Wart treatment in Burlington

Confirming the diagnosis

Plantar warts (verrucae) are caused by a viral infection of the skin and are often mistaken for a callus. Assessment distinguishes a wart from corns, callus and other skin lesions before treatment begins.

Chemical treatment

A wart is an area of skin infected by the human papillomavirus (HPV), often covered by a layer of hard skin that pressure pushes inward. Overlying hard skin is pared back so treatment reaches the infected tissue, and a chemical solution is applied over a short series of visits. Many warts respond well, though some take longer or return, and the approach is adjusted to how your wart responds.

• Pain-free paring of overlying callus
• Solution applied at each visit
• Typically a short series of appointments
• Dressings and home care explained

Stubborn and mosaic warts

Mosaic clusters, or warts that have been present for years, may not respond to chemical treatment alone. For these, three further in-office options are available.

• Cutera GenesisPlus laser: the same 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser used for fungal nails delivers targeted heat to the wart tissue. Sessions take only minutes; the treatment can be uncomfortable, though the sensation passes quickly. A short course of sessions spaced several weeks apart is typical
• Dry needling: a fine needle is passed through the wart to provoke the body's immune response against the virus
• Excision: the wart is surgically removed when other options have not cleared it

Children and teenagers

Warts are common in children and adolescents, particularly after swimming or using shared change rooms. Treatment is kept comfortable and paced appropriately for younger patients.

Reducing spread and recurrence

Wart virus spreads through moist shared surfaces and through the patient's own skin. Guidance covers footwear, socks, pool and gym use, and keeping the area covered while under treatment.

• Footwear in shared change rooms
• Keeping the lesion covered
• Avoiding picking or filing at home
• Household and family considerations

Review and follow-up

Progress is checked at each visit. Once the wart has resolved, the skin is reviewed to confirm normal skin lines have returned and to catch any early recurrence.