Wart Treatment in Rockville, Maryland
About 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. To prevent warts from spreading follow these tips from the American Academy of Dermatology:
- Do not pick or scratch at warts.
- Wear flip-flops or pool shoes in public showers, locker rooms, and pool areas.
- Do not touch someone’s wart.
- Keep foot warts dry, as moisture tends to allow warts to spread.
Warts are often skin-colored and feel rough, but they can be dark (brown or gray-black), flat, and smooth. Warts can be diagnosed simply by looking at them but in rare cases a biopsy would be performed to be certain.
Wart Treatment
Warts often go away without treatment. Treatments including patches and ointments containing salicylic acid are often used to However, if you are unable to get rid of the wart with over-the-counter medications you should schedule an appointment with our dermatologists. A variety of treatment options are used including cryotherapy, cantharidin, electrosurgery, excision, and laser surgery. The wart can return after removal since there is no cure for warts.
