Mapo Flat Warts: Is It Okay to Remove Them at Home?

Hello.

I’m Kim Ha-won from 뷰티스닥터.

When you notice flat,

bumpy spots on your face,

you may feel like scratching them with your fingernails or removing them with tweezers.

However, flat warts are not lesions that can be dealt with simply by removing the raised portion.

They may increase in number along areas irritated by scratching or shaving,

and if you mistakenly remove a lesion that is not a flat wart,

you may be left with pigmentation or scars on your face.

That is why managing flat warts should begin with accurate identification before removal.

What kind of lesions are flat warts?

Flat warts are skin lesions associated with infection by the human papillomavirus, or HPV.

They are usually skin-colored or light brown, with a relatively smooth surface and a slightly raised, flat appearance.

They are likely to develop on areas frequently exposed to the outside, such as the face, forehead, around the chin, and the backs of the hands.

Rather than appearing as a single lesion, they often occur in groups of multiple lesions of similar size.

The problem is that flat warts can look similar to milia, tiny acne-like bumps, syringomas,

and early-age spots or other pigmented lesions.

If you decide they are flat warts based only on an image search

and apply a removal product or pick at them at home, you may end up mistakenly irritating a different type of lesion.

Why can picking at them at home cause them to spread?

Picking at a flat wart with your fingernails or tweezers can create tiny wounds on the surface.

If the hand or tool that touched the lesion then comes into contact with the surrounding skin again,

the virus may be transferred to another area, causing new lesions to appear along the direction of the scratches.

This can also explain why flat warts sometimes appear in a line where a razor or eyebrow razor has passed.

Even if the outer portion comes off, it is difficult to say that the lesion has been properly cleared.

If only the surface is damaged and the lesion remains, the same spot may become raised again.

If the wound becomes deeper, redness or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation may persist for a long time.

Facial skin is especially thin, and changes in pigmentation are easily noticeable.

It is therefore better to avoid applying callus removers or wart removers arbitrarily without a diagnosis.

How can you manage flat warts at home?

The goal of home care is not to remove the lesions directly, but to reduce irritation and the possibility of spreading them.

First, try to reduce the habit of touching, scratching, or picking at the lesions.

It is also best to avoid treatments that vigorously rub the skin, such as scrubs, peeling gels, and exfoliating washcloths.

If you need to shave or tidy your eyebrows, take care not to repeatedly scrape over the lesions,

and for tools that come into direct contact with the skin, such as razors and eyebrow razors, it is safer not to share them with others.

Wash your face with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser.

Rather than rubbing with a towel, gently pat the skin dry.

When removing makeup, do not rub forcefully several times.

It is also best to clean puffs and brushes regularly.

Sun protection is also important.

This does not mean that ultraviolet rays cause flat warts themselves,

but sun protection may help reduce how long redness and pigmentation left after skin irritation remain visible.

Will they come back after being removed once?

New lesions may become visible after flat warts are removed.

However, it is difficult to conclude that they are necessarily a recurrence of the same lesions.

Small lesions that were difficult to see at the time of the procedure may have become more noticeable over time.

There is also a possibility that new lesions developed in other areas through irritation such as scratching or shaving.

Therefore, the fact that lesions have appeared again after flat-wart management alone does not mean that the treatment was unsuccessful.

Conversely, using recovery tape or healing cream properly does not mean that flat warts will never appear again.

Post-removal care is intended to help the wound heal and reduce redness and pigmentation.

The appearance of new lesions should be monitored separately.

How are they approached during a medical consultation?

First, we check whether the bumpy lesions are actually flat warts.

We examine their surface, color, shape, and distribution, and may use magnified observation if necessary.

Next, the approach is determined based on the number and location of the lesions, skin type, and previous treatment history.

Depending on the condition, options such as topical medication, cryotherapy, electrocautery, or laser treatment may be considered.

If there are many lesions across the face, rather than removing them all at once,

the treatment may be divided into areas and stages after considering the possibility of marks and the recovery period.

How should you care for the area after removal?

The timing for washing your face, applying makeup, and using recovery tape varies depending on the removal method.

Therefore, instead of following a period you found online, please prioritize the instructions provided by the medical institution where you received the procedure.

If a wound develops, do not forcefully remove scabs or peeling skin.

It is important to use the ointment or dressing recommended to you while reducing friction and sun exposure.

Redness may persist for a certain period as the wound heals.

However, if pain and swelling gradually worsen,

or if warmth, pus, or discharge also appear, do not dismiss them as part of the normal healing process; seek an evaluation.

In conclusion

Managing flat warts is not about searching for something to apply at home to make them disappear.

The first step is confirming whether the lesions you see are really flat warts.

If several lesions have already appeared together, or they are increasing quickly after shaving or scrubbing,

have the extent of the lesions and the appropriate treatment sequence assessed before causing further irritation.

Rather than removing many lesions at once, it is important to distinguish flat warts from similar-looking lesions properly

and address only the necessary areas in a planned manner, taking into account any marks that may remain on the skin.

Frequently asked questions

Q1. Can flat warts disappear on their own?

Depending on the immune response, they may naturally become less noticeable.

However, it is difficult to predict when they will disappear, and their number may increase while you wait.

If they are spreading across your face or the diagnosis is uncertain, it is better to have them checked first.

Q2. Can I continue shaving?

If a razor repeatedly brushes against the lesions, it may cause tiny wounds in the surrounding skin.

If possible, shave around the lesions rather than over them.

If the affected area is extensive, discuss during a consultation whether you should change your shaving method.

Thank you for reading this lengthy post.

This was Kim Ha-won from 뷰티스닥터.