Skin & Complexion
Benign, contagious skin growths caused by certain types of human papillomavirus.
Physician-led assessment · individualized care · Vancouver clinic
Understanding Warts
The defining fact about warts is that they are an infection, not a blemish, caused by human papillomavirus entering through tiny breaks in the skin, and that changes how they behave. Being viral, they can spread to nearby skin and to other people, and they can recur after apparently successful treatment because the virus, not just the bump, is the target; susceptibility also varies with each person's immune response, which is why not everyone exposed gets them. Most are harmless and many eventually clear, but a growth that bleeds, changes quickly, looks like an open sore or resists usual wart treatment should be assessed, since some skin cancers can masquerade as a stubborn wart.
Causes and Contributing Factors
Warts are caused by human papillomavirus, of which there are many types. The virus enters through small breaks in the skin and is spread by direct contact with a wart or with surfaces such as floors around pools and communal showers. Warts can also spread from one part of the body to another. Not everyone exposed develops warts, as susceptibility varies with immune response and skin condition.
Signs and Symptoms
Warts vary by type and location, but common features include:
Assessment
A clinician can usually recognise a wart from its typical appearance and location, sometimes paring the surface to reveal characteristic features such as small clotted blood vessels. Where a growth is atypical, does not respond to treatment, or could be something else, closer assessment or a biopsy may be considered. Correct naming is particularly important for lesions that bleed, ulcerate or change.
Treatment Options
These are some of the options connected to this concern. The appropriate plan depends on assessment, suitability, and your goals.
Many warts eventually clear on their own, though this can take time, and treatment aims to remove the wart and limit spread. Approaches include topical treatments and in-office procedures, with the choice depending on the wart's type, size and location and the person's circumstances. Because warts can recur, more than one treatment is sometimes needed. A clinical assessment helps name the lesion and guide suitable management.
Which approach fits is an individual question. It depends on your anatomy, skin, health and goals, and on what the examination finds, with more than one option often working together and at-home skincare alongside. A consultation is where those are weighed, expectations set honestly, and a plan agreed rather than assumed. Nothing is guaranteed, and there is no pressure to proceed.
For the fuller picture, explore the treatment pages above or discuss the options during a consultation.
Medical Assessment
Medical assessment is important if a suspected wart bleeds easily, grows or changes quickly, looks like an open sore, is painful, or fails to respond to treatment, as these may indicate a different diagnosis. Warts in people with weakened immune systems, warts on the face, and any genital or anal lesions also warrant clinical assessment rather than self-treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Warts are caused by a virus and can spread through direct contact or from contaminated surfaces such as pool decks and communal showers, and from one area of your body to another. Covering warts and not sharing personal items can help limit spread.
Warts can recur because the underlying virus may persist in the skin even after a visible wart is treated. Recurrence does not necessarily mean treatment failed, and more than one course of treatment is sometimes needed.
Many warts do eventually clear without treatment, though this can take months to years and varies between individuals. Treatment is often chosen to speed clearance, ease discomfort or reduce the chance of spreading them.
Seek assessment if a growth bleeds, changes quickly, looks like an open sore, is painful, or does not respond to treatment, since it may be something other than a wart. Warts on the face, genital or anal lesions, and warts in people with weakened immunity also warrant medical review.
Physician Assessment
An assessment can help clarify what may be contributing, which options may be appropriate, and what a reasonable next step could look like for you.
Visit Our Clinic
Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic combines medical assessment, individualized planning, physician oversight, and a broad range of treatment options in its Vancouver clinic.
Bring your questions, treatment history, and goals. Your provider can help you understand appropriate options, expected recovery, and realistic outcomes.
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