While warts are harmless skin growths, they can be aesthetically unappealing and difficult to remove. Left untreated, they can spread, grow in clusters, or return again and again, making them difficult to manage on your own. At Worcester and Chelmsford Dermatology Associates, we believe that the best way to control warts is by providing both patient education and effective treatment options.
Our practice is committed to providing our clients with the highest standard of dermatological care by experienced medical professionals. For more information about either of our practices or any of the services we offer, feel free to contact us today.
What Are Warts?
Warts are noncancerous skin growths caused by a virus in the top layer of the skin. They are often skin-colored and rough in texture, but can also be dark and smooth in appearance.
These growths most commonly appear on the fingers, around the nails, and on the backs of the hands, and can be spread to other parts of the body through skin-to-skin contact. While warts can be unsightly and uncomfortable, and removing them can be difficult, it can be accomplished through persistence and dermatological expertise.
Types of Warts
There are several different kinds of warts, each with unique characteristics and locations on the body:
Common Warts
Most frequently found on the hands and fingers, these warts are rough in texture, dome-shaped, and often grayish or flesh-colored. They may have tiny black dots inside them, which are clotted blood vessels.
Plantar Warts
Developing on the soles of the feet, these warts grow inward due to pressure from standing and walking. They can feel like stepping on a pebble and may appear as a small callus with black pinpoints.
Flat Warts
These are much smaller and smoother than other types, usually occurring in large numbers. They often appear on the face, arms, or legs, making them more noticeable cosmetically.
Filiform Warts
Characterized by long, narrow, thread-like growths, these warts typically develop quickly around sensitive areas such as the mouth, nose, or eyes. Their appearance can be striking, but treatment is usually straightforward.
Periungual Warts
Forming beneath or around the fingernails and toenails, these warts can be particularly stubborn. They may cause pain, disrupt nail growth, and sometimes lead to nail deformities if untreated.
Symptoms to Watch Out For
Warts are generally harmless, but certain symptoms mean they shouldn’t be ignored. Those symptoms include:
- Pain, itching, or bleeding
- Rapid spreading to other areas of the body
- Growth in clusters
- Noticeable changes in size, shape, or color (since some skin cancers can mimic the look of a wart)
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important not to dismiss them as “just a wart.” Early evaluation by a dermatologist can rule out more serious conditions and ensure that treatment begins before the problem worsens.
Risk Factors of Warts
While many people can safely monitor a wart at home, others should seek professional care sooner.
- People with diabetes or poor circulation may develop serious complications if warts become irritated or infected.
- Those with weakened immune systems are more prone to widespread or persistent warts that don’t respond to over-the-counter methods.
- Children and teens often develop warts more easily, and because their skin is sensitive, at-home removal methods may be painful or ineffective.
- Frequent use of public locker rooms, showers, or swimming pools increases exposure to the virus.
- Biting nails or picking at hangnails also creates open entry points in the skin, making it easier for the virus to take hold.
Understanding your personal risk factors can help you take preventative steps and know when to seek medical attention. Being proactive with both prevention and professional evaluation ensures that warts are managed effectively and with minimal disruption to your daily life. With the right care, even high-risk patients can achieve clear, healthy skin.
Why Professional Care Matters
When it comes to managing warts, professional dermatological care offers advantages that go far beyond what at-home remedies can provide.
Accurate Diagnosis
Dermatologists can confirm whether a growth is truly a wart or a different condition that looks similar, such as a skin tag or even skin cancer. This ensures that you receive the right treatment from the start.
Safe and Effective Removal
Professional methods reduce the risk of infection, scarring, or spreading the virus compared to at-home attempts. Treatments are performed under medical supervision for the best possible outcome.
Lower Risk of Recurrence
In-office therapies target both the visible wart and the virus within the skin. This approach helps prevent the same wart or new ones from developing again.
