Why Do Facial Warts Occur And How To Remove Them: Dermatologist Explains

Warts are harmless, raised growths on the skin that can occur in any part of the body, including the face. They usually need no treatment and resolve on their own, but some people may resort to home remedies and medical procedures to get rid of them, especially if they are visible.

In an interaction with the OnlyMyHealth team, Dr Amit Bangia, Associate Director-Dermatology, Asian Hospital, Faridabad, shared the cause of facial warts, explained the different types, and discussed treatment options for the same. 

Also Read: HPV Symptoms That All Women Should Be Aware Of

Causes Of Facial Warts

All warts are caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which has more than 200 strains.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 13 of more than 100 known HPV genotypes can cause cancer of the cervix and are linked to other anogenital cancers and cancers of the head and neck.

Talking about facial warts, Dr Bangia said, "HPV causes too many dead skins to build up on the surface of the skin, leading to the development of warts."

He added, "Warts spread through close contact, especially through shared items like handkerchiefs, towels, or by shaking hands. They happen more on wet and damaged skin, especially around community areas like swimming pools and temples. Biting your nails and shaving your legs can help in the spread of warts."

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that you can get HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus.

Different Types Of Facial Warts

There are three common types of warts that occur on the face. These include:

Verrucae vulgaris is characterised by raised lumps with rough surfaces.

Verruca plana is characterised by smooth, flattened bumps or lumps; they can affect any part but mostly occur on the face.

Filiform warts, which look like thin, long threads but have multiple threads spun together, occur more on the eyelids and the lips.

Also Read: Warts: Symptoms, Causes And Treatment

Treatment Options

“Treatment of the warts depends on the location of the warts,” said Dr. Bangia, adding, “If they occur on the face, I prefer to do a radiofrequency cautery or electrocautery.” This technique uses high-frequency radio waves to cut through and remove the tissue.

“Cryotherapy can also be done, but it can lead to post-inflammatory hypopigmentation in certain cases,” he added. Cryotherapy uses extreme cold or freezing temperatures to numb and remove abnormal tissue.

In his opinion, salicylic acid, an organic compound that helps the skin shed dead cells, is not usually an option for treating facial warts as it can cause burns and bad scars.

However, if the warts occur on the hands or feet, then cryotherapy, which is a liquid nitrogen spray, radiofrequency cautery, or a CO2 laser can be some of the treatment options. Salicylic acid can also be used for treating warts on the feet, as it usually does not leave any kind of pigmentation on that part of the skin.