Are Warts a Health Concern?

If you have warts, you have plenty of company. About 10% of Americans have warts, including both adults and kids. In fact, because warts are so contagious, the rate can be even higher among kids — as high as 20%. 

Typically, warts aren’t harmful, but some warts can pose a health concern. They’re also highly contagious, two reasons why it’s important to have them medically evaluated and treated.

At Luminary Dermatology, our team offers an array of treatments for warts, helping you enjoy clearer, healthier skin. Here, learn why warts happen and why treating them is so important for your health and the health of those around you.

Warts 101

Warts are fleshy growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a large family of viruses with more than 100 subtypes. Like many viruses, HPV is very contagious, which means it can easily spread from one person to another. You can also spread the infection to other parts of your own body if you touch a wart and then touch another area.

There are different types of warts, and each type tends to affect a specific part of your body. For instance:

• Common warts frequently appear on your hands and fingers
• Plantar warts appear on the bottoms of your feet
• Flat warts can appear just about anywhere on your arms, legs, or torso
• Genital warts appear around the genital or anal area

While you can spread warts through direct contact, you can also “catch” warts by contact with a contaminated item or surface, like a locker room floor or damp shower room. Sharing towels or razors can spread the virus, too.. 

Many warts disappear over time, thanks to your immune system — but it can take months before they begin to fade away. In the meantime, it’s not uncommon for warts to spread. Some warts, like genital warts, can come back unless they’re aggressively treated.

Potential health concerns

In addition to spreading to others or other parts of your body, warts can pose additional health concerns. For example, if a wart changes in appearance — size, shape, color, or texture — it may not be a wart at all, but instead, a sign of skin cancer. Early diagnosis of anything you think might be a wart is important to ensure you receive the early and appropriate treatment.

Warts near joints or in areas where clothing rubs against your skin can cause issues, too, like soreness, bleeding, or even infection. Warts that don’t clear up on their own after several weeks should be evaluated, and so should clusters of warts or warts that recur.

Finally, genital warts should always be treated to prevent spreading them to others. These warts may also increase your risk of cancer, making screening and evaluation especially critical.

Treating warts

Treating warts with over-the-counter products is one possibility, but these treatments should be used cautiously. Not only can some over-the-counter products cause scarring, but if your wart is actually skin cancer, removing the growth could delay life-saving treatment.

Before recommending any treatment, our team performs a thorough evaluation of your wart to determine if it really is a wart or if it could be a sign of skin cancer or other skin issue. For warts, we offer a variety of treatments, including:

• Topical therapies
• Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen
• Laser treatment
• Surgical removal

If you have a wart or any type of unusual skin growth, early evaluation is critical to ensure you receive appropriate treatment for optimal health. To learn more about wart treatments, book an appointment online or over the phone with our team at Luminary Dermatology. We have offices in Arcadia, Miami, Bradenton, Homestead, Sarasota, Venice, Longboat Key, and Northport, Florida.