Wart Anatomy

Warts grow only in the epidermis, the upper skin layer. A typical wart has a raised, rough surface. (Some, like those on the face, may be smooth and flat.) The center of a wart may be flecked with dark dots; these are capillaries that supply it with blood.

A wart is a small growth with a rough texture that can appear anywhere on the body. It can look like a solid blister or a small cauliflower

Warts are caused by viruses in the human papillomavirus (HPV) family.

The appearance of a wart depends on its location on the body and the thickness of the skin.

Palmar warts appear on the hand. Plantar warts affect the feet.

As many as 1 in 3 children and teenagers are estimated to have warts, but only 3 to 5 percent of adults. This is probably because the immune system becomes better able to prevent their development over time.

People with a weakened immune system are more likely to have warts.

Fast facts on warts

• A wart is a small growth on the skin that may look like a solid blister or a small cauliflower.
• Types of wart include common warts, flat warts, pigmented warts, and plantar warts.
• Black dots in the wart are blood vessels that can lead to bleeding.
• Most warts disappear in 1 to 5 years without medical treatment, but treatment is available for warts that are large, numerous, or in sensitive areas.
• Treatments include salicylic acid, duct tape, cryotherapy, surgery, laser treatment, electrocautery, photodynamic therapy, chemical treatments, topical creams, cantharidin, and antigen shots.
• Warts or verrucae should be covered up with a waterproof Band-Aid when swimming.

Treatment

Palmer warts occur on the hand and are frequent in those who handle meat for a living.

Most warts clear up without treatment. It can take from a few weeks to several years, depending on the location and number of warts. They usually disappear faster in children.

One third of children are estimated to have warts, but studies have found that 50 percent of these disappear within a year, and 70 percent are gone after 2 years.

However, if they do not disappear, or if a wart causes concern, medical help is available

What treatments are available?

All wart treatments are designed to irritate the skin and get the body’s own infection-fighting cells to clear the warts.

Salicylic acid

Most over-the-counter creams, gels, paints, and medicated Band-Aids contain salicylic acid.

It is important to protect the skin around the wart before applying this treatment because salicylic acid may destroy healthy skin. Do not apply to the face.

Applying petroleum jelly or a corn plaster to the skin around the wart can protect it from damage.

Some tips can enhance the effectiveness of this treatment.

• Soften the wart by rubbing dead tissue from the surface of the wart weekly using a pumice stone or emery board. Make sure that the pumice stone or emery board is not used on any other part of the body or by another person.
• Before applying the medication, soak the wart in water for about 5 minutes.

Treatment is normally applied daily for about 3 months. If the skin becomes sore, treatment should be stopped.

Surgery

This not common for warts, and there is a risk of scarring. Warts that resolve by themselves do not scar.

Sometimes a doctor may recommend surgery if other treatments have not worked.

Most warts can be shaved off with a surgical razor under local anesthesia.

Doctors may recommend applying a topical cream to the site even after the wart’s removal, to improve the chances of it clearing.

Laser treatment uses a precise laser beam to destroy the wart.

Other treatments

If warts do not respond to standard treatments, a dermatologist, or skin specialist, may offer other options.

• Immunotherapy attempts to make the patient’s immune system destroy the warts
• Retinoids, derived from vitamin A, disrupt the wart’s skin cell growth.
• Antibiotics are only effective in the case of infection.

Common warts, especially around the fingernails and toenails, may be difficult to eliminate completely or permanently.

If the wart is gone but the virus remains, warts may recur.

Types

The following are the most common types of wart.

Common warts, or verruca vulgaris

Plantar warts appear on the base of the foot.

Common warts have a firm, raised, rough surface and may appear cauliflower-like.

They can occur anywhere, but they are most common on the knuckles, fingers, elbows, knees, and any area with broken skin.

Clotted blood vessels are often visible in common warts as small, darkened spots. These are known as seed warts.

Plantar warts

Painful verrucae appear on the soles of the feet, heels, and toes.

They usually grow into the skin because the person’s weight pushes onto the sole of the foot. They normally have a small central black dot surrounded by hard, white tissue. Plantar warts are often difficult to clear.

Plane warts, or verruca plana

Plane warts are round, flat, and smooth. They can be yellowish, brownish, or skin colored.

Also known as flat warts, they grow most often on sun-exposed areas.

They tend to grow in larger numbers, possibly between 20 and 100. However, of all wart types.

Filiform warts, or verruca filiformis

Filiform warts are long and thin in shape. They can grow rapidly on the eyelids, neck, and armpits.

Mosaic warts

Mosaic warts are multiple plantar warts in a large cluster.

Unlike moles, warts are often the same color as the person’s skin. Warts do not contain pus unless they become infected.

If infection occurs, they may require treatment with antibiotics.

When should I see a doctor?

