We see numerous patients for warts, which means we also receive a lot of questions about these common skin growths. What are they? Are they dangerous? What can you do to treat them? Etc.

If you find yourself facing similar questions, you’re in the right place. Here, we’re going to address your common concerns by answering our patients’ most frequently asked questions.

• What are warts?

Warts are small, fleshy growths. They’re classified as an infection on the top layer of your skin, or epidermis. Warts are very common and can reside anywhere on your body including elbows, knees, fingers, and feet.

• What causes warts?

Warts are caused by viruses in the human papillomavirus, or HPV, family. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI), but isn’t solely spread through sexual contact. Rather, these viruses commonly invade your skin through a cut or scrape. Once the virus enters your body, it can cause cells to rapidly grow on the outer layer of skin, ultimately resulting in a skin growth referred to as a wart.

The HPV virus that causes warts is extremely common. In fact, research shows there are over 100 different viruses in the human papillomavirus family. The HPV virus not present any symptoms. Meaning, someone can have the HPV virus in their system, come in contact with you, and end up giving you a wart through that HPV virus. Other times the virus can present symptoms, such as a wart, but resolve spontaneously.

The unpredictable and sometimes undetectable characteristics of the HPV virus contributes to the difficulty of treating warts.

• Are warts common?

Yes, warts are very common. It’s likely that most individuals develop at least one common wart in their lifetime, generally on their hands. However, although everyone is at risk for developing a wart, some individuals are more prone to developing these growths through the HPV virus.

• Are warts dangerous?

No, warts are not dangerous. They’re considered to be benign, meaning they’re non-cancerous. However, just because they don’t pose a threat to your health, doesn’t mean you’ll want to leave your wart where it is. Many patients wish to remove their wart because of aesthetic reasons, as the wart may be located in an area visible to the public. Other times, patients wish to remove their wart because the growth is located in a sensitive, irritable area.

• Are warts contagious?

As mentioned previously, warts are extremely contagious. Warts, or rather HPV viruses, are easily spread through either skin-on-skin contact or through direct contact with an object used by a person with the virus.

• What are the different types of warts?

There are over 100 different versions of the HPV virus, the virus that causes warts. Meaning, there are also hundreds of different types of warts.

Different types of warts are classified by both their appearance and location on your body. Each type of wart also responds to different dermatologic treatments, which is why we recommend seeking professional treatment when handling these skin growths.

• How do you treat warts?

Cantharidin: A liquid formula, derived from the blister beetle, is applied directly to your wart. The formula causes a blister-like reaction underneath the wart, causing it to eventually fall off and detach from your outer layer of skin.

Podophylin: A solution is applied to your skin by skin care professionals so side effects can be monitored appropriately. The solution works to exfoliate your skin and instigate an immune reaction to remove warts from sensitive areas on the body.

Cryotherapy: Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze your wart as a method of elimination. After application, the designated area may feel numb for a short period of time.

Electrosurgery and curettage: Electrosurgery involves gently burning your wart through an electrical current. After, curettage involves scraping off the remaining of your wart with a small instrument. These two medical techniques are commonly used together.