Warts

Benign skin growths caused by HPV. Treated with salicylic acid, cryotherapy, laser, or immunotherapy.

What is Warts

A wart is a small skin growth that most often occurs on the hands, fingers, or toes. These common growths tend to resemble small, skin-colored bumps, though they can vary in size. It’s also normal for warts to develop in groups on the elbows and knees because they can transfer and spread. Caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), warts are usually harmless, but they can be irritating and unsightly. When over-the-counter or home remedies aren’t enough to remove your wart, we invite you to reach out to Dr. Payne at Flourish Dermatology And Aesthetics to discuss professional wart treatment options. If you have a wart or other skin growth you’d like removed, schedule a consultation at our New Orleans, LA practice.

Symptoms & Indicators

Small, raised bumps

Rough or smooth surface

Single or clustered growths

Itching

It usually happens because

Human papillomavirus infection

Direct contact

Skin injuries

Wet hands

Sweaty feet

Nail biting

How do we treat Warts

It’s possible for a wart to regrow even after treatment — so it’s important to find the right technique that is most likely to minimize future spreading. One common and effective treatment for wart removal is by freezing the growth with liquid nitrogen. With this technique, Dr. Payne applies liquid nitrogen to the wart. A blister will develop around the wart, and the frozen skin will fall off in a week. Another popular treatment involves using cantharidin, a chemical that can lead to inflammation of the skin once applied to a wart. This chemical is placed on the skin to create a blister around the wart, generating little to no pain in the process. Electrosurgery (burning) can also be used in addition to scraping with a curette or excising (cutting) the wart(s). Immunotherapy injections can also be used for treatment if the wart is unresponsive to conventional approaches.

After Treatment

Removing warts can get rid of discomfort, reduce spread to other areas or people, and improve how your skin looks. Treating them early also lowers the chance of larger or more stubborn clusters.