Warts

Getting rid of warts takes persistence. Often your doctor will treat you in the office while you continue to do at-home therapies. If you have warts and want them treated, look no further than Sapphire Dermatology. From two offices in Silver Spring, Maryland, and Reston, Virginia, the skilled dermatologists Kunal Angra, MD, Divya Angra, MD, and their team of professionals work with you to create a treatment plan tailored to your needs and goals. Call either office to schedule a consultation or request one online today, which is fast and easy.

What causes warts?

Warts are non-cancerous, benign skin growths caused by infection from viruses known as human papillomavirus (HPV). The most common type of warts includes:

• Common warts
• Plantar warts (warts that appear on the soles of the feet)
• Flat warts
• Genital warts

Warts can present as rough, raised, hard bumps with tiny black dots or cauliflower like growths.

Who is more at risk for developing warts?

Warts are highly contagious and can easily spread by direct skin-to-skin contact or through contact with a contaminated object.

Young children or people with weakened immune systems are most at risk for getting warts. If you have diabetes or a weak immune system, it is recommended to avoid self-treatment and instead follow up with your doctor.

What is the treatment for warts?

Some doctors say that the best treatment for warts is no treatment at all. Most people develop an immune response that causes warts to go away by themselves. 

Various treatment options for warts are available, ranging from at home remedies to treatments done in a doctor’s office, such as Sapphire Dermatology. If your wart doesn't disappear, or if it's unsightly or uncomfortable, you can try self-treatment or seek help from your doctor. 

Self treatment

Self treatment methods include over-the-counter (OTC) medications in pad, gel, liquid, and ointment form. Some examples are Duofilm, Compound W, and Occlusal HP.

You can also apply an OTC freezing spray. Sprays generally contain liquid butane and are sprayed directly onto the wart to freeze and kill the tissue, but it needs to go deep enough to be effective. It can also be painful because the spray needs to be applied longer than if you were being treated in a doctor’s office.

In office treatment

The Sapphire Dermatology team skillfully performs wart treatments. They might recommend freezing warts with liquid nitrogen, applying acids to help destroy the wart, injecting a drug called bleomycin into the wart (which kills the virus), or injecting candida antigen to stimulate the body’s immune system (to fight off the wart).

The team may also prescribe a topical medication like imiquimod (Aldara), which improves the body's fighting capabilities and is often helpful for treating genital warts.

If you have warts and want them skillfully removed, call Sapphire Dermatology to schedule a consultation or request one online, which is fast and easy.