There is an old myth that if you touch a toad, it will give you warts. Of course, this is false, but it may have started from just trying to understand where warts come from since they are very common and they seem to appear at random for no reason at all.
What is a Wart?
Warts are small growths that appear on the skin. While they can appear anywhere, they usually appear on the hands and fingers. If they appear on the bottom or sides of your feet, they are called plantar warts. All warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). You may have heard of HPV before, but do not worry, there are over 150 different types of HPV and only a few cause warts to grow. Everyone reacts to HPV differently so some who encounter the virus will not develop warts.
Warts can spread through simple skin contact or through cuts and scrapes in the skin. To prevent the further spread of your warts, you will want to avoid direct contact with them (mask them with a bandage) and do not pick them. If you habitually bite your fingernails, resist the urge as doing so can break the skin and allow the virus to spread more easily.
Both common and plantar warts are usually harmless and will go away on their own with time. They can be painful (especially if you find yourself with a plantar wart that you must walk on a lot) and embarrassing so you may want to have them removed.
Removal
There are over-the-counter remedies for warts like topical creams. They remove warts gradually over-time. A more immediate solution is to elect to have your warts removed through cauterization (burning), freezing, or scraping them away.
You will want to see a medical provider if your warts are painful at all times, they keep recurring, they do not seem to go away, or they begin to interfere with the day-to-day activities of your life. If you have any questions about a wart you may have or want it remove, we encourage you to get in contact with us and begin your visit today.
Twin Rivers Urgent Care offers convenient, quality healthcare when you need it most. We’re open for walk-in service seven days a week with extended hours, to get you in and out quickly. Our medical team is ready to focus on you – whether it’s a cold or flu, a strain or sprain, or something more complicated.
For a serious condition, stroke or stroke-like symptoms, chest pain or heart attack symptoms, severe bleeding, head trauma with loss of consciousness or other major trauma-go directly to the nearest Emergency Room.
At Twin Rivers, we are focused on taking care of our community. We offer both walk-in and booked visits. Please note that booked appointments function as a pre-registration to save you time. There may be instances in which a short wait time will be required for those that booked. We are dedicated to get you in as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding.