Dermatologist Wart Removal Options

A wart is a small, benign growth on the surface of the skin. Warts can appear anywhere on the body, but are most common on the hands and feet. Warts tend to be harmless and usually do not cause significant pain or discomfort, but some individuals prefer to have them removed. The experienced providers at Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Diseases in Roswell, Alpharetta, Cumming, and Sandy Springs, GA, treat warts and can recommend the right removal option for you. 

Types of Warts

There are several different types of warts, but all are caused by various forms of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Types of warts include:

• Common Warts — Can develop anywhere on the body, but most often occur on the back of the hands and fingers, toes, or knees.
• Plantar Warts: Develop on the soles of the feet, which can cause discomfort when walking or standing. These warts can spread quickly so it is best to seek treatment to prevent spreading.
• Flat Warts — Often appear on the face and hands, and are more common in children and teens than adults.
• Filiform Warts — Develop on the neck and face, especially around the eyelids and lips, and can cause itching or bleeding. 
• Subungual and Periungual Warts — Occur around the fingernails and toenails.
• Genital Warts — Develop around the genital and pubic areas.

Wart Removal Options  

Some types of warts will eventually disappear on their own, but the process is slow. Treatment is needed to eliminate warts quickly and to prevent them from spreading. We offer several treatment options for warts at our dermatology offices in Roswell, Alpharetta, Cumming, and Sandy Springs, GA, including wart removal. 

Common treatment and removal options for warts include:

• Injections — Medication is injected directly into the warts to stimulate the immune system to fight the virus that caused them.
• Cryotherapy — Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the warts so they dry our and fall off. Multiple treatment sessions might be needed to completely eliminate all the warts.
• Electrosurgery — A mild electric current is sent through the warts, which destroys the excess tissue. 
• Surgical Removal — Warts are removed by carefully cutting them out from the skin.
• Laser Treatment — A special laser is sued to kill the blood vessels that supply the warts. Multiple treatment sessions might be needed to completely remove the warts.
• Salicylic Acid— Applied topically directly on the wart and works by slowly dissolving the many layers of keratin tissue making up the wart. It can take four to six weeks, on average, for the salicylic acid to completely eliminate the wart. 

If you are interested in wart removal, we can help. Schedule an appointment with one of our skilled dermatologists to learn which treatment option is best for removing your warts by calling Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Diseases in Roswell, Alpharetta, Cumming, and Sandy Springs, GA, at (404) 252-4333 for the office in Sandy Springs, GA, (770) 751-1133 for the office in Roswell, GA, (770) 664-5225 for the office in Alpharetta, GA, and (770) 844-1902 for the office in Cumming, GA.