That Small Bump That Doesn't Go Away
Warts are one of those skin concerns that people tend to ignore for months before seeking help — partly because they're usually painless, partly because they seem minor, and partly because home treatments (duct tape, salicylic acid plasters, freezing kits) are widely available. But warts that are growing, spreading, appearing on the face, or appearing in children deserve proper evaluation. And certain types of warts are best not self-treated at all.
This guide from Sood Aesthetics explains what warts are, which types you might have, and exactly when professional removal in Bangalore is the right call.
What Are Warts?
Warts are benign skin growths caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). There are over 100 strains of HPV — different strains cause different types of warts in different body locations. HPV infects the top layer of skin (keratinocytes) through small cuts or breaks, causing cells to grow rapidly and form the characteristic raised growth.
They are contagious — spread through direct skin contact, shared surfaces (swimming pools, gym floors), and autoinoculation (spreading from one part of your own body to another through touching or shaving). They are not cancerous, but certain HPV strains (specifically genital warts) are associated with risks that require separate medical management.
Types of Warts
- Common warts (verruca vulgaris): Rough, raised, greyish growths most commonly on hands, fingers, and knees. The most frequently seen type.
- Plantar warts (verruca plantaris): Flat or slightly raised warts on the soles of the feet. Often painful due to inward pressure from walking. May have a black dot centre (thrombosed capillaries). Can occur in clusters (mosaic warts).
- Flat warts (verruca plana): Small, smooth, flat-topped warts. Often appear in multiple clusters on the face, neck, hands, or legs. Common in children and young adults. Can spread from shaving.
- Filiform warts: Thin, thread-like projections, typically on the face — around the eyes, nose, and mouth. Grow quickly and are easily spread to adjacent areas.
- Periungual warts: Around and under fingernails and toenails. Can interfere with nail growth and be difficult to treat.
- Genital warts (condyloma acuminata): Caused by HPV strains 6 and 11. Appear on the genitals, around the anus, or in the groin. Must be managed medically — not with OTC wart treatments.
Common Mistakes When Treating Warts at Home
- Using salicylic acid on the face: OTC salicylic acid wart treatments can cause chemical burns and scarring on thin facial skin. Flat warts on the face should always be treated professionally.
- Cutting or picking warts: Causes bleeding, increases spread to surrounding skin, and can introduce secondary bacterial infection.
- Treating genital warts with OTC products: These require professional assessment and treatment — different wart strains and location make OTC approaches inappropriate and potentially harmful.
- Giving up too early: Wart treatment takes time. Salicylic acid requires daily application for several weeks. Inconsistency produces poor results.
- Ignoring spread: What starts as one wart can rapidly become multiple if left unmanaged. Early treatment prevents the need for more extensive later removal.
Professional Wart Removal Options at Sood Aesthetics
- Cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen): The most widely used clinical method. Liquid nitrogen freezes and destroys the wart tissue. Requires 1–4 sessions depending on size and type. Mild discomfort — burning or stinging — during the procedure.
- Electrocautery: Uses electrical current to burn off the wart. Effective for common and filiform warts. Quick and precise.
- Chemical treatment (trichloroacetic acid): Applied in clinic to destroy wart tissue layer by layer. Good for flat warts and multiple small warts.
- Laser treatment: CO2 laser vaporisation for resistant warts or those in difficult locations. Highly precise with minimal surrounding tissue damage.
- Immunotherapy: For multiple recurrent warts, intralesional injections or topical immunomodulators stimulate the immune system to clear HPV more effectively.
When to See a Dermatologist for Wart Removal
Professional evaluation is recommended when:
- The wart is on the face, genitals, or around the nails
- The growth is large, rapidly growing, or changing in appearance
- You have diabetes or a compromised immune system (higher risk of complications)
- OTC treatment has been tried for 3 months without result
- Multiple warts are spreading
- You're unsure whether the growth is a wart (some skin cancers mimic warts)
Conclusion
Warts are common, benign, and treatable. Most respond to appropriate treatment within weeks to months. Professional removal is faster, more effective, and safer for warts in sensitive locations or those that haven't responded to home management. At Sood Aesthetics, Dr. Sneha Sood identifies the wart type and recommends the most appropriate removal method for your situation.
FAQs
1. Do warts go away on their own?
Some warts, particularly in children, do resolve spontaneously as the immune system clears the HPV over months to years. In adults, spontaneous resolution is less predictable, and treatment is generally recommended.
2. Is wart removal painful?
Cryotherapy causes temporary stinging and burning. Electrocautery and laser are performed under local anaesthesia. Post-procedure soreness resolves within a few days.
3. Will warts come back after removal?
Removal destroys the wart but doesn't eliminate the HPV from your system. Recurrence is possible, particularly if immune defences are low. Complete treatment courses and avoiding reinfection reduce recurrence.
4. Can children have warts removed at Sood Aesthetics?
Yes. Dr. Sneha Sood sees paediatric patients. Treatment approach for children is tailored to age, cooperation, and wart type — often starting with gentler chemical methods before cryotherapy.
5. Are plantar warts dangerous?
Not dangerous, but they can be significantly painful — especially with the pressure of walking. Treatment is recommended to prevent enlargement and spread.
