Warts

Warts can be embarrassing or irritating, but they’re easy to treat and remove. At Kessel Dermatology, servicing the Hamilton Square, Trenton, and Mercer County areas in New Jersey, the board-certified and licensed dermatology specialists offer highly effective wart removal treatments to restore the look and health of your skin. Call the office at the first sign of warts or schedule an appointment online today. 

What are warts?

Warts are grainy skin growths caused by a virus. They often develop on your hands, fingers, feet, or toes. They commonly contain tiny black dots due to clotted blood vessels. When left untreated, warts can become larger or spread to other areas of your body. 

Warts may take 2-6 months to develop after being exposed to a wart-causing virus. While usually harmless, warts may cause embarrassment. See the Kessel Dermatology experts when you first notice a wart.

What do warts look like?

The symptoms of warts include:

• Small grainy or fleshy bumps
• Skin-colored growths that are rough to the touch
• Skin growths containing black dots
• Growths that increase in size

Warts usually resolve on their own, but it may take a year or longer. Many people prefer to have them removed for cosmetic purposes and to reduce the risk of warts spreading and growing on other areas of the body.

What causes warts?

The virus that causes warts is called human papillomavirus (HPV). It spreads from person to person through skin-to-skin contact, shared personal items, or shared surfaces. 

Warts can spread by sharing washcloths, towels, shoes, or other personal items. You might contract warts on your feet or toes after walking barefoot in locker rooms, showers, or other communal areas.

The risk factors for developing warts include being a child or young adult or having a weakened immune system.

Avoid direct contact with warts, including your own, to reduce the chance of developing additional warts. Don’t pick at warts, bite your fingernails, or shave warts because it can spread the virus to other parts of your body.

How does my specialist diagnose warts?

Your Kessel Dermatology provider diagnoses warts after discussing your symptoms, reviewing your medical history, and examining growths on your skin. They may evaluate a wart using a magnifying glass, scrape off the top layer, or remove a section of the wart and send it to a lab for analysis.

How are warts treated?

To effectively treat warts, your Kessel Dermatology provider may recommend topical medicines, freezing the wart, injections, or minor surgery. While we do not perform the service in our office, the provider may also recommend removing the wart using laser treatment, and they would provide the appropriate referral for treatment. They make sure to remove all of the wart to prevent it from returning. 

Each person has unique needs, which is why your Kessel Dermatology provider customizes each treatment plan based on your preferences and desired results.

To remove warts with the help of the Kessel Dermatology team, call the office or use the online booking feature today.