Warts are benign and usually small lesions that most commonly develop on the feet and hands. They are generally formed when some types of human papillomavirus (HPV) infect a cut or break in the skin. Warts are usually rough in texture and may develop as individual lumps or clusters.
Warts can be contagious but not cancerous. However, some skin cancers can cause lesions resembling warts. Therefore, having your skin lesions analyzed in a clinical setting is recommended.
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Types of Warts
Warts can be classified based on their appearance, location, and the type of HPV causing them. The most common types of warts include the following:
- Common warts or verruca vulgaris: These are identified by their rough, hard surface and are generally raised above the skin. They can appear anywhere on the body but most commonly develop on the hands and feet.
- Flat warts or verruca plana: These lesions appear flattened and smooth. Like common warts, flat warts can occur on any body part. However, they are more common on the lower legs, face, and hands.
- Filiform warts: These warts appear like long, thin threads. They usually affect the face. More specifically, they develop near the lips and eyelids.
- Mosaic warts: These warts usually grow in clusters and most commonly affect the soles of your feet. They may also appear on your hands.
- Plantar warts: These appear as small, rough growths, usually on the heels and balls of feet. Because of the consistent pressure on the soles of feet, these warts may grow inwards beneath the thick skin layer called callus.
- Genital warts: These growths are identified by their grey or off-white grainy cauliflower appearance. They are a type of sexually transmitted infection (STI) and usually affect the penis, scrotum, vulva, anus, and surrounding areas.
What Causes Warts?
Warts develop when the skin gets infected by some types of human papillomavirus (HPV). When this virus enters the skin through a cut or break and interacts with the underlying tissues, it produces excess keratin on the epidermis (the skin’s top layer). This leads to the development of a hard, rough texture in the affected skin area, forming a wart.
Some factors that increase the risk of warts include:
- Skin injuries
- Infections that cause breaks or cuts in the surface of the skin
- Frequent wetting of hands
- Excessive sweating of hands and feet
- Nail biting
- Swimming in shared swimming pools
- Touching other people’s warts
- Shaving or scratching your warts (as it can cause the infection to spread)
What Are The Symptoms Of Warts?
The symptoms of a wart are generally based on its type. However, some signs are common to most wart types. Those signs include the following:
- A wart can be in the form of a small bump raised above the skin’s surface.
- Most warts have a rough texture. Smooth-textured warts may also develop, however.
- You may feel itching in a wart.
- Warts can appear as individual lesions or clustered patches.
- They most commonly appear on the hands, feet, and face.
How are Warts Diagnosed?
A wart is generally diagnosed through a physical examination. However, in some cases, your dermatologist may need to perform a small skin biopsy to understand the condition and its causes. A wart biopsy is a minor procedure that involves removing the wart and sending it to a lab for a detailed analysis.
How are Warts Treated?
Warts can be treated in multiple ways, including home care options and clinical treatments. Speaking to your doctor before choosing any wart treatment method is recommended.
The most common options to treat warts include the following.
Chemical peels
Your doctor may prescribe chemical peeling if you have flat warts. The peeling solutions generally considered for treating warts include salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and tretinoin.
Laser treatment
Laser therapy directs an intense light beam at the affected area. The aim is to use the heat produced by the laser beam to destroy the wart’s cells. The most common laser types used for wart removal are Pulsed-dye laser and Erbium YAG laser.
Immune system stimulation
Immune system stimulation, or immunotherapy, can effectively treat warts using the patient’s own immune system. This treatment involves injecting or applying an immunomodulating solution comprising weakened strains of wart-causing HPVs. This leads to the development of antibodies that attack the virus and affected cells, clearing up the lesion.
Cryotherapy
This procedure involves using a very cold material (usually liquid nitrogen) on the wart. During the process, liquid nitrogen is sprayed on the wart or applied through a cotton swab. This results in the wart freezing off and its cells getting destroyed.
Cantharidin
This treatment uses a vesicant (blistering agent) on the wart, causing a blister that lifts the wart off the skin surface. The blister dries after a few days, removing the wart.
Curettage and electrosurgery
Electrosurgery and curettage may be combined to treat large warts. Curettage involves removing the wart by scraping or cutting using a sharp, spoon-shaped tool. Electrosurgery involves burning the lesion with an electric current passed through a needle.
Excision
Wart excision involves cutting out the lesion using a sharp, straight blade. This procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia and must be done in a clinical setting.
Cost of Wart Removal
The starting cost of Wart Removal in Dubai can be around AED 1500. The exact price of this treatment can vary from case to case, depending on the factors below:
- Type of warts
- Treatment selected
- The size of the affected area
- The practitioner’s expertise
- The geographic location and reputation of the treatment facility or clinic
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Warts can be troublesome because they can cause pain and affect your body’s aesthetics. Unfortunately, there is no cure available for these pesky lesions. Most of the available treatments only aim to destroy the wart cells, as they do not prevent future occurrences. New warts can appear in the surroundings of the treated region or any other skin area. The best way to manage this condition is to get treatment as soon as the new warts appear.
Dubai Cosmetic Surgery Clinic offers advanced treatment options to manage warts effectively. At this clinic, you will meet top-rated and highly experienced dermatologists, aestheticians, and practitioners with unparalleled expertise in the field of medical cosmetics. For more details, please call +971 4 348 5575. You can also book a consultation online by filling out the form below.
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