome. Over-the-counter wart removal treatments are usually not enough.
Our board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Reuel Aspacio, offers wart removal at his office in Las Vegas, NV. If you have a wart or other skin growth you want to be removed, schedule a consultation with Dr. Aspacio at Summerlin Dermatology.
Warts Reviews
Known Causes
Warts are caused by HPV. They are generally spread from person to person through skin-to-skin contact. These growth can also be the result of contact with an object that a wart has touched, such as exercise equipment or a towel. It is easier to get warts through a cut or scape in the skin, so areas that are frequently shaved (the face, legs, or under the arms) are at increased risk.
Some subtypes of warts, however, may predispose a person to malignancy. Cervical cancer and oropharyngeal carcinoma are some malignancies associated with the virus.
Presenting Symptoms
Common wart symptoms include bumps that are tender and grainy at the top and fleshy feeling. The area with the wart can be rough to the touch. Plantar warts appear on the soles of the feet. Also known as foot warts, they look like light brown or flesh-colored lumps that are speckled with tiny, black spots, which are clotted blood vessels. Flat warts are smaller and smoother compared to other types. Flat warts can grow anywhere, but they are most common on the face and legs.
Treatment Options
Simple warts on the skin may be treated with destructive methods, such as cryotherapy (freezing), laser wart removal, or electrocautery. Sometimes surgical management is necessary.
Cryotherapy – Freezing a wart by cryotherapy is a common treatment and is performed with success. With this method, Dr. Aspacio uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart away. A blister will form around the wart and the dead tissues will fall off within a week.
Laser wart removal – At Summerlin Dermatology, we use the Cutera® Excel V+™ laser to remove warts with precision. Most patients describe an Excel V+™ treatment as though it feels like a rubber band snapping on the skin. Following a treatment, some may experience minimal side effects, such as redness, swelling, or bruising on the treated area. However, these effects will typically disappear within a few hours to a few days.
Electrocautery – With an electronic probe, the wart can be burned off through electrocautery.
Dr. Aspacio may also consider curetting (scraping), chemical peels, excising (cutting), bleomycin injections, or immunotherapy as additional treatment options if the warts are difficult to treat.
Related Procedures
Optimal Course of Treatment
Though most warts are harmless, you probably want it removed as soon as possible. Instead of wasting time with home treatments, have your wart(s) checked out by a trained professional like Dr. Aspacio. He will examine the wart(s) to determine the type and best course of treatment. Contact Summerlin Dermatology in Las Vegas, NV to schedule a consultation to treat existing warts and reduce reoccurrence.