Our Wart Treatments
What Are Warts?
Warts are a type of viral skin infection and skin overgrowth caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The disease causes rough, skin-colored bumps to form on the skin. This virus and warts themselves are contagious. You can get warts from touching someone who has the disease. Warts most commonly appear on the hands, feet, face, and genitals. Dr. Artur Henke and the team at Placer Dermatology & Skin Care Center are expert providers of wart treatments in Roseville.
What Causes Warts?
Warts are caused when the human papillomavirus, or HPV, enters the skin through a cut or break in the skin and causes an infection. Anyone can get warts, with the elderly especially susceptible for the virus due to more fragile, tear-prone skin. Warts can spread from direct contact with a wart, or indirect contact like touching a doorknob or floor contaminated with the virus.
How Are Warts Treated?
Due to the potential of spreading this virus to both individuals and other parts of the body, dermatologists recommend the treatment of warts. Genital warts should be examined without delay and treated professionally.
Not all warts are created equal, and some types, such as plantar warts on the soles of the feet, are practically impossible to treat with over-the-counter medication. If non-prescription medicines have been unsuccessful after consistent use, or if warts repeatedly return, removal by one of the following methods will likely be necessary.
Cryotherapy treatment uses a freezing substance, usually pressurized liquid nitrogen, to freeze the wart. The liquid nitrogen will penetrate, causing inflammation and a blister to form. The blister will scab over and fall off.
Laser treatment destroys the blood vessels in the wart, ending the blood supply. Without a blood supply, the wart dies and falls off. Laser treatments can be beneficial for use in harder-to-reach areas.
Excision is surgical removal of the wart. An incision is made around the perimeter of the wart, along with a small margin of healthy skin. The tissue is then removed.
Curettage is a surgical wart-removal technique in which a tool called a curette is used to scrape away the tissue.
What to Expect During Wart Removal
First, a local anesthetic may be topically applied or injected. Depending on the method used, some slight discomfort may occur. Once the wart is removed, a protective dressing will be put over the treatment area.
What to Expect After Wart Removal
Healing will take approximately 10 days to a couple of weeks. The treatment area needs to be regularly disinfected, and any dressings must be replaced. Sloughed-off skin layers and blister fluid can still contain live wart-causing viral bacteria.
For treatment areas that are weight-bearing or compressed, it will be important not to wear anything tight. Make sure to give weight-bearing areas such as the bottom of the feet a regular break.
Diligently following all instructions after treatment is essential in preventing warts from reappearing or spreading. More than one treatment may be necessary for more extensive or deeply infected layers.
What Is the Cost of Wart Treatments?
The cost of wart removal depends on factors like the type of treatment needed. During your consultation, feel free to inquire about price information.
In some cases, fees associated with wart removal can be covered by health insurance plans. Our knowledgeable office staff is happy to assist with questions regarding insurance billing and accepted forms of payment.
Contact Us Today
Schedule a consultation for wart treatment in Roseville at Placer Dermatology. Our practice specializes in the treatment and removal of warts and has a multitude of solutions to create an effective, individualized plan for you.