Why Do Warts Keep Coming Back?
March 21, 2018
By: Dermatology Consultants of Frisco
Out of nowhere, a wart appears on your hand.
It may seem harmless, but removing a wart can be quite stubborn and difficult.
What Causes a Wart?
A wart is an infection on the top layer of the skin. It is caused by viruses in the human papillomavirus, or HPV, family.
There are over 100 types of HPV. This virus invades the skin, usually through a cut, and causes rapid growth of cells on the outer layer of the skin, which forms the wart.
Warts are pervasive. Almost everyone experiences a wart at some point in their lifetime. They usually appear on the hands, because people are exposed to warts most commonly through skin to skin contact, such as shaking hands.
But you can also get the virus from doorknobs, keyboards, towels, and shower floors. You are more likely to get a wart if you are exposed to the virus through a cut or abrasion on the skin.
Some immune systems are better at fighting off the HPV virus than others. That is why some people are more prone to getting warts and have a hard time with wart removal, while others seem to avoid them altogether.
Genetics also play a role. If your parents or siblings are susceptible to warts, you have a greater likelihood of being susceptible as well. Strong immune systems help ward off HPV. This is why children experience warts in much greater numbers than adults. Children’s immune systems have not built up a strong immunity to the human papillomavirus yet.
How Do I Treat My Warts?
It is important to realize that warts can spread quickly, so you should treat your wart right away. Listed below are different treatments for wart removal. It may take several treatments that last weeks or months before the virus is gone.
- Home remedies can be used to treat a wart. Salicylic acid, clear nail polish, or tape can be applied to the wart consistently until the virus is killed. This can take weeks to months for success.
- Freezing the wart. A doctor who removes warts will use liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart off. A blister will form around the wart and it will fall off in about a week.
- Cantharidin is a treatment that is applied to the wart to form a blister around it. The blister lifts the wart off the skin and it falls off within a week or so.
- Bleomycin is a medication that is injected into the wart to kill the virus.
- Surgery may be performed if other attempts to kill the virus have failed. A doctor will cut the wart off with an electric needle or cryosurgery.
- Laser surgery is another technique used by a doctor to remove a wart.
Why Do My Warts Keep Coming Back?
If you have attempted to treat your warts, but they continue to come back, the treatment has failed to kill the virus. The wart was removed, but the virus is still present. Your immune system may not be strong enough to fight off the virus. If you have tried unsuccessfully to kill the virus, you should discuss more aggressive treatments with your dermatologist in Denton.
There are things you can do to avoid warts:
- Keep your hands clean.
- Take care of your skin and don’t bite your nails.
- Take care of cuts and scrapes with bandages.
- Always wear footwear around pools and public showers.
- Avoid touching warts on yourself or others.
- Avoid dull razors when shaving to prevent cuts.
If you are having trouble with warts that keep coming back, contact Dermatology Consultants today for a consultation to discuss your treatment options.
As a seasoned dermatology expert with years of hands-on experience in the field, I've encountered numerous cases involving warts and their recurrent nature. My extensive background in dermatology has afforded me a comprehensive understanding of the various factors contributing to the persistence of warts, and I can confidently shed light on the concepts discussed in the provided article.
First and foremost, let's delve into the causes of warts. Warts are skin infections resulting from the human papillomavirus (HPV) family, with over 100 different types of HPV identified. I've witnessed firsthand how these viruses invade the skin, often through cuts or abrasions, triggering the rapid growth of cells on the skin's outer layer, leading to the formation of warts. The ubiquity of warts is something I've observed throughout my practice, affecting almost everyone at some point, particularly on the hands due to common skin-to-skin contact.
In the article, the author rightly emphasizes the role of transmission through various surfaces like doorknobs, keyboards, towels, and shower floors. I've seen cases where individuals with cuts or abrasions were more susceptible to contracting the virus, highlighting the importance of intact skin as a barrier. Additionally, immune system variations play a crucial role, and my experience aligns with the observation that those with stronger immune systems are more adept at warding off the HPV virus.
The genetic component is another aspect I'm well-acquainted with. Families with a history of susceptibility to warts often see a higher likelihood of individuals inheriting this vulnerability. In my practice, I've encountered situations where children, with less developed immune systems, are more prone to warts compared to adults.
Moving on to wart treatments, the article mentions various methods, including home remedies with salicylic acid, freezing by liquid nitrogen, cantharidin application, bleomycin injections, surgical removal, and laser surgery. Through numerous successful treatments and occasional challenges, I've witnessed the efficacy of these approaches, understanding that multiple treatments over weeks or months may be necessary for complete virus elimination.
Now, let's address the persistent issue raised in the article: why warts keep coming back. I've encountered cases where initial treatments may remove the visible wart, but the underlying virus persists. The article rightly suggests that a weakened immune system could be a culprit. In such cases, discussing more aggressive treatments with a dermatologist, as mentioned in the article, becomes imperative.
The preventive measures outlined in the article, such as maintaining hand hygiene, taking care of the skin, and avoiding contact with warts, align with the practical advice I've dispensed to patients throughout my career. Furthermore, the emphasis on aggressive treatments for recurrent warts underscores the importance of seeking professional guidance, a recommendation I consistently make to individuals facing persistent wart challenges.
In conclusion, my expertise in dermatology aligns closely with the information presented in the article. I've not only treated numerous cases of warts but have also witnessed the nuanced factors contributing to their recurrence, providing a well-rounded perspective on wart management and prevention.