It is a good idea to see a doctor if the wart:

• causes pain
• bleeds easily
• changes appearance
• spreads easily to other parts of the body
• comes back after prior removal
• appears in an area that leads to constant bumping and bleeding so as to affect daily activities, such as shaving, sports, and so on

Individuals who want the wart removed for cosmetic reasons should see a doctor.

Causes

Verrucas and plantar warts can be treated by creams containing salycylic acid.

HPV viruses cause the excessive and rapid growth of keratin, which is a hard protein on the top layer of the skin.

Different HPV strains cause different warts. The wart-causing virus can be passed on by close skin-to-skin contact, and through contact with towels or shoes.

The virus can spread to other parts of the body through:

• • scratching or biting a wart
  • sucking fingers
  • biting fingernails, if there are warts around the nails
  • shaving the face or legs
    Having wet or damaged skin, and coming into contact with rough surfaces increase the risk of infection.

For example, a person with scratches or cuts on the soles of their feet is more likely to develop a verruca in and around public swimming pools.

Wearing shower shoes or flip flops while using public showers or walking near public swimming pools can help prevent this.

The risk of catching warts from another person is low, but they can be passed on, especially if the person has a compromised immune system. This includes people with HIV or AIDS, and those using immunosuppressants following a transplant.

Prevention

To reduce the risk of catching or spreading warts:

• • • • Do not touch other people’s warts.
      • Do not use other people’s towels, washcloths, or other personal items.
      • Do not share shoes and socks with other people.
      • Do not scratch warts or verrucae, as this can cause them to spread.
      • Wear sandals when entering and exiting communal showers and pools.
      • Cover warts or verrucae with a waterproof covering when swimming, and socks or gloves elsewhere, for example at the gym.
      • Do not brush, comb, shave, or clip hair in areas that have warts.
      • When filing or cutting nails do not use the same utensil on the infected nail and the healthy nails.
      • Do not bite fingernails if warts are near them.
      • Keep hands as dry as possible.
      • Wash hands thoroughly after touching a wart.

Warts are common, and they can cause embarrassment. May disappear alone, but if they do not, treatment can often help eliminate them.

Moles

A mole on your skin is also known as a nevus, or a beauty mark. It is very common to have moles and most are harmless. They’re not contagious and they shouldn’t hurt, itch, or bleed. A mole can last as long as 50 years. See your regular healthcare provider or dermatologist if you suspect that a mole is abnormal.

OVERVIEW

What is a skin mole? What does one look like?

Your skin is the largest organ in your body. Skin moles (a “nevus” or “nevi” are the medical terms) are growths on your skin that range in color from your natural skin tone to brown or black. Moles can appear anywhere on your skin or mucous membranes, alone or in groups.

Most skin moles appear in early childhood and during the first 20 years of life. It is normal for a person to have between 10 to 40 moles by adulthood.

The life cycle of an average mole is about 50 years. As the years pass, moles usually change slowly, becoming raised and lighter in color. Often, hairs develop on the mole. Some moles will not change at all and some will slowly disappear over time.

Moles are very common. Most people have about 10 to 40 of them.

Most moles grow on parts of your body that get sunlight (ultraviolet radiation). You might see that you get more moles the longer you’re in the sun.

If your skin moles are tender or painful, you need to see a dermatologist.

If your skin moles itch, you need to see a dermatologist.

You need to see a dermatologist if your moles bleed.

A “pigmented lesion” is a general term that includes normal moles, sun freckles or age spots (lentigines). While most pigmented lesions will not become cancerous, if you have many lesions or unusual lesions you should see a dermatologist on a regular basis for a full skin examination. Regular monitoring allows the dermatologist to identify changes in lesions that look “suspicious.” A change may prompt a skin biopsy (removing a sample of the mole for detailed examination under a microscope), which can help determine whether a lesion is non-cancerous (benign), melanoma or another type of skin cancer.

Always be cautious if you’re over age 30 and you find a new mole. It’s likely harmless, but you should still see your healthcare provider.

SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES

Moles occur when cells in your skin grow in a cluster instead of being spread throughout the skin. Most moles are made of cells called melanocytes, which make the pigment that gives your skin its natural color.

Excessive sunlight is a risk factor for skin moles. Moles may get darker after sun exposure, during pregnancy and during puberty.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTS

Most skin moles are benign (non-cancerous). The moles that are of medical concern are those that look different than other existing moles on your body (referred to as the “ugly duckling sign”) or those that appear on your skin after age 30. If you notice changes in any mole’s color, thickness, size, or shape, you should see a dermatologist. You also should have your moles checked if they bleed, ooze, itch, scale, or become tender or painful.

Examine your skin with a mirror or ask someone to help you. Pay special attention to areas of your skin that are often exposed to the sun, such as your face, hands, legs (especially in females), arms, chest and back (especially in men).

