Viral warts are the most common viral skin infection, and are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).
Viral warts are contagious and are transmitted by skin- to skin contact or from the environment, especially in areas with high human traffic. (e.g. public toilet floors, swimming pool decks). They may also spread to another body part or to other people. It may take a few months for the wart to appear after the initial infection.
They can appear as rough tiny raised bumps overlying small black spots, or also as small flat growths on the palms and soles. These can cause pain on walking. They most commonly appear on the hands, feet or fingers, but can infect any part of the skin.
There are multiple treatment options for Viral Warts. Your dermatologist will discuss with In you an appropriate treatment option that you are comfortable with.
In children, some parents may opt to watch for spontaneous clearance of warts , which may take from months to 1-2 years.
In both children and adults, other treatment options range from topically applied medication, liquid nitrogen, to electrosurgery or laser surgery removal.
However, it must be noted that warts can recur even after treatment, this may happen weeks or months later. There is no need to worry if a wart recurs; consult your dermatologist and discuss if the same treatment method can be used again or you may want to try a different method to remove it.
Liquid nitrogen therapy is a safe and effective treatment for a variety of skin conditions including viral warts. Liquid nitrogen, which has a temperature well below freezing point, can be applied to the wart either through various applicators. There will be a slight amount of discomfort during treatment, as a result, it may not be suitable for very young children.
After treatment, you can carry on your regular daily activities as per usual as there may only be a temporary discomfort at the site of treatment. A less common side effect of treatment include blistering where the liquid nitrogen is applied.