Are You Dealing With Warts?

Find out more about warts, why they happen and how they can be treated.

Have you noticed a skin-colored bump on your body that wasn’t there before? If so you may be wondering if you have a wart, a benign growth that surfaces when you’ve been infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Of course, while warts are common, not all growths are warts and it’s important that our Tulsa, OK, dermatologist Dr. Lynn Anderson evaluates any new growths, lumps or bumps to determine whether it will require care.

If it is a wart, it’s important to know that this growth may often just go away on its own; however, it can take a couple of years. Some people choose to wait it out if the wart is in an inconspicuous place and isn’t causing any discomfort. In other cases, a wart may develop on the face or on the soles of the feet, making it rather uncomfortable and unsightly. When this happens it’s advisable to discuss wart removal treatment options with our Tulsa, OK, skin doctor.

There are several methods for treating a wart. If a person is otherwise healthy they may choose to tackle the problem from the comfort of their own home. This is typically the first line of defense. Look for over-the-counter wart removal options and talk to your pharmacist about the right treatment option for you. Most over-the-counter wart removal treatment contains an acid that will peel the wart away until it dies and falls off.

If you are a little nervous to treat the problem yourself, if at-home treatments aren’t working or if you have diabetes or a compromised immune system you’ll want to turn to your dermatologist as soon as possible. Depending on the location and size of the wart we may choose liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart off, or laser surgery (for warts that are more challenging to remove).

If you have a wart that is causing your discomfort or is disfiguring know that treatment is just a phone call away. Turn to Midtown Dermatology in Tulsa, OK, to give you the individualized care you need for healthy skin.