Warts are typically small granular bumps on your skin that can feature tiny black dots. They are caused by a common viral infection. You are more likely to develop warts if you are a child or young adult, or if you have a weakened immune system. Warts typically disappear on their own or you can have them removed.
There are more than 100 different types of warts. The most common kinds include:
- Common warts: usually have a rough surface, are grayish-yellow or brown in color, and may be on your fingers, elbows, knees, or face.
- Plantar and palmar warts: also known as “foot warts,” these grow on the soles of feet or the palms of your hand and may be painful. Groups of plantar warts are called a mosaic.
- Flat warts: small, smooth growths that most often appear on children's faces.
- Filiform warts: small, long, narrow growths that typically appear on eyelids, lips, face, or neck.
- Periungual warts: appear as thickened skin around the nails and can cause painful splits in the skin (fissures).
- Genital warts: grow on the genitals, can be sexually transmitted, are soft, and do not have a rough surface like other common warts. These warts are especially dangerous to women as they can cause cancer of the cervix.
In children, warts tend to go away on their own; while in adults, they tend to stay.
If your warts hurt, bother you, change color, multiply, or if their appearance makes you feel embarrassed, it’s best to come in for a medical examination. University of Miami Health System dermatologists can help remove your warts.
Treatments
Acid Treatment
Your dermatologist may apply salicylic and lactic acid to soften the infected area.
Cryotherapy
During this treatment, your dermatologist uses liquid nitrogen to freeze off the wart.
Electrodesiccation
This treatments uses an electrical current to destroy the wart.
Immunotherapy
This technique involves using your body’s own immune system to fight the wart and related infection by using immunizations.
Laser Surgery
During this treatment, your dermatologist uses a high-powered, medical laser to remove the wart.
Tests
Physical Exam
Through a medical examination of your skin, we can accurately diagnose and determine the best way to treat your warts. In most cases, we can diagnose warts based on their appearance.
Biopsy
To confirm the diagnosis, we may remove a small section of the wart (biopsy) and send it to a laboratory for analysis.
Why Choose UHealth?
World-class leaders in skin care treatment. University of Miami Health System is recognized throughout South Florida and the world as a leader in caring for conditions and disorders of the skin. Backed by one of the nation’s top universities, our team uses the latest technologies and research-driven expertise to provide superior, personalized treatments for dermatologic conditions.
Compassionate care in an academic medical center. You benefit from the state-of-the-art technology and latest medical advancements developed by our researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. You will receive the most accurate diagnosis and a detailed plan to keep your skin healthy.
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