Is the recurrence rate of common warts high?

Written by Liu Jing
Dermatology
Updated on August 31, 2024
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Common warts, commonly known as verruca vulgaris, are infectious due to human papillomavirus infection and have a high recurrence rate. For example, warts occurring on the feet are called plantar warts, which often have a long disease course and require multiple cryotherapy treatments, even more than ten times, and can recur and reoccur. It is necessary to enhance skin cleanliness, avoid external factors such as injuries, and provide active and effective antiviral treatment and immunomodulatory supportive symptomatic treatment. Early intervention with physical treatments, such as cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen, laser treatment, or even surgical removal of the wart, can be combined with oral medications like thymosin enteric capsules and topical interferon gel to suppress virus replication.

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Written by Qu Jing
Dermatology
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Will common warts grow back after being removed?

Common warts, even when picked off, are very likely to regrow, as they are benign growths caused by an infection of the skin and mucous membrane with the Human Papillomavirus, or HPV. Due to their viral nature, they tend to recur easily. Common warts, also known as verruca vulgaris or plantar warts, are typically caused by HPV type 2 and mainly occur between the ages of 5 and 20. They can appear on any part of the body due to autoinoculation and are most commonly found on the hands and feet. These areas are susceptible due to frequent injuries or prolonged exposure to water, which are common triggering factors. After a wart is removed, the surrounding areas might already be infected, potentially leading to new warts appearing over time.

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Written by Li Ya Ping
Dermatology Department
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Are common warts and plantar warts the same?

Plantar warts are common warts that occur on the soles of the feet. Therefore, plantar warts are a special type of common wart that occurs on the soles of the feet. Plantar warts belong to the category of common warts. Common warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which infects the skin and mucous membranes, resulting in benign growths such as common warts, flat warts, or genital warts, among others. However, the subtypes of HPV causing these infections vary. Additionally, within common warts, those occurring on the soles of the feet are specifically referred to as plantar warts. Plantar warts mainly appear on the front part of the sole, which is an area subject to friction and often sweatier, thus making it more susceptible to warts. These warts can be painful, or they might not cause any discomfort at all.

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Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
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Does common warts spread by skin contact?

Common warts can be contagious through skin contact. Common warts, also known as verruca vulgaris, are caused by the human papillomavirus, abbreviated as HPV. Theoretically, common warts can be contagious through close contact, but transmission is not guaranteed upon skin contact and depends on each individual's resistance to the virus. When affected by common warts, it's important to enhance the cleanliness of the affected skin area, and also to disinfect clothing and the surrounding environment. Treatment can be supported by using immunomodulators among other symptomatic therapies. The primary treatment for common warts is physical removal methods, such as liquid nitrogen freezing or carbon dioxide laser treatments to remove the warts, and topical application of interferon gel can also be used.

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home-news-image
Written by Liu Jing
Dermatology
54sec home-news-image

Is the recurrence rate of common warts high?

Common warts, commonly known as verruca vulgaris, are infectious due to human papillomavirus infection and have a high recurrence rate. For example, warts occurring on the feet are called plantar warts, which often have a long disease course and require multiple cryotherapy treatments, even more than ten times, and can recur and reoccur. It is necessary to enhance skin cleanliness, avoid external factors such as injuries, and provide active and effective antiviral treatment and immunomodulatory supportive symptomatic treatment. Early intervention with physical treatments, such as cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen, laser treatment, or even surgical removal of the wart, can be combined with oral medications like thymosin enteric capsules and topical interferon gel to suppress virus replication.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
54sec home-news-image

Will common warts recur after removal?

Common warts can recur after removal. Therefore, after the removal of common warts, it is necessary to completely eliminate the virus in the body to reduce the chances of recurrence. This can often be achieved using antiviral medications in combination with drugs that enhance immune function to prevent relapse. Generally, common warts are caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection leading to a type of growth with a rough surface, resembling cauliflower or papillae. During the infection period, the wart bodies of common warts will significantly enlarge, thus it is important to deal with the proliferating wart bodies in a timely manner. Common warts can be removed surgically, by using carbon dioxide laser methods, or treated with liquid nitrogen freezing methods.