Wart Removal

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the culprit behind common warts. This virus, with over 150 varieties, primarily triggers warts on hands, while some strains are sexually transmitted. However, most are transmitted through casual skin contact or by sharing items like towels or washcloths. Typically, the virus spreads through skin breaks, such as hangnails or scrapes, and can also be exacerbated by nail-biting, leading to warts around fingertips and nails

Warts are very common, impacting around 10% of the global population. Their occurrence is even higher among school-aged children, ranging from 10% to 20% within this demographic. Additionally, individuals who are immunocompromised are at a greater risk of developing warts.

Generally, warts are noncancerous (benign). However, they can become problematic when they undermine your self-confidence or impede everyday activities such as walking or wearing shoes.

Yes, warts are contagious due to the contagious nature of HPV. Warts have the potential to spread via direct or indirect contact. Direct contact involves touching someone else's wart or engaging in skin-to-skin contact. Indirect contact refers to the use of items such as towels or razors that have been in contact with a wart or HPV.

Some will! Approximately 65% of warts go away on their own within two years in individuals with healthy immune systems. Treatment will help a wart go away more quickly.

Generally, most warts disappear on their own without causing any major trouble. However, sometimes warts can lead to problems such as infections. If you pick or cut a wart, it can create openings in your skin, allowing bacteria to get in and cause an infection. In such cases, medical treatment with antibiotics may be necessary. Additionally, while most warts are painless, plantar warts that grow inward into your foot can be painful to walk on, making you feel like there's a pebble under your skin. Moreover, having warts might make you feel embarrassed or ashamed, affecting your self-esteem and mental well-being. If warts are causing you distress, it's essential to discuss it with your healthcare provider.

There's no surefire way, however you can lower your risk of catching the virus that causes them. Avoid touching someone else's wart, and refrain from sharing personal items like towels, clothing, or nail tools. It's also important to break the habit of biting your nails or picking at your cuticles. Keep your skin moisturized and protect any cuts or scrapes to prevent HPV from entering your body. Consider discussing the HPV vaccine with your healthcare provider, especially if you're a kid or young adult, and use condoms to reduce the risk of genital warts. Lastly, wear flip-flops or shoes in public places like locker rooms, pool areas, or showers to minimize exposure to the virus.

Laser wart removal is a medical procedure that uses laser technology to target and eliminate warts. During the procedure, a focused laser beam is directed at the wart, effectively destroying the tissue that makes up the wart.

At Inovo Medical, we use Fotona’s SP Dynamis laser system (Nd:YAG). This is a non-ablative laser which heats the wart deep into its root. The heat kills the wart, leading it to dry out and fall off.

Yes, like any medical procedure, laser wart removal can have side effects. Some common side effects may include pain or discomfort during or after the procedure, redness and swelling around the treated area, and temporary scarring, especially if the wart was large or deep.

Yes! Here at Inovo Medical, our medical staff is highly trained and experienced to ensure the safety of your laser wart removal procedure.