Flat warts, also known as verruca plana, are smooth and small warts that usually occur on the face and are more common in children. They are caused by HPV and can be a range of colors. They are very contagious and can spread from person to person. Treatment options include topical medications, cryosurgery, or laser treatment, but removing warts does not mean a person is cured as the virus can still live in the body and the warts can recur.
A verruca plana is more commonly known as a flat wart due to its appearance. Unlike common warts, which are rough and resemble cauliflower, verruca plana is smooth to the touch. They are also much smaller than common warts and usually occur on the face. Flat warts are more common in children than in adults. All warts are caused by various strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV).
Flat warts typically don’t occur on their own. A person, usually a child, typically has several, even up to 100, of warts on a single area of their body. The warts are about the size of the head of a pin and may not be apparent at first until a large cluster forms.
Verruca plana can be a range of colors. Some warts are pink, while others are brown or yellow. Although warts are commonly found on the forehead and other parts of the face, a person can get them on their hands, knees, and neck, among other places.
Since flat warts are caused by HPV, they are very contagious, just like common warts and other types of warts. The virus does well in warm, humid environments. It can spread from person to person via contact such as sharing a towel, although this is rare. A person is more likely to spread the wart to other areas of their body. To reduce the spread of the wart, both on the patient’s body and on others, it is important not to pick it.
In some cases, warts may go away on their own without any treatment. However, it can take years for warts to fade away. Because a collection of warts on the face can be particularly embarrassing, many people prefer to seek treatment.
A patient with verruca plana on the face should see a doctor for treatment. Over-the-counter treatments are not recommended for use on the face. While over-the-counter treatments can be effective for flat warts on other parts of the body, it’s a good idea to have a doctor diagnose warts properly before attempting treatment. Common treatment options for flat warts include prescribing topical medications such as salicylic acid, freezing the warts through a process called cryosurgery, or laser treatment.
Removing warts does not mean a person is cured. The virus can still live in the body and the warts can recur. There is a higher likelihood that flat warts will recur than other warts.
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