Introduction
Although benign, they can be bothersome, painful (particularly plantar warts) or a cosmetic concern.
Symptoms
- Well-defined papules or nodules on the skin
- Rough or horny surface
- Skin-coloured, yellowish or brownish
- Common warts: hands, fingers
- Plantar warts (verrucas): painful when walking
- Flat warts: face, backs of the hands
- Multiple warts possible
- Slow progression, sometimes clearing on their own
Causes
- Infection with various types of cutaneous HPV
- Transmission through
- direct skin contact minor skin injuries wet floors (swimming pools, changing rooms)
- direct skin contact
- minor skin injuries
- wet floors (swimming pools, changing rooms)
- Self-inoculation possible
- Contributing factors
- childhood moist, macerated skin weakened immune system
- childhood
- moist, macerated skin
- weakened immune system
Diagnosis
- Clinical diagnosis in most cases
- Dermoscopy useful to confirm the diagnosis
- No routine further tests
- Biopsy only exceptionally if the diagnosis is uncertain
- Differential diagnosis with: corns keratoses pigmented lesions
- corns
- keratoses
- pigmented lesions
Treatments
- Keratolytics (salicylic acid)
- Controlled caustic solutions
- Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen
- Dermatological curettage
- Dermatological laser
- Electrocoagulation (selected cases)
- Protecting treated areas
- Avoiding scratching and self-inoculation
- Precision medical cryotherapy
- CO2 laser or vascular laser as indicated
Management
Individualised dermatological care
Information on the sometimes lengthy course
Treatment recommended in the case of: pain practical problems cosmetic impact
pain
practical problems
cosmetic impact
Appropriate follow-up for recurrences