Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Recurring Warts On The Hands?
Question: I was wondering if I should worry about having numerous warts on my hands. I stopped counting a long time ago, but it seems new ones are showing up more often. The new ones are soft to the touch, but the older larger ones are thick and hard like a callous. They almost always appear over an old injury or scar.
Brief Answer:
About warