Viral Warts
Warts are growths on your skin caused by an infection with human papilloma virus, or HPV.
Types of warts include:
- Common warts, which often appear on your fingers, toes and on the knees Plantar warts, which show up on the soles of your feet
- Genital warts, which are a sexually transmitted disease
- Flat warts are skin-coloured and can appear in any area of the body
- Periungual warts prefer to grow at the sides or under the nails and can distort nail growth
Warts are contagious and may spread from one area of the body to another or to others. There is no way to prevent warts.
In children, warts often go away on their own. In adults, they tend to stay. If they hurt or bother you,
or if they multiply, you can remove them.
Treatment
Many people don’t bother to treat them because treatment can be more uncomfortable and troublesome than the warts – they are hardly ever a serious problem. However, warts may be painful and they often look ugly and cause embarrassment.
Chemical treatment
Chemical treatment includes salicylic acid, 5-fluorouracil and imiquimod which work by removing the
dead surface skin cells.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is the most common treatment for warts. The wart is frozen with liquid nitrogen repeatedly, at one to three week intervals. This is uncomfortable for a few minutes and may result in blistering for several days.
Electrosurgery
Electrosurgery (curettage & cautery) is used for particularly large and annoying warts. Under local anaesthetic, the growth is pared away and the base burned by diathermy or cautery. The wound heals in about two weeks.
Laser Treatment
Large warts can also be treated by CO2 laser. This can result in a wound which can take about 2 weeks to heal.
Dr Lynn Chiam…
Dr Lynn Chiam graduated from the National University of Singapore and subsequently received her Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (Internal Medicine) United Kingdom. She completed her specialist training in dermatology...
Why choose Children & Adult Skin Clinic?
No two individuals are the same. Our treatments are customized to each individual’s unique skin type & needs.
Through consultation with our doctor, a thorough analysis will be undertaken to determine the ideal treatment methods for the best possible results.