Access to Advanced Treatments
Dermatologists can provide cryotherapy, prescription medications, or immune-boosting therapies that aren’t available over the counter. These options often work faster and more effectively than home remedies.
Better Cosmetic Results
Professional treatment is designed to preserve the surrounding skin, minimizing the chance of scarring. This is especially important for warts on visible areas like the face or hands.
Our Treatments for Warts
While some warts eventually go away on their own, this process can take a long time. The process of removing warts can be made complicated by the virus that causes them. Even if you have a wart visibly removed, if the virus that caused it is still present in your body, you can either grow that same wart back or develop new ones. These growths are also comprised of several thick layers of skin, making it difficult to penetrate them with medication alone.
Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery, the process of freezing and extracting the wart using liquid nitrogen, can be effective. The dermatologist applies liquid nitrogen directly to the wart, freezing the tissue and causing it to blister. Over the following days, the dead skin sloughs off, taking the wart with it.
This treatment has to be repeated every 1-3 weeks for a few months in order to fully kill the virus that caused the wart. Many patients tolerate this well, with only temporary stinging or redness.
Prescription-Strength Medications
Products that trigger an immune system response or utilize specific chemicals to break down the wart have also proven to be effective in eradicating them. For patients who need more than over-the-counter remedies, we may prescribe topical treatments containing specialized compounds to gradually eliminate warts.
These medications work by peeling away layers of affected tissue while also stimulating your immune system to recognize and fight the virus responsible. Unlike store-bought products, prescription-strength options are carefully tailored to your skin type and the type of wart being treated, ensuring both safety and effectiveness.
Prevention
While it’s difficult to entirely rule out your chances of developing a wart, there are certain precautions you can take to decrease your risk.
- Making sure any cuts on your hands, fingers, and feet are clean and dressed can lower your chances of contracting the virus that causes them.
- Taking care to wear shoes in public places and avoiding skin-to-skin contact with someone who has warts can also be helpful.
- Don’t pick or bite nails. This creates small openings in the skin that make it easier for the virus to take hold.
What to Expect During Treatment
During the Procedure
Most wart treatments are performed right in the office and take only a few minutes. In many cases, anesthesia isn’t needed, but a numbing agent may be applied for patient comfort, especially for children or for warts located on sensitive areas like the feet or around the nails. Treatments such as cryotherapy may cause a brief stinging or burning sensation as the wart is frozen.
Immediately After Treatment
It’s common to experience mild discomfort, redness, or blistering in the treated area. These effects are temporary and part of the normal healing process. Depending on the treatment method, the wart may darken, form a small scab, or peel off in the following days. Your dermatologist will provide aftercare instructions, which may include keeping the area clean, avoiding picking at the wart, and applying protective bandages as needed.
Healing and Recovery
Most patients return to normal activities right away, but some may notice tenderness for a few days. For plantar warts on the feet, wearing cushioned shoes may make walking more comfortable during recovery. Healing times vary depending on the method used, but most people see improvement within one to two weeks after each session.
Long-Term Outlook
Because warts are caused by a virus embedded in the skin, they can be persistent. Multiple sessions are often needed to completely remove them and reduce the risk of recurrence.
We will create a tailored treatment plan based on the size, number, and location of your warts, as well as your medical history. For some patients, combining treatments — such as cryotherapy with a topical medication — can produce the best results.
Aftercare Tips for Wart Treatment
Following proper aftercare helps your skin heal quickly and reduces the chance of the wart coming back.
- Keep the area clean and dry. Wash gently with mild soap and water, then pat dry.
- Avoid picking or scratching. This can spread the virus to other areas of your skin.
- Cover if needed. Use a small bandage if the wart site is irritated, blistered, or rubbing against shoes or clothing.
- Manage discomfort. Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can ease soreness if needed.
- Wear comfortable footwear. For plantar wart treatments, cushioned shoes can reduce pressure on healing tissue.
