What Are Flat Warts?
Flat Warts
If you have noticed an area of reddish brown skin that is slightly raised and that wasn’t previously there, you may indeed have a case of flat warts. The area may be a single small raised circle or oval, or it may be a cluster of them. Before you begin any type of at-home treatment, you may first want to take some time to look at pictures of these warts posted online or otherwise contact your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis.
What Causes This?
Flat warts, as with other types of warts, is a condition caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV. The virus can cause warts on any part of the body, and this particular kind of wart is a type that can crop up on all areas of the skin, including the face. The virus generally is not easily contracted, and it usually will enter the skin through a small cut. Generally, simple contact with the virus on healthy, intact skin is not enough to lead to an infection.
Does It Hurt?
If you have a small, reddish-brown raised area on your skin, or if you have a cluster of these smaller dots, you may be wondering if your case is a case of flat warts or if it is something else. Mild and moderate cases are generally painless, and these are cases where a single wart may be present or up to 100 different lesions may be present. Severe cases, where more than 100 lesions may be present at the same time, can cause some pain, and sometimes the pain is significant enough to interfere with daily life activities.
Prevention
It can be difficult to prevent flat warts, although good hygiene can help. Interestingly, this is a condition which is most common in those between the ages of 12 and 16, although those of any age can develop it. Because the virus that causes this condition can be on your skin without infecting you, good hygiene that includes thoroughly washing your hands regularly can help to prevent this from occurring. Furthermore, small cuts on the skin should be covered thoroughly when possible, too, as this is how the virus gets inside the body in most cases.
Treatment
If you have determined that you do indeed have a case of flat warts, the good news is that many cases will clear up on their own after about two months or so, although some may take longer. If you notice one wart lesion, the area may infect other areas of the body, though. Other treatments may be prescribed by your doctor as well including cryosurgery, electrocautery, laser surgery, and the use of various different over-the-counter and prescription oral or topical medications. Such treatments may help to not just cure your case of warts, but they can also help to prevent the infection from traveling to other areas of your body.
The First Step
If you think you may have a case of flat warts but are not quite certain, it is a good idea to visit your doctor for an accurate diagnosis. Your doctor can rule out other possibilities for you. Then you can discuss treatment options with your doctor, too. The wart lesions may indeed go away on their own, but you do want to get rid of the virus as soon as possible to decrease the possibility of infecting others and of dealing with the virus spreading to other parts of your body. Your doctor can talk to you in more detail about treatment options and recommend one that works best for you. While the problem can be embarrassing and sometimes painful, it can be treated successfully.
