The Wicked Witch of the West is pretty much the opposite of #Goals. I mean, obviously no one wants warts on their face.. and talk about fashion disaster. Seriously though, warts are more common than you think, even if you’re more likely to see them in the Wizard of Oz than instagram. They’re not limited to the face and can occur anywhere on your body.
What’s a wart?
There are more than 100 different types of warts and they can all look very different. The types of warts you’re most likely to run into are common warts, flat warts, filiform warts, and plantar warts.
Common Warts
Common warts are hard, round lumps that are typically rough to the touch. They can be pink, white, or flesh colored and have small black flecks on them.
Flat Warts
These usually crop up in groups on your arms, hands, knees, or back. They can also sometimes appear on your face. These are usually tiny (about the size of a pin head), and fairly smooth.
Filiform Warts
Filiform warts are long and skinny. They typically appear on the face and neck.
Plantar Warts
These are on the soles of the feet and can look like a callous or common wart. These can sometimes be painful when you put pressure or walk on them.
Where did I get it?
Warts are caused by an infection with HPV, or Human Papillomavirus — not the strain that causes cervical cancer, so don’t stress about that. You usually get warts from coming into contact with someone else who has a wart, either directly or indirectly (like sharing a towel). Plantar warts often come from walking barefoot on communal floors – so be sure to wear flip-flops in the gym shower or at the Spa! You seriously don’t want to know how dirty those floors are. I get so grossed when I see that and usually have to bite my tongue not to say something. Do you remember when Britney Spears walked into that gas station bathroom barefoot a couple years ago. I just can’t. Bleh.
How do I get rid of it?
Warts usually go away without treatment within a couple months, but there are ways of getting rid of them faster. Your doctor can prescribe a cream containing salicylic acid that causes the skin to peel, eventually removing the wart. Your doctor can also freeze off your wart by applying liquid nitrogen to it.
If you do have a wart, you need to remember that warts are contagious. It’s best to avoid touching it as you can spread it to other parts of your body. I suggest putting one of those small band-aids over it to avoid the temptation to pick at it!
If your wart changes color or size, be sure to speak to your dermatologist about it, as you want to be sure it is not a type of skin cancer. Dermatologists see these all the time and will be your best guide as far as what to do about it!
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