Warts are common skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). While some warts may eventually go away on their own, many persist, spread, or become painful without proper treatment. Seeing your dermatologist for evaluation and management is the safest and most effective way to address them.

Warts can be painful and disruptive.

Plantar warts may feel like walking on a pebble, interfering with exercise and daily activity. Warts on the hands can crack or bleed, affecting work and hygiene. Facial warts can impact self-confidence and social interactions. Your dermatologist creates a customized treatment plan that considers the location of your wart(s), your skin type, and your overall health.

Not every skin growth that looks like a wart is actually a wart.

Skin cancers, precancerous lesions, calluses, and other benign growths can sometimes resemble warts. Your dermatologist diagnoses your skin condition to determine whether the lesion is truly a wart or something that requires a different approach. Early and accurate diagnosis is especially important if a growth changes in size, color, or shape, bleeds, or becomes increasingly painful.

Warts are contagious.

Warts spread through direct skin-to-skin contact or indirectly through shared surfaces. Scratching, shaving over, or picking at a wart can cause the virus to spread to other areas of your body. Your dermatologist provides targeted treatment that reduces your viral load and decreases the risk of spreading warts to other parts of your skin or to another person.

Over-the-counter wart treatments do not work for everyone. You may end up making your skin condition worse.

Many patients use salicylic acid or freezing kits incorrectly, leading to skin irritation, burns, or incomplete removal. Stubborn warts—especially plantar warts on the feet, periungual warts around the nails, and flat warts on the face—often require professional treatment.

Your dermatologist may offer in-office cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen), topical medications by prescription, electrocautery, immunotherapy or sometimes minor surgical procedures.

These treatments are more precise, more effective, and carefully monitored to minimize scarring.

If you have a wart that is persistent, painful, spreading, or simply bothersome, call us now to make an appointment. Professional evaluation and treatment can save time, prevent complications, and help you feel more confident in your skin.