Warts are infections of the skin that appear as raised bumps, caused by the Human Papillomavirus or HPV. There are many types of warts caused by many different types of HPV.

Although most warts are not harmful, they are contagious, ugly, and on occasion – painful. Anyone can be affected by warts, but they are most common in children 12-16 years old.

Characteristics of a wart:
– Raised bump
– Can have rough or smooth surfacing
– Can appear in clusters or on their own
– Itchiness

You can be more prone to warts if you:
– Have an injury or break in the skin
– Skin infection
– Moist skin or hands from water or sweat
– Nail biting
– Direct contact with your own or other people’s warts

Different Types Of Warts:

Common wart:

– Appear duller than the surrounding skin
– Grow on fingers and toes
– Rough and gritty

Plantar wart:
– Grow on soles of feet
– Will not be raised but appear as a small hole surrounded by hard skin

Flat warts:
– Appear brown or yellowish
– Grow on face, legs, and arms
– Quite small

Periungual warts:
– Affects nail growth
– Grow under toenail and fingernails
– Can be painful

Treatment:
Generally, warts disappear on their own without treatment. But this may take a bit of time, even longer in adults. This is why most people opt for treatment options such as:
– Cryotherapy done by your Podiatrist
– Gels or creams that contain salicylic acid or lactic acid
– Multiple punctate therapy done by your Podiatrist

It is possible to prevent warts and prevent them from spreading. To do that you can:
– Always cover any warts you have
– Do not touch or pick at warts
– Never touch anyone else’s wart
– Wash hands regularly

At Mint Foot Care, we will perform an extensive consultation to accurately determine the best treatment options for you. Call us on 1300 975 980 or visit us in clinic today.