"Can't I just pick them off with my hands? They seem to keep spreading."
"Isn't it done once I take them all off in one go with a laser?"
These are the first things people worried about small warts that keep multiplying on the face or hands tend to ask.
I'm Director Kwon Si-jin — we'll be seeing you in Myeongdong soon ^^
We're getting ready to open our doors in Myeongdong soon, and since so many people have been asking about warts ahead of our opening, we wanted to put together this overview for your information first.
If you've been upset because a couple more seem to have appeared each time you wake up, I completely understand how it feels.
Assuming it's a mole and leaving it can let it spread. Warts are caused by a virus, so they differ in nature from moles or skin tags. Let me show you exactly where they part ways.
Flat Warts Are Lesions Caused by the 'HPV Virus'
The flat warts commonly seen are lesions that form when a virus called HPV contacts the skin, and they're characterized by small, flat, grain-like bumps that rise up in clusters.
Let me first lay out what warts are.
The point that they're caused by a virus, rather than being simple cosmetic bumps, is what most sets them apart from moles or skin tags.
That's why, when removing them too, you have to approach with this viral nature in mind.
We Remove the Lesion Precisely With a CO2 Laser
For flat wart removal, a CO2 laser is commonly used.
A CO2 laser works on the principle of precisely removing the wart tissue with high energy, handling the raised lesions one grain at a time.
That said, because they're caused by a virus, it's hard to expect them all to be tidied up in one go the way you'd remove a mole.
Even after removing the visible lesions, there are cases where small warts that haven't yet surfaced come up on a time lag.
So rather than finishing in one go, it's usually done over several sessions, tidying up in step with the flow of them surfacing. (the number of sessions needed varies by individual)
Because It's Viral, It Can Spread and Come Back Up
The parts to be most careful about with warts are 'spreading' and 'recurrence.'
Flat warts are caused by a virus, so if you scratch or irritate them, they can transfer through that area to the surroundings and spread.
This is called self-inoculation, and there's a flow where a new lesion forms just from grazing it while shaving or touching it absentmindedly, so caution is needed.
Also, recurrence — where virus that was invisible remains and comes back up over time — can well happen.
So it'll be easier on your mind to view warts as a lesion you watch and manage over time rather than declare done with a single removal.
Please Avoid Picking or Removing Them Yourself by Hand
The thing I most want to urge with warts is: please don't touch them directly yourself.
If you pick at them with your fingernails out of frustration or remove them at home on your own, the virus can spread to that spot and its surroundings, and the number can actually increase instead.
There's also a risk of the wound getting infected or a mark being left, so self-removal is a method we don't recommend.
A small scab forms at the removed spot; leave it until it falls off while new skin fills in, and it's best not to force it off.
While recovering, being mindful of UV protection so that area doesn't get exposed to sunlight helps reduce pigmentation.
What the CO2 laser does
The CO2 laser is what's most used for lesions. Knowing the principle makes the recovery make sense.
It's described as working by being absorbed by water in the tissue and vaporising it. Closer to boiling water off than to burning.
Two things follow from that.One is that the depth can be controlled finely; the other is that the treated site is left with a wound that goes through a healing process.That's where the scab forming and coming away comes from.
At our Myeongdong clinic we have Hestia in the CO2 family.
Recovery runs in this order
- Day 1 to 3a scab forms at the treated site. Best to avoid water contact and rubbing
- 1 to 2 weeksthe scab comes away naturally. Picking it off makes a mark likely
- The months afternew skin looks red, then gradually fades
Many people think it's over once the scab falls off, but whether pigment remains is decided in the months that follow. Red skin makes pigment easily, so taking sun on it then can leave a brown mark.
So there are three things to attend to during recovery: moisturising, keeping it covered, and sun protection.For ointments and dressings, following the instructions from where you had it done is safest.
In These Cases, Take a Closer Look Before Removal
Just because it looks like a wart doesn't mean every lesion is the same.
There are cases where a bump that's dark in color, has an indistinct border, or grows rapidly in size needs to be distinguished from a simple flat wart.
A bump that keeps bleeding or whose shape visibly changes is also best not brushed past.
In these cases, rather than removing it blindly, it's safer to first confirm the condition with a diagnosis, tell what kind of lesion it is, and then decide the direction for removal.
Because even if it looks similar on the outside, it may be telling a different story inside.
Reducing the spread
Because the cause is a virus, keeping it from spreading matters as much as treating it.
- Don't pick or scratch the lesionstouching elsewhere with the same hand can transfer it
- Take care with razorsa blade grazing a lesion is associated with spread along that line
- Use a separate toweltransmission within a household is discussed
New lesions sometimes appear after treatment has begun.That isn't necessarily failure — it's sometimes described as what was already latent becoming visible.Which is why a plan that follows the course matters more than finishing in one go.
- It is a viral lesion
- We keep spread and recurrence in mind
- It is managed across several sessions
FAQ
Q. Are warts all removed in one go?
A. Because they're caused by a virus, it's hard to expect them all to be tidied up in one go.Even after removing the visible lesions with a CO2 laser, there are cases where small warts that haven't yet surfaced come up on a time lag. So it's usually done over several sessions, tidying up in step with the flow of them surfacing.It helps to keep in mind that the number of sessions needed and the result vary by individual, and it's more reasonable to understand it as a lesion you watch and manage over time rather than finish in one go.
Q. They seem to keep spreading — why is that?
A. Flat warts are caused by a virus, so if you scratch or irritate them, they can transfer through that area to the surroundings and spread.This is called self-inoculation, and there's a flow where a new lesion forms just from grazing it while shaving or touching it absentmindedly. So it's best to avoid picking them off by hand or removing them at home on your own.Reducing irritation and checking the condition before they spread helps with management.
Q. If I remove them once, will they never form again?
A. They can come back up.It can well happen that virus that was invisible remains and recurs over time.This isn't because the removal went wrong; it's closer to the nature of a viral lesion.So rather than declaring done with a single removal, it's better to watch and manage over time, and the direction of tidying up new ones as they come up is reasonable. Please keep in mind that whether it recurs and to what degree varies by individual.
Q. Is it contagious?
A. Because the cause is a virus, transmission is discussed.Not sharing towels or razors is safer.
Q. How many sessions will it take?
A. It depends on the number and extent, and it often runs across several sessions.Being viral, what wasn't visible can surface later, so it's hard to see it as finishing in one go.
Q. Do they ever clear on their own?
A. That is mentioned.But they can spread in the meantime, so it's better to weigh waiting against treating in consultation.
Mind the spread and return
The heart of what I've said today is right here.
Flat warts are a viral lesion, so rather than finishing in one go, it's a treatment you manage over several sessions with spreading and recurrence in mind.
That question at the very top — does this answer it?
If you've been upset because they seem to keep multiplying, it's fine to view it in the direction of not touching them directly and tidying up while watching the progress.Just please keep in mind that the sessions and result vary by individual, and that because it's viral, spreading and recurrence can occur.
DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon.We'll share news of our opening and treatment information first on our blog and Instagram ^^
Thank you for your time today.This was Director Kwon Si-jin at DA Clinic Myeongdong.
This column is an informational article meant to provide general medical information, and the effects and side effects of treatments may vary by individual. DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon. (Medical Service Act Art. 56)