Hey everyone! Welcome to our podcast. I’m Dr Smith, and I’m talking about something that can be your concern also. It’s a facial wart. You recognise it as a small, rough bump on the face. It looks weird, and most people want to get rid of it safely.

As an aesthetic practitioner, I often see people crying for help to remove that little growth, particularly when it is around the nose, chin, forehead, or eyelids. The good thing is that it can be treated, provided that you choose the right one, especially when you have delicate facial skin.

So, what exactly is a facial wart?

Let’s share the basics. Warts are the result of microbial infection, caused by certain types of human papillomavirus. It is commonly known as HPV. It looks like a tiny, rough bump or may be flatter. In most cases, they are harmless but can be contagious. It means they can spread through direct contact or from one area of the surface to another.

However, it’s also true that not every bump on your face or skin is a wart. Some skin tags, moles, and other skin conditions can look alike. That’s why you need the right diagnosis before reaching the conclusion. It is essential.

Hope it’s clear what the wart is.

What if the diagnosis confirms it’s a facial wart? Certainly, you would like to remove it. Let’s discuss the options.

Cryotherapy is one of the wart treatments that freeze it using a specialised medical treatment using liquid nitrogen. It is effective but may need multiple sessions to completely remove it. As facial skin is sensitive, a doctor must thoroughly examine whether a specific treatment or approach is safe and effective, meaning he or she should consider the risk of temporary pigmentation or scarring.  

Another alternative is electrosurgery or curettage. The doctor first looks at the sight of the wart. Then only, he uses controlled electrical energy or a specialised instrument to uproot the growth. It requires a careful approach because scarring and pigmentation are possible.

One more option is laser treatment. It targets the affected tissue, but unfortunately, it does not work for every wart. Also, the result may vary depending on the individual case. So, you must discuss everything, including its benefits, risks, and possibility of reoccurrence before going ahead.

Overall, the prescription of the doctor is a must, which depends on the diagnosis.

Like every treatment, there are some don’ts that you must recall.

The very first thing is to avoid cutting, squeezing, or picking any facial wart yourself. And many over-the-counter wart removal acids or home freezing kits are available. Don’t use them without any recommendation from a qualified healthcare professional.

Using any of these methods can leave your skin damaged, infected, and scary. If the growth is frequently changing, bleeding, painful, unhealed, and even developing usual colours, visit the doctor. It can be any other issue that needs a skin check.

Once you get it treated, it is necessary to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. Keep the area clean, and avoid pricking or picking the clotted surface. Use broad-spectrum sunscreen to minimise the risk of post-treatment pigmentation.

One thing that must be remembered is that even after successful wart removal, it may regrow.

So, the safest option is not to guess or rush into the treatment on your own. Start with a professional skin assessment, confirm what the growth actually is, and choose a treatment suited to your skin and the location of the wart.

Your skin deserves careful attention, not risky shortcuts. Thanks for joining me today, and remember, when it comes to your face, safe treatment always comes first. Catch you next time.

Harvard Health Publishing: https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/how-to-get-rid-of-warts

Source: https://cosmeticcliniccoolangatta.com.au/warts.php