Warts are another type of growth that can occur anywhere on the body and are caused by an exposure to viruses that belong in the human papillomavirus (HPV) family. When there is a break in the skin, the human papillomavirus can enter the body and cause an infection of the cells underneath the skin, resulting in a wart.
The most common type of wart is usually non-cancerous but, as with any new growth, it’s important to have them assessed to make sure they are benign. In some cases, warts may disappear on their own but it can take several months or even years for them to fade.
Because warts are caused by a virus, there is a chance of additional growths spreading on your body or even spreading to other people. Luckily, there are a number of appropriate treatments our practitioners can utilize to help remove warts.
Warts can be removed using the following treatments:
- Cryotherapy - the wart is frozen off using liquid nitrogen
- Electrosurgery - eliminating the wart with an electric current
- Salicylic Acid Preparations - gels, pads, drops or plasters that destroy the protein and the layer of skin that makes up the wart in about 6-12 weeks (sometimes, a compounded salicylic acid preparation is prescribed for more recalcitrant warts)