Warts
What are Warts?
Warts, often called verrucae, are caused by a viral infection in the skin called human papillomavirus (HPV). There are many different strains of HPV, which cause different types of warts. The HPV type usually varies by the body location. Warts may appear as small bumps or cauliflower-like growths on the skin. They can be spread from skin-to-skin contact and can spread to different body areas as well as other people. Warts can affect people of all ages but are particularly common in children, sexually active adults and people with a lowered immune system.
How do You Treat Warts?
Warts can be very difficult to eliminate and may require multiple treatments to clear them. Your dermatologist can discuss different options, which vary by patient, location, and type of wart. Unfortunately, no treatment is guaranteed to work for every patient and sometimes trial and error is required. Interestingly, some warts will resolve on their own without treatment and thus, declining treatment is always an option.
After considering the options for treatment, some people will choose conservative measures. This may include over-the-counter treatments. The most effective non-prescription treatments contain the active ingredient salicylic acid. These can be purchased at most stores and pharmacies and should be used as directed. While some people have had success using duct tape to continuously cover their warts, studies have not confirmed its effectiveness. However, it is a safe and cheap option and may be worth a try! Many home remedies and wives’ tales reported to be effective are likely due to the fact that many warts often just go away.
If warts are spreading, painful or bleeding, see one of the board certified dermatologists at Iowa Dermatology Consultants about treating your warts.
Additional Wart Resources
Links to Additional Information:
American Academy of Dermatology Wart Videos:
Why Iowa Dermatology Consultants?
Iowa Dermatology Consultants believes in a patient focused approach to care. We work with patients forming an active partnership in treatment to help repair the physical and emotional damage of skin disease. Our Ankeny and Ames locations allow us to conveniently treat patients across the Des Moines metro area and all of Central Iowa including Ames, Carroll, Fort Dodge, Iowa Falls, Marshalltown, Huxley, Slater, and Indianola.
At Iowa Dermatology Consultants, all of our physicians are board-certified dermatologists. Your care provided by Dr. Snider, Dr. Smith, or Dr. Myers is founded in knowledge and experience which exceeds that of a general practitioner. Together they have almost 50 years of combined experience in diagnosing and treating a vast array of skin conditions. This includes over 16,000 hours of patient care training to ensure that a board-certified dermatologist can expertly diagnosis and treat over 3000 dermatologic conditions.
Whether you’re coming to us for help with skin cancer or diseases like acne, psoriasis, and eczema; or to reverse the signs of aging with Botox, chemical peels or other cosmetic procedures, at Iowa Dermatology Consultants you will be getting the best dermatologic care in Central Iowa.