Warts

Warts are rough skin lesions caused by the HPV virus. They can be seen on any skin surface in people of all ages. Warts can spread from person-to-person or spread to other areas of the skin. Since warts are able to avoid detection by the immune system, they can be difficult to remove, and often return even after successful treatment. Presently, warts are treated using destructive methods aimed at removing the uppermost layer of skin, the epidermis, where the virus is located. Often, the available over-the-counter agents are not potent enough to clear a larger or deeper wart. At the dermatologist’s office, there are several methods of treating warts which have a lower risk of scarring versus surgical excision. After any treatment, the cure rate for most wart therapies is 70% and, if there is a recurrence, a return visit when the lesion is early or smaller is recommended.