Warts: Causes and Treatments! Explained by Imi Seok Dermatology

Provider: Imi Seok Theme Dermatology Clinic

Causes of Wart Development

Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV, and tend to become active in bodies with weakened immunity. That is why extra caution is needed during seasonal transitions, when large day-night temperature differences can easily reduce the skin’s immunity. If they are not treated in time, they can spread to surrounding skin, and if they are repeatedly touched, they may grow larger.

If you scratch or rub the area where a wart has developed, it can spread easily to the surrounding area, and there is also a high chance of transmission through contact with other people. At first glance, they may look so similar that they can be mistaken for corns, but because warts are a disease caused by a virus, they should not be taken lightly and should be treated promptly.

Types of Warts and Where They Occur

1. Common Warts

The most common and typical type of wart, common warts have a rough, raised surface. They are usually seen in children, and the number and frequency of lesions tend to decrease as people become adults. They mainly occur on the backs of the hands, around the fingernails, the ears, lips, or tongue.

2. Flat Warts

Flat warts commonly occur on the face, and because their surface is flat, they came to be called flat warts. They are small, about the size of millet seeds, so you may not even notice that they are there. They often occur on the forehead, chin, nose, around the mouth, and on the backs of the hands. They have a high rate of natural healing, but if left untreated and continuously irritated, they may gradually grow larger due to abnormal proliferation of capillaries, making treatment more difficult.

3. Plantar Warts

Plantar warts, also called foot sole warts, can be mistaken for corns because they are pressed down by body weight. To distinguish them, the surface keratin layer is sometimes shaved off for observation. Unlike corns, they can appear regardless of location, often cluster in groups, and frequently spread to surrounding areas.

4. Genital Warts

Genital warts are one type of adult disease and appear around the genitals or anus. In the early stages, they begin as small, shiny papules, but over time multiple papules may cluster together and take on a cauliflower-like appearance.

Laser Treatment for Warts

Warts usually develop in frequently exposed areas, and because they tend to increase in size and extent over time and can easily spread to others, it is best to visit a dermatology clinic as soon as they are detected and receive treatment after consulting a specialist. Imi Seok Theme Dermatology recommends laser treatment for warts.

1. Vbeam Perfecta

Vbeam Perfecta is a vascular laser and is effective for improving warts located in areas with many blood vessels. It has the advantage of allowing selective removal by directing the laser to the desired area, and it is suitable for treating lesions that do not respond well to cryotherapy or remaining lesions after treatment. During treatment, a cooling device protects the skin surface, allowing for quick recovery afterward, which is why it is widely used for wart treatment.

2. Clarity

Clarity laser is a laser that can treat warts with fewer sessions by delivering energy deep into the skin.

It has a cooling system, so anesthesia is not necessary, and it minimizes discomfort and pain, reducing the burden of treatment. In addition, it does not cause severe scabbing after treatment, and even if scabs do form, they do not last long. Washing the face and applying makeup are possible on the same day after the procedure, making it a suitable treatment option for those who do not have time for recovery.

Even after careful laser treatment, warts may recur if some HPV virus remains in the skin. Therefore, to prevent recurrence, it is necessary to pay attention to immunity and the skin’s regenerative ability.

Try to avoid spicy and salty irritating foods as much as possible, and by drinking enough water and applying a moisturizing cream to the skin surface, you can prevent damage to the skin barrier and help prevent recurrence. Also, by maintaining a regular routine and getting moderate exercise to keep mental and physical stress from building up, it may help improve warts.

At Imi Seok Dermatology, treatment is based on more than 600,000 clinical cases, and customized combination treatment is carried out according to the diagnosis and prescription of a board-certified dermatologist. To provide customized combination treatment, the clinic has more than 60 premium laser treatment devices, and it continues to invest generously in replacing and introducing new equipment to treat a wide range of conditions. At Imi Seok Theme Dermatology, treatment focuses not on temporarily relieving skin symptoms, but on addressing the fundamental skin problem.