Warts Overview
Warts, also known as verruca, can be unsightly and inconvenient. Although usually small and painless, warts are a viral infection of the skin, which can lead to enhanced spread if not treated.
Warts, also known as verruca, can be unsightly and inconvenient. Although usually small and painless, warts are a viral infection of the skin, which can lead to enhanced spread if not treated.
At Hattiesburg Clinic, we treat warts in several ways including prescription therapy, liquid nitrogen and surgery. Because the severity of warts differs from patient to patient, treatment is situational and depends on several factors. We also like to work with the patient in the best way possible to avoid unnecessary aggressive procedures, which increase the risk of possible scarring.
When medical or noninvasive treatments for warts or molluscum are not successful, we may recommend the surgical removal of warts. The most common types of surgical removal include electrosurgery, curettage and lasers. Electrosurgery involves burning the wart, and curettage is cutting the wart with a small spoon-shaped tool. Treatment via laser, which destroys the wart with an intense beam of light, is also an option.
These techniques can be painful and cause scarring and in some cases, a patient may require anesthesia.
Warts are caused by a virus. The virus infects skin cells, which causes a visible bump and/or lesion. A wart can also be transferred if scratched and touching another part of the skin.