Warts
Warts are the result of a viral infection and may occur virtually anywhere on the body. If left untreated, they may often disappear spontaneously. However, warts are contagious and may spread across your body or be transmitted to other people, and therefore it makes sense to treat them. Treatment is particularly recommended if they are painful, but also if they result in impaired aesthetic appearance. There are various treatment options available. Successful wart removal frequently comprises several modalities, e.g., freezing (cryotherapy), surgical removal, laser treatment and administration of bleomycin.
A distinction should be made between the following types of wart:
Common wart
Verruca vulgaris
Warts on the fingers and hands, about the size of a pinhead or pea, keratic with a pitted surface.
Filiform wart
Verruca filiformis
Thread-like or pedunculated warts on the head and neck, or the hairy parts of the body, e.g., the scalp or beard.
Plantar wart, mosaic wart
Verruca plantaris
Common warts pressed into the sole of the foot by the weight of the body. They may be solitary or present in groups. Plantar warts are very rare Switzerland but can often be extremely painful and hard to get rid of.
Genital warts
Condylomata acuminata
This type of wart occurs in the mucosal membranes of the anus and genitals. These warts are sexually-transmitted, viral infections.
Mollusca contagiosa
Tesselated spotty wart primarily affecting children.