Parton Health Center offers a wart clinic on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. during the academic year. Call the Health Center at ext. 5135 if you wish to make an appointment.
What causes warts?
Warts are focal overgrowths of the epidermis (outer layer of the skin) caused by local infection of the human papilloma virus (HPV). There are at least 100 subtypes of HPV viruses, with each subtype preferring certain body areas. The wart virus incubates for a month to more than 6 months before producing a wart. The virus is spread by simple contact with the skin, often through a small break in the skin, abrasion, or trauma. Warts can grow on all parts of your body. They can grow on your skin, on the inside of your mouth, on your genitals or rectal area. Warts are most commonly located on the hands or feet, which frequently sustain minor injuries. Warts can be transmitted to the genitalia during sexual intercourse. Some people are more naturally resistant to the HPV viruses and don't seem to get warts as easily as other people.
Will warts go away?
Since the wart is a viral infection, it may resolve in time without treatment. It may take many months, or even years for the warts to go away. The warts disappear after the body has built up sufficient immunity to them. Some warts won't go away on their own. It is not known why some warts resolve and others don't.
How are warts treated?
First of all, it is important to know that warts on the skin (such as fingers, feet, or knees) are treated differently than genital warts. DO NOT TRY ANY HOME REMEDIES OR OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS TO REMOVE WARTS ON THE GENITAL AREA OR FACE. See your medical provider for treatment. The following are some ways to remove common warts from the skin:
- For warts on places such as the hands, feet, or knees, they can be treated with salicylic acid. This is a peeling agent and is available in numerous over-the-counter preparations that can be self-administered. DuoFilm, Dr. Scholl's Callus remover, or Compound W may be purchased at any pharmacy. After you take a bath or shower, pat your skin dry lightly with a towel. Then put the salicylic acid on your warts. The acid sinks in deeper and works better when applied to damp skin. Before you take a shower or bath the next day, use an emery board or pumice stone to file away the dead surface of the warts.
- Covering the wart with duct tape may also be effective. One study concluded that duct tape was more effective than cryotherapy. Treatment involves keeping the wart covered with duct tape for 6 days, then remove the tape, soak the wart, debride the wart with an emery board and leave uncovered on the 6th night. Restart the cycle of treatment the next morning. Continue the cycle until the wart resolves or a maximum treatment of 2 months.
If over-the-counter treatments do not resolve the wart, you may need more aggressive treatments. This may include removing the wart by excision, freezing the wart with liquid Nitrogen, removing the wart with laser or using chemicals to injure the skin cells in which the wart virus is residing. Sometimes combination therapies of home treatments and more aggressive treatments are necessary.
Treatment Common (non-genital) Warts at
Parton Health Center
Students requesting treatment of common warts at Parton Health Center should:
- Realize that plantar warts are not treated at the health center but can be treated by either:
1. using over the counter treatments, or
2. a dermatologist or podiatrist
Have completed at least one full trial of over-the-counter medication treatment before requesting treatment with liquid nitrogen.
- Understand that we schedule wart treatment in wart clinic only and we will only treat for a maximum of four visits (then the patient is referred to a dermatologist or podiatrist).
If you have warts that have not resolved with over-the-counter treatments, call Parton Health Center at ext. 5135 and make an appointment to discuss the best treatment plan for you.