Warts are caused by the HPV virus; the most commonly sexually transmitted viral infection, and commonly grow on fingers, hands, toes or feet. Six million people become newly infected each year, and most do not know they have it. Depending on the severity of the virus, warts can appear as small, rough, skin-colored mounds or as smooth dark marks along the skin with varied frequency and quantity.
Anyone can get warts regardless if they are sexually active or not. They can spread by skin to skin contact, or even if an object to wart contraction, for example, if a person comes in contact with a towel that a person’s wart touched. Children are more susceptible to contracting warts because they enter the system easily through cuts and scrapes, and their underdeveloped immune system.
Dermatologists can diagnose a wart by looking at it, although in rare cases a biopsy can be performed in order to confirm in a lab. Many people seek a dermatologist’s help to remove warts because of embarrassment, irritation, and prevent spreading.
There are many at-home, over-the-counter treatments that can be found in local pharmacies. However, your dermatologist can use a mildly painful application of liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart that causes a blister to develop underneath the wart, which falls off within the week. Minor surgery involving the cutting away of or electrical burning of the wart may be necessary if the wart is unresponsive to other treatments.
Types of warts include:
What are genital warts?
Genital warts are the most common sexually transmitted infection. They appear as lesions of the penis, vagina, and anus. They are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which has many different types, or strains.
Different types of HPV cause different health problems, such as hand warts, genital warts, and precancerous lesions of the male and female genitalia. In the case of genital warts, HPV infects the skin cells and causes them to grow abnormally.
Warts usually appear as round, flat, or raised flesh-colored bumps on the penis, vagina, or anus. Their appearance can be varied: for example, there may be a few small warts or large clusters of warts.
Individuals infected with the strain of HPV that causes warts may not actually go on to develop warts, and therefore may be unaware that they have the infection. Warts can emerge weeks or even months after sex with an infected partner.
How do people get genital warts?
Certain practices increase the likelihood of becoming infected with the virus that causes genital warts. The increased risk is associated with a higher number of sexual partners or sex with a new partner. The virus can be transmitted between straight or gay couples and during any type of sex (oral, anal, or vaginal sex).
How can I protect myself from genital warts?
There are two types of vaccines available to prevent HPV infection: Cervarix® and Gardasil®. Both vaccines protect females against the strains of HPV that cause most cervical cancers. Gardasil offers additional protection against most strains of genital warts.
I have genital warts- what can I do?
Although genital warts can be very upsetting, it is important to understand that you are not alone and treatments do exist. Luckily, genital warts are not cancerous and will not turn into cancer. Before choosing a method of treatment, your doctor will consider your overall health status, the number, and size of warts, and the specific areas in which the warts are located.
Imiquimod (Aldara™) may be prescribed for application to the surface of warts. This medicine works by strengthening the immune system so that it can fight the actual virus (HPV) that is causing warts.
Your doctor may use any of a number of methods to physically remove warts. Some treatments require repeated visits. All of the techniques listed below remove the external manifestation of the virus: warts. The treatments described below may not clear the virus that causes warts from the body. Possible treatment methods include the following:
Warts can be stubborn to treat. Fortunately, there are now lasers that have proven to be successful in treating difficult warts, including common warts, plantar warts, and genital warts. Lasers penetrate deeply into the skin to destroy the abnormal cells that produce unsightly warts. In order to remove a wart 100 percent, multiple treatments will be needed. The number of treatments you need depends on the location, number, and size of warts.
The Pulsed Dye Laser is an effective procedure that first produces a cold spray to eliminate sensitivity and then administers a concentrated beam of light to target blood vessels in the skin. The light is converted into heat once it penetrates the epidermis. The blood vessels are destroyed, leaving the surrounding skin undamaged. No anesthesia is required. Dr. Rokhsar uses the V Beam Perfect laser to destroy wart tissue and leave behind a smoother skin surface.
The C02 Laser Skin Resurfacing treatment removes a layer of skin to allow new skin to flourish. The first layer of skin is treated which ultimately destroys the wart. Collagen production is then encouraged to create a healthier skin surface. Dr. Rokhsar has been trained by the inventor of the C02 laser resurfacing procedure and can ensure expertise in the removal of warts. The C02 laser has also shown successful results for the treatment of wrinkles, sun damage and scarring.
Although warts can be treated with over-the-counter drops, gels, pads, and plasters, it is advised that they are removed by a dermatologist. These treatments are composed of a salicylic acid called keratolytic which means it dissolves the protein (keratin) that makes up both the wart and thick layer of dead skin the surmounts it.
Dr. Rokhsar will use cryotherapy, or cryosurgery to remove the wart. This process uses liquid nitrogen spray to destroy the wart virus and skin cells. Immunotherapy can also be used which involves injecting a medicine called intralesional candida antigen to stimulate the body’s immune system to naturally kill the wart and heal the body.
The ND:YAG long-pulse laser is a Q-switched laser that can effectively destroy warts during typically one or two sessions. The long pulse of the laser slowly heats the blood supply surrounding the wart virus. The blood supply feeding the virus is then cooked and dies, all in a treatment that usually takes half an hour of your time. This laser is typically used for more stubborn warts that appear on the feet, such as plantar warts.
