Can common warts be pricked with a needle?

Written by Zhang Jing

Dermatology Department

Updated on September 26, 2024

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Common warts should not be punctured with a needle. The cause of common warts is a viral infection; they are caused by a type of human papillomavirus and manifest pathologically with hyperkeratosis, incomplete keratinization, and papillomatous proliferation of the epidermis. They do not form a cystic structure. Puncturing them with a needle will not only increase the risk of bacterial infection but also has no therapeutic effect. If you have common warts, the most appropriate action is to visit a hospital for treatment with options such as laser cauterization, cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen, or surgical removal of the lesions. This can completely remove the warts. If there are many warts or they keep recurring, it is also advisable to consult a doctor to see if medication should be combined with the treatment.

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Written by Huang Ling Juan

Dermatology

55sec

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Does common warts spread by skin contact?

Common warts can be contagious through skin contact. Common warts, also known as verruca vulgaris, are caused by the human papillomavirus, abbreviated as HPV. Theoretically, common warts can be contagious through close contact, but transmission is not guaranteed upon skin contact and depends on each individual's resistance to the virus. When affected by common warts, it's important to enhance the cleanliness of the affected skin area, and also to disinfect clothing and the surrounding environment. Treatment can be supported by using immunomodulators among other symptomatic therapies. The primary treatment for common warts is physical removal methods, such as liquid nitrogen freezing or carbon dioxide laser treatments to remove the warts, and topical application of interferon gel can also be used.

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Written by Huang Ling Juan

Dermatology

56sec

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Can common warts be cut with scissors?

Common warts should not be cut with scissors. Common warts are a type of viral skin infection caused by the human papillomavirus resulting in benign growths. Using scissors to cut them can easily lead to further infections, so it is not recommended to use scissors to remove common warts. If you have common warts, you can visit the dermatology department of a standard hospital. If the warts are small, you can apply creams containing retinoic acid or imiquimod cream. If topical medications are not effective, treatments like liquid nitrogen freezing or carbon dioxide laser treatment can be employed. The occurrence of common warts is also somewhat related to a decrease in the body's immune function, so it is important to exercise regularly to boost the immune system and avoid staying up late.

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Written by Li Ya Ping

Dermatology Department

59sec

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Are common warts and plantar warts the same?

Plantar warts are common warts that occur on the soles of the feet. Therefore, plantar warts are a special type of common wart that occurs on the soles of the feet. Plantar warts belong to the category of common warts. Common warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which infects the skin and mucous membranes, resulting in benign growths such as common warts, flat warts, or genital warts, among others. However, the subtypes of HPV causing these infections vary. Additionally, within common warts, those occurring on the soles of the feet are specifically referred to as plantar warts. Plantar warts mainly appear on the front part of the sole, which is an area subject to friction and often sweatier, thus making it more susceptible to warts. These warts can be painful, or they might not cause any discomfort at all.

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Written by Liu Jing

Dermatology

54sec

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Is the recurrence rate of common warts high?

Common warts, commonly known as verruca vulgaris, are infectious due to human papillomavirus infection and have a high recurrence rate. For example, warts occurring on the feet are called plantar warts, which often have a long disease course and require multiple cryotherapy treatments, even more than ten times, and can recur and reoccur. It is necessary to enhance skin cleanliness, avoid external factors such as injuries, and provide active and effective antiviral treatment and immunomodulatory supportive symptomatic treatment. Early intervention with physical treatments, such as cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen, laser treatment, or even surgical removal of the wart, can be combined with oral medications like thymosin enteric capsules and topical interferon gel to suppress virus replication.

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Written by Qu Jing

Dermatology

53sec

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Will common warts grow back after being removed?

Common warts, even when picked off, are very likely to regrow, as they are benign growths caused by an infection of the skin and mucous membrane with the Human Papillomavirus, or HPV. Due to their viral nature, they tend to recur easily. Common warts, also known as verruca vulgaris or plantar warts, are typically caused by HPV type 2 and mainly occur between the ages of 5 and 20. They can appear on any part of the body due to autoinoculation and are most commonly found on the hands and feet. These areas are susceptible due to frequent injuries or prolonged exposure to water, which are common triggering factors. After a wart is removed, the surrounding areas might already be infected, potentially leading to new warts appearing over time.