The ABCDEs are important signs of moles that could be cancerous. If a mole displays any of the signs listed below, have it checked immediately by a dermatologist:

• • • • Asymmetry: If one half of your skin mole does not match the other half.
      • Border: If the border or edges of your mole are ragged, blurred or irregular.
      • Color: If the color of your mole is not the same throughout, or it has shades of multiple colors such as tan, brown, black, blue, white, or red.
      • Diameter: If the diameter of your mole is larger than the eraser of a pencil.
      • Elevation/Evolution: If your mole becomes raised after being flat, or it changes over a short period of time.

MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT

A normal skin mole does not need to be removed. If you choose to have it removed, you’ll likely be left with a scar.

Don’t try to remove a mole by yourself, even if you’re using some sort of over-the-counter product that burns, freezes, or uses lasers to remove skin growths like skin tags, moles and freckles. Not only could you get an infection, but you could unknowingly remove melanoma (skin cancer). Skin cancer can spread to other organs if it’s not caught early, and one way to catch it is to identify an abnormal mole.

Healthcare providers recommend that you do not use any at-home treatments on your moles. If you have a concern, talk to a dermatologist.

Skin Tag Removal

Skin tag facts

• • • • A skin tag is a small, soft, flesh-colored benign skin growth, often on a stalk.
      • Skin tags are probably the single most common bump on adult skin.
      • Skin tags are harmless but can be an annoying skin problem.
      • Skin tags tend to occur on the eyelids, neck, armpits, groin folds, and under breasts.
      • A person may have one to hundreds of skin tags.
      • Almost everyone will develop a skin tag at some time in their lives.
      • Middle-aged, obese adults are most prone to skin tags.
      • Getting rid of a skin tag does not cause more to grow.
      • Destructive treatment options include freezing, strangulation with a ligature, snipping, and burning.

Skin Tags: Should They Be Removed?

Most doctors recommend removal of skin tags only when they are irritated or a source of discomfort, or if they constitute a cosmetic problem. Skin tags can be easily removed in the doctor’s office by tying or cutting them after injecting a small amount of a local anesthetic. Freezing, a technique sometimes used to remove warts or other benign lesions of the skin, is also sometimes performed for the removal of skin tags.

Early on, skin tags may be as small as a flattened pinhead-sized bump.

What is a skin tag?

Skin tags are common, acquired benign skin-colored growths that resemble a small, soft balloon suspended on a slender stalk. Skin tags are harmless growths that can vary in number from one to hundreds. Males and females are equally prone to developing skin tags. Obesity seems to be associated with skin tag development. Although some skin tags may fall off spontaneously, most persist once formed. The medical name for the skin tag is acrochordon. Some people call them “skin tabs.”

Early on, skin tags may be as small as a flattened pinhead-sized bump. While most tags typically are small (2 mm-5 mm in diameter) at approximately one-third to one-half the size of a pencil eraser, some skin tags may become as large as a big grape (1 cm in diameter) or a fig (5 cm in diameter).

Is there another medical name for a skin tag?

Medical terms your physician or dermatologist may use to describe a skin tag include fibroepithelial polyp, acrochordon, cutaneous papilloma, and soft fibroma. All of these terms describe skin tags and are benign (noncancerous), painless skin growths. Some people refer to these as “skin tabs” or warts.

Skin tags can occur almost anywhere on the body covered by skin.

Who tends to get skin tags?

More than half if not all of the general population has been reported to have skin tags at some time in their lives. Although tags are generally acquired (not present at birth) and may occur in anyone, more often they arise in adulthood. They are much more common in middle age, and they tend to increase in prevalence up to age 60. Children and toddlers may also develop skin tags, particularly in the underarm and neck areas. Skin tags are more common in overweight people.

Hormone elevations, such as those seen during pregnancy, may cause an increase in the formation of skin tags, as skin tags are more frequent in pregnant women. Tags are essentially harmless and do not have to be treated unless they are bothersome. Skin tags that are bothersome may be easily removed during or after pregnancy, typically by a dermatologist.

Although skin tags are generally not associated with any other diseases, there seems to be a group of obese individuals who, along with many skin tags, develop a condition called acanthosis nigricans on the skin of their neck and armpits and are predisposed to have high blood fats and sugar.

Certain structures resemble skin tags but are not. Accessory tragus and an accessory digit occasionally can be confused with skin tags. Pathological examination with a biopsy of the tissue will help distinguish skin tags if there is any question as to the diagnosis.

Treatment Options

At Tanus, our team always makes sure that individuals receive the best and personalized treatment for their issues. We make sure that you receive a satisfying, healthy, and enriching experience with us. Our professionals advise and suggest clients with the best treatments and options for their situation. With us, you can rest assured as we follow all required and necessary safety protocols.

For cosmetic treatments of warts, moles, and skin tags, you have the following option:

• • • 1. Radio Frequency (RF)
      2. Cutting / Excision
      3. Laser Removal