- Follow up as directed. Keep scheduled appointments since multiple sessions may be required for complete removal.
- Protect your skin. Avoid walking barefoot in public areas and cover small cuts or abrasions promptly to prevent reinfection.
Frequently Asked Questions About Warts
Are warts contagious?
Yes. Warts are caused by strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can spread through direct skin-to-skin contact or indirectly through shared surfaces like showers, towels, or gym equipment.
Because the virus thrives in warm, moist environments, public pools and locker rooms are common sources of transmission. Covering warts with a bandage and practicing good hygiene can help lower the risk of spreading them to others.
Can warts go away on their own?
Some warts eventually disappear without treatment, but this can take months or even years. The body’s immune system sometimes clears the virus on its own, though this process is unpredictable.
Professional treatment not only speeds up removal but also helps prevent spreading to other areas of the body. Seeking care ensures the wart is fully addressed and not mistaken for another skin condition.
Will warts come back after treatment?
It’s possible. Because the virus can remain dormant in the skin, new warts may develop even after successful removal. Some people are more prone to recurrence depending on their immune system and daily habits. Following aftercare instructions and practicing prevention strategies greatly reduces the chance of warts coming back.
Do wart treatments hurt?
Most treatments cause only mild discomfort. Cryotherapy, for example, may feel like a brief stinging or burning sensation when the liquid nitrogen is applied. Topical treatments are usually well tolerated and require consistent use for best results. If sensitivity is a concern, numbing agents or gentle alternatives can be used to make treatment more comfortable.
Are children treated differently than adults?
Because children often develop warts more easily and have more sensitive skin, treatments are selected to minimize discomfort while still being effective. Options may include gentle topical therapies or carefully monitored cryotherapy. Dermatologists take into account the child’s comfort level and likelihood of cooperating during treatment sessions.
Will wart removal leave scars?
Most wart treatments are designed to minimize scarring, especially when performed by a dermatologist. Non-invasive options like topical therapies typically leave the skin smooth once the wart is gone.
Procedures such as electrosurgery or curettage may carry a slightly higher risk of scarring, depending on the wart’s size and depth. We will always review potential outcomes before proceeding with treatment.
Is it safe to try at-home remedies for warts?
Over-the-counter options like salicylic acid can work for small warts, but results vary and can take time. It’s important to follow instructions carefully to avoid irritating the surrounding skin. Cutting, burning, or picking at warts at home is not safe and can cause infection, scarring, or spreading of the virus. For stubborn or recurring warts, professional care is always recommended.
Why Choose Worcester and Chelmsford Dermatology Associates for Wart Treatment?
At Worcester Dermatology Associates and Chelmsford Dermatology, wart treatments are performed under the guidance of board-certified dermatologists with decades of clinical experience. Dr. Seth Kates and Dr. A. David Simkin offer over 50 years of combined expertise in diagnosing and treating skin conditions of all kinds, including stubborn or recurring warts.
Our offices in Worcester and Chelmsford are fully equipped with advanced treatment options, from cryotherapy to prescription-strength medications, ensuring safe and effective care for patients of all ages. Each treatment plan is tailored to your skin type, the type of wart present, and your overall health needs.
Whether you’re managing a single wart or dealing with multiple, persistent growths, your care will be individualized, efficient, and delivered with the highest standards of dermatology. We prioritize thorough education, patient comfort, and long-term results, helping you achieve clear, healthy skin.
End Stubborn Warts with Trusted Dermatology Care
While warts are usually harmless, they can be persistent, uncomfortable, and difficult to manage on your own. Professional dermatological care ensures accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and long-term prevention strategies tailored to your unique needs. At Worcester and Chelmsford Dermatology Associates, our board-certified dermatologists provide advanced options in a safe, supportive setting to help you achieve smooth, healthy skin.
Interested in having a wart removed? We can help! Contact either our Worcester or Chelmsford locations today to schedule a consultation appointment.
