Warts and Molluscum
Warts and molluscum are common skin growths that are not harmful but are often bothersome to those affected. It has been estimated that up to 1 in 20 school age children will have warts.
Common warts usually affect the hands of children or adults with significant water exposure at work.
Plantar warts occur on the soles of the feet and may be annoyingly painful with walking.
Flat warts tend to be very small and appear in large numbers. They can appear on the face of children, but are also seen on the beard area of men and legs of women due to shaving. Molluscum contagiosum is very common amongst school aged children and presents with smooth, skin colored bumps often accompanied by skin irritation. Both warts and molluscum are contagious and spread from one person to another with skin contact.
The natural course of warts and molluscum is to disappear without treatment over months to years. If warts are troublesome to the patient, painful, or spreading rapidly, the patient should see a Dermatologist. Warts in adults may not go away without proper treatment. Our providers are very skilled in the most advanced techniques for wart and molluscum removal. There are several painless options, which are especially important for children.
Treatments include:
- Cryotherapy (Freezing with Liquid Nitrogen)
- Topical “peeling” agents such as prescription salicylic acid
- Immunotherapy (injection of Candida yeast antigen as a monthly treatment series to boost your innate immune system’s defense against wart virus)
