Flat warts are caused by an infection with the papillomavirus. This disease has a very low rate of self-healing and generally requires treatment to resolve because flat warts have strong contagiousness and recurrence. Once they appear, it is imperative to seek formal treatment immediately; waiting until they multiply will only increase the difficulty of treatment.

Common treatments include laser or cryotherapy. Conventional oral and topical medications are particularly slow in effect, and most patients do not have very good outcomes. Immunotherapy for warts can also be used. These treatments are available in the dermatology departments of standard hospitals. It is crucial to avoid spicy and irritating foods, not to stay up late, and to refrain from repeatedly scratching when itching occurs. Scratching can cause wounds where the virus implants and proliferates, leading to the development of linear or band-like clusters of flat warts.