Warts Specialist

Samuel  L. Siegler, II, MD -  - Family Practice Physician

Texas Family Practice Associates

Samuel L. Siegler, II, MD

Family Practice Physician & Primary Care located in Houston, TX

Warts come in many shapes and sizes, but they usually have one thing in common — they’re unwelcome. While warts aren’t considered dangerous, they are contagious and unsightly. At Texas Family Practice Associates, Dr. Samuel Siegler II and his staff routinely help their patients in the Houston area easily get rid of unwanted warts. To clear up your skin, call or book an appointment online.

Warts Q & A

What are warts?

Warts are bumpy growths that appear on the surface of your skin, usually on your hands or feet. These growths are benign, meaning they aren’t cancerous, but they’re caused by a virus, typically the human papillomavirus, or HPV.

Warts generally pose no immediate health risks and are often more of an aesthetic concern than anything else, especially when they develop in highly visible places. But since warts are also considered contagious, it’s important to have Dr. Siegler treat them, especially among children who are more likely to spread them at school.

What are the different types of warts?

The location of the warts often determines the type of warts you’re dealing with, such as:

Common warts

Common warts are mostly found on children and generally appear on the hands and face. In fact, if you notice a wart on your child’s face, odds are the warts originated on the child’s hands and spread to the face through constant touching. The following are the main characteristics of common warts:

 

  • They grow around the fingernails or on the backs of the hands
  • They pop up near areas where the skin has been broken
  • They may have a small black dot in the center, which is also called a seed

Plantar warts

Plantar warts, or foot warts, strike the soles of your feet, often leading to pain or discomfort. These warts typically grow in clusters.

Flat warts

These smaller and smoother warts can crop up anywhere on your body, at any age, and usually come in groups of 20-100. Children mostly get flat warts on their faces, while men develop them on their chin and cheeks, and women on their legs.

How are warts treated?

While many warts go away on their own, persistent warts among children or adults should be examined and treated by Dr. Siegler, who turns to several simple procedures, including:

  • Freezing, burning, or scraping the wart(s) off
  • Cantharidin -- a topical ointment that causes a blister to form under the wart so that it dies and can be easily removed
  • Excision

To get rid of unsightly warts and prevent their spread, call Texas Family Practice Associates or book an appointment online.