Warts.
When patients hear the word “wart,” the often picture witches during Halloween with one or more warts on the nose. However, warts can affect anyone at any age, any gender, and any ethnicity. A wart is a growth that is not cancerous and is caused by HPV, or the “human papillomavirus.” They are extremely contagious and can spread easily between people or throughout other areas of the body. Most patients experience warts after having skin-to-skin contact with someone else who had a wart. A towel or other object touched by someone with a wart can also increase the risk of contracting HPV and experiencing warts.
What types of warts are there?
There are many different varieties of warts, and the team at Florida Westcoast Skin and Cancer Center can provide a proper diagnosis of warts with a physical evaluation. Below are just a few of the common types seen by Dr. Michael Scannon and his team:
- Common warts
- Plantar warts
- Genital warts
- Flat warts
What can be done for warts?
Warts can be treated in a variety of ways. Over-the-counter wart products might be used, but they can take a long time to work. Patients can also visit a dermatologist to have a prescription medication used to reduce the size of the wart. Other options, such as cryotherapy, can be used in freezing the wart off of the skin for faster results.
Can warts grow back?
Once a patient has the human papillomavirus, they can develop warts at any time. Current warts can spread if they are scratched or picked at as it can spread the virus elsewhere. Avoid touching someone else’s warts, and keep your skin dry as moisture can often help contribute to the development of warts on the skin, especially on the feet.
Ready to discuss your unique situation with our team?
Tampa, Florida area patients who are worried about warts and other skin growths are strongly encouraged to book a consultation appointment with Dr. Michael Scannon and associates at Florida Westcoast Skin and Cancer Center by calling (813) 877-4811. Our practice is located at 4200 North Armenia Avenue in Suites 1 and 2 and accepts new patients in the area of Tampa.