What Are Flat Warts?
Contrary to popular believe, handling toads does not cause warts. In addition, warts are, for the most part, painless. However, because of rumors that swirl around how they are contracted and their very appearance, it makes those who have warts very self-conscious of how they appear to others. This is due to the fact that warts are cauliflower and crusty like in appearance. In addition, warts are infectious, benign tumors that can be very unsightly. There are five types of warts. They are common, plantar, filiform, periungual and flat warts.
What Are Flat Warts?
As with all warts, flat warts are caused by the HPV virus or human papillomavirus. Warts are highly contagious. However, flat warts are the smallest of all warts and are roughly the size of a pinhead.
Generally, flat warts are found on the faces of children, but can also be found on their young arms and hands. In addition, this type of wart can appear in cluster formations with a cluster being composed of close to a hundred warts. The actual color of a flat wart can be similar to the color of the skin. However, the color of the flat wart can also be yellowish or a lighter shade of brown.
Treatment
Often, warts disappear without treatment. However, the virus lays dormant and can reappear without warning. In addition, flat warts can be treated through a variety of methods. Those methods include treatment by a skilled medical professional, the use of medication purchased without prescription, laser surgery or cauterization.
Medical doctors can also choose to remove flat warts. That process can occur through surgery, laser treatments or by having them cauterized. If the method of removing the warts is through the purchase of an over the counter medicine, generally that medicine contains salicylic acid.
The actual process requires that the outer thickening of the skins be removed. This is accomplished through the laser treatment or the use of the mild acid. Once the outer thick skin is removed this exposes the virus which then can be neutralized.
Preventing The Spread Of HPV
Because HPV is contagious it is important to take steps to prevent the spread of the virus to others or increased spread of flat warts on the individual. This can be accomplished by minimizing direct contact with other individuals. In addition, it is important not to share towels, washcloths, etc. amongst family members. Also, it is important to wash clothes and items that come in connect with infected individuals on a frequent basis.
