Warts & Wart Removal Geelong

What causes warts?

Warts are caused by a viral infection in the top layers of skin. The virus to blame is the HPV or Human Papilloma Virus. This virus has many strains (over 100 have currently been identified), the most common found in skin warts being HPV 1, 2, 4, 7, 27, 57, 60 and 65. The virus enters the skin through a small cut, scratch or abrasion and is either cleared by your body’s immune response, or sticks around replicating and causing thickening of the skin that can grow out in a lumpy or cauliflower form, or grow in under the skin as a papilloma.

Which treatments are available to clear warts?

Warts can be quite tricky to treat. Some clear with a single treatment, some will clear on their own in time ( the body’s immune response suddenly identifying the virus and removing it), and some warts require multiple treatments before resolution.

Treatment options include:

• creams and paints available from the pharmacy (Salicylic acid, podophyllin)
• creams available on prescription (immune modulating creams)
• cryotherapy – warts are frozen with liquid nitrogen
• laser treatments

What different types of warts can be treated at Geelong Veins, Skin and Laser?

Stubborn warts on the fingers, thumbs and hands.

Papillomas – warts on the sole of the foot.

Warts that have not responded to other treatments.