With years of advanced training and strong dedication to serving patients throughout Long Island and NYC, Dr. Rokhsar offers many wart removal methods. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Cameron Rokhsar today to discuss a treatment plan that will rid you of your warts forever.
If you are looking to get your warts removed, there are various options available. Wart removal can be done at home or in a clinic, depending on the severity and location of the warts. Before deciding on a treatment, it is best to consult with a board certified dermatologist, especially if you have an impaired immune system or diabetes. Here are some options for wart removal:
The cost of wart removal varies depending on the treatment method used and the number of sessions required. For genital warts, treatment options include cryotherapy or surgical removal. The costs may vary depending on the location, the severity of the warts, the expertise of the doctor or specialist performing the procedure, and insurance coverage. It is recommended to consult a board certified dermatologist to determine the most suitable and cost-effective treatment option. Insurance companies cover the cost of wart treatments except when treated with lasers.
The time it takes to remove a wart varies depending on the method of treatment used. Most common warts go away without treatment, but it may take up to a year or two and new ones may develop nearby.
Cryotherapy can effectively remove warts in about 70% of cases after 3-4 months of regular treatments every 2-4 weeks to prevent the wart from growing back.
Wart removal through excision involves a doctor cleaning the area, injecting a numbing medication, cutting out the wart, and closing the wound. The procedure takes about 15-30 minutes and creates a wound that may be cauterized or stitched up. Full healing can take 2-4 weeks.
Bleomycin injections are highly effective in killing the wart virus. One to four injection sessions with the bleomycin injections may be needed.
Lasers are also highly effective in the treatments of warts. Dr. Rokhsar uses either the CO2 laser or the pulse dye laser in the treatment of stubborn warts. More than one session is often required to treat warts with lasers.
The time it takes to remove a wart can vary depending on the size and location of the wart as well as the individual’s immune system response to treatment. Consult with a board certified dermatologist for personalized treatment options and expectations for wart removal.
Wart removal procedures can take several weeks to heal fully. The goals of wart removal treatment are to destroy the wart, stimulate an immune system response to fight the virus, or both. Even with treatment, warts tend to recur or spread. Board certified dermatologists generally start with the least painful methods, especially when treating young children. Treatment may take weeks or months depending on the method used.
One method of wart removal is by curettage and electrosurgery. The wound can take two weeks or more to heal, and in 20% of cases, warts can reoccur. Cryotherapy, a method that uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart, can also take up to two weeks to heal fully. This is often the preferred method by. Dr. Rokhsar. You may have pain and burning in the treated area for 1 to 2 days after the procedure. You may have redness and swelling, or you may develop a blister in the treated area. A scab will form in the treated area and may take up to 2 weeks to fall off. Your board certified dermatologist will tell you how to care for the treated area as it heals.
For those who prefer a non-invasive approach, over-the-counter remedies such as salicylic acid can be effective. However, it may take several weeks to remove the wart using this method. You can file away the dead warty skin with an emery board or pumice stone, and apply the salicylic acid once or twice a day for 12 weeks. Warts in thick skin, like the bottom of the foot, may respond best to a patch that stays in place for several days. It is important to follow the instructions provided and continue treatment until the wart is completely gone. The failure rate for at-home treatment is rather high.
Bleomycin injections can be administered every 2-4 weeks. Usually after injection a deep scab forms which can take up to 2-3 weeks to heal. This scab is usually painless.
The pulse dye laser kills the wart by heating up the wart. The area of the wart treatment can turn purple for 7-10 days. Treatment can be done every 2 weeks. The CO2 laser causes a wound that can take up to 4 weeks to heal. More than one treatment may be required for CO2 laser treatment of warts.
After wart removal, it is important to follow proper aftercare procedures to ensure proper healing and prevent infection. Here are some general tips to follow after wart removal:
If you experience any unusual symptoms or have concerns about the healing process after wart removal, contact your board certified dermatologist for further advice.
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Dr. Cameron Rokhsar, MD, FAAD, FAACS, is the founder and medical director of the New York Cosmetic, Skin, & Laser Surgery Center. Dr. Rokhsar is a graduate of Harvard College and NYU School of Medicine. Dr. Rokhsar is double board certified in dermatology and micrographic dermatologic surgery, being one of the few select dermatologists in the country who is also fellowship trained in laser surgery. A researcher and innovator, Dr. Rokhsar is the creator of the non-surgical nose job and has been instrumental in the research and development of laser systems such as the Fraxel, CO2, Mirady, Vbeam, Themitight, and Ulthera devices. An Associate Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC, Dr. Rokhsar actively teaches the cosmetic dermatology clinic to the resident at Mount Sinai. An expert injector of fillers, and a trainer for many companies, patients fly in from around the world to see Dr. Rokhsar in his Garden City and Manhattan offices in New York.
Dr. Rokhsar was chosen by
magazine as a top dermatologist in its Best Doctors 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 issues.
