How long does it take for common warts to fall off after they turn black?

Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
Updated on September 16, 2024
00:00
00:00

After common warts turn black, they generally fall off within about a week. Common warts, also known as verruca vulgaris, are primarily caused by infection with the human papillomavirus, typically by the type 2 HPV virus. The occurrence of common warts is associated with numerous factors; they often arise when the body's immune system is weakened, or when warts already present are frequently scratched, which can lead to inoculation infection. Common warts can occur on various parts of the body and are commonly found on the hands. The hands are particularly susceptible if they are kept in water for prolonged periods, which can easily trigger the appearance of common warts. Typical lesions of common warts are pea-sized or larger, gray-brown or brown papules with a rough surface and hard texture, forming papillomatous proliferations. If common warts appear, treatment options such as liquid nitrogen freezing or carbon dioxide laser treatment are available at hospitals.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Qu Jing
Dermatology
1min 14sec home-news-image

What should I do if new warts grow around the area after freezing common warts?

Common warts can often develop new growths around the area after being frozen. This situation is common in clinical settings because common warts are caused by HPV infection, a type of viral skin disease that tends to recur. Therefore, clinically, we recommend continuing treatment persistently after recurrence, whether by freezing, using lasers, or other methods, to fully resolve the issue. If treatment is delayed, the warts can increase in number. Commonly used physical treatments include freezing, electrocautery, scraping, lasers, etc., and are suitable when there are fewer lesions. Since there are currently no definitive effective anti-HPV medications, recurrence is common in clinical settings. At this time, we can use some immunomodulators, such as interferons, which have certain inhibitory effects. Simultaneously, traditional Chinese medicine methods such as clearing heat, detoxifying, dispelling wind, smoothing the liver, dispersing masses, and combined with external washing of Chinese medicine, can sometimes achieve better therapeutic effects.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
54sec home-news-image

Will common warts recur after removal?

Common warts can recur after removal. Therefore, after the removal of common warts, it is necessary to completely eliminate the virus in the body to reduce the chances of recurrence. This can often be achieved using antiviral medications in combination with drugs that enhance immune function to prevent relapse. Generally, common warts are caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection leading to a type of growth with a rough surface, resembling cauliflower or papillae. During the infection period, the wart bodies of common warts will significantly enlarge, thus it is important to deal with the proliferating wart bodies in a timely manner. Common warts can be removed surgically, by using carbon dioxide laser methods, or treated with liquid nitrogen freezing methods.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
55sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Qu Jing
Dermatology
1min 4sec home-news-image

Is a common wart an HPV carrier?

Common warts are caused by HPV, the human papillomavirus, which infects the skin and mucous membranes, causing benign growths that appear as various types of warts. Clinically common types include ordinary warts, flat warts, plantar warts, and genital warts, among others. Common warts are also known as verruca vulgaris, predominantly caused by HPV type 2, and they mainly occur between the ages of 5 and 20 but can also appear in other age groups. Due to autoinoculation, they can occur on any part of the body, primarily on the hands. Common precipitating factors include hand injuries or conditions involving swelling and soaking. Typical lesions are the size of a soybean or larger, grey-brown, brown, or flesh-colored papules with a rough surface, hard texture, and may have a cauliflower-like or papillomatous growth.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
53sec home-news-image

What harm does not treating common warts do to the body?

Common warts are caused by papillomavirus infections. This disease is contagious and recurrent, with the most common sites of occurrence being the soles of the feet or the palms and fingers. It is important to treat this disease in a standardized and timely manner, otherwise, it may grow increasingly numerous. Warts that develop on the soles can multiply over time, causing pain while walking. If they continue to increase, some may become inflamed, infected, suppurate, or exude fluid. When warts increase in number on the hands, they can affect work, as contact with hard materials can cause pain. Therefore, it is crucial to seek standardized treatment upon discovering this disease. Although it does not significantly affect an individual's health, it can impact one’s daily life and work.