If you suffer from hand and finger warts on a regular basis, see a dermatologist for treatment soon. The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes warts to grow on various parts of your body, including the hands. Warts can be recurrent if they show up all the time. Learn more about recurrent warts and how a dermatologist treats them below.
What Are Hand Warts?
Warts, or verruca vulgaris, develop on skin exposed to the human papillomavirus. The virus generally affects the genitals through sexual activity but can also form on broken or cut skin. Dermatologists refer to the bumps on your hands and fingers as common warts.
Common warts can take on many different appearances. Warts can be smooth and round, or they can be rough and bumpy. The growths can also form in clusters or large groups. Most common warts disappear within two or three years. However, some common warts become recurrent, or persistent.
You can also spread the virus to other people through your warts. You want to prevent the spread of HPV and treat your warts with a dermatologist's help.
How Can a Dermatologist Treat Your Warts?
A dermatologist can treat your warts with various treatments, including liquid nitrogen, or cryotherapy. Liquid nitrogen freezes warts on your hands and fingers. Frozen warts usually go away on their own. You generally don't feel any type of discomfort with cryotherapy treatment.
A dermatologist may also use chemicals to treat your common warts. The chemicals cause warts to blister and peel away from the surfaces of your skin. You may or may not feel discomfort with chemical treatment.
If warts on your hands and fingers don't disappear with cryotherapy or chemical treatment, a dermatologist will perform a biopsy of the growths. A biopsy allows a dermatologist to physically remove your warts from the surfaces of your hands and fingers. A skin doctor may use various surgical tools during your biopsy, such as a scalpel. A dermatologist will generally numb the treatment areas with medication prior to the procedure.
After a skin doctor treats or removes your warts, they may recommend you see a regular doctor about your HPV. Although HPV can leave the body over time, the virus can linger in the bodies of some individuals. A doctor or dermatologist can help you find ways to manage your health until the virus leaves your body.
Learn more about warts on your hands and fingers by contacting a dermatologist today.
Share26 October 2021
I am a mother of four wonderful children, and like other parents, I have been to my fair share of health care clinics. It seems like my children are always getting scrapes and coming down with colds. When I was a new parent, I never knew whether I should take my injured or ill child to the emergency room or local urgent care facility. I received some simple advice from a seasoned parent that made my decisions easier that I want to pass onto all new parents, along with other health tips I've learned. he told me that she tended to take her children to the ER when they were bleeding or had very high temperatures and took them to the local urgent care for any other problem. I have followed her advice ever since, and my children remain healthy and happy!
