Warts

Warts can develop on their own or in clusters. They are usually painless, but some can cause discomfort and may occasionally itch or bleed.

Warts can vary in size and appearance and may be:

• raised or domed

• firm

• round or oval-shaped

• flat

• rough and irregular on the surface

• skin-coloured, brown, grey, or black

• between 1mm and 10 mm in size

Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Warts develop when HPV enters a cut or break in the skin, causing an infection. The infection triggers extra cell growth, which causes a small bump on the surface of the skin.

Anyone can be infected by the virus and develop a wart, but children and young adults are most commonly affected. People with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS or those who have had an organ transplant, are also at higher risk.

Warts are highly contagious and are often spread through:

• direct skin-to-wart contact

• touching a contaminated item such as a towel, sponge, doorknob, or floor

• sexual intercourse

• nail biting and cuticle picking

• shaving

Our consultant dermatologists can make a diagnosis of warts at your initial consultation by examining the bumps. In some cases, they may take a biopsy (a small sample of the growth) to test for HPV.

Warts can be prevented by minimising potential contact with HPV and reducing the risk of the virus entering the skin. 

Help prevent warts by:

• following good hygiene practices – wash hands regularly and avoid touching warts 

• protecting skin in public places – wear flip flops in communal showers and changing rooms 

• keeping feet clean and dry 

• avoiding picking or biting skin or nails – this creates entry points for HPV

• avoiding sharing personal items such as towels

Most warts disappear over time or after treatment with no further complications. 

Possible complications of warts are:

• pain – especially if the wart is on the feet or under a nail

• infection – broken skin can lead to secondary infection, causing redness, swelling or pus

• spreading of warts to other body parts 

Most warts are harmless and will often clear up on their own within 2 years. However, we recommend seeing one of our dermatologists if they don’t go away, they hurt, you have a lot of warts, or you would like to remove them. 

Treatments for warts include:

• salicylic acid

• chemical treatments

• cryotherapy

• immunotherapy

• laser treatment

Your dermatologist will discuss treatment options with you based on your symptoms and the location of your warts. They will then treat your warts in our dedicated Skin Health centre. 

Treatment of warts can take several weeks or months, and it’s important to know that no treatment is 100% effective, so warts may return. Once you have the virus, warts can reappear in the same location or on a different part of the body, even after treatment.

At Welbeck, our dermatologists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.