Dermatologist offers tips for dealing with warts

No one is completely immune from warts, but some people are more susceptible to these unattractive skin growths, one expert says. Warts plague children and teens more often, along with people who frequently bite their nails, and those with weakened immune systems, said Dr. Adam Friedman, an associate professor of dermatology at the George Washington […]

No one is completely immune from warts, but some people are more susceptible to these unattractive skin growths, one expert says.
Warts plague children and teens more often, along with people who frequently bite their nails, and those with weakened immune systems, said Dr. Adam Friedman, an associate professor of dermatology at the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
“Warts are caused by a virus, and the virus can sometimes spread from one place on your body to another or from person to person,” Friedman said in an American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) news release.
“However, each person’s immune system responds to the wart virus differently, so not everyone who comes in contact with the virus develops warts,” he added.
There are ways to prevent warts from spreading. Don’t pick or scratch your  warts, and don’t touch someone else’s wart. Wash your hands after treating warts, Friedman advised.
Another way to help prevent the spread of warts is to wear flip-flops in public showers and pool areas. It’s also important to keep warts on your feet dry, because moisture helps warts spread, according to the AAD.
Most warts go away without treatment within two years, but there are home treatments that can help get rid of them sooner, Friedman said.
One method is to use an over-the-counter wart treatment product with salicylic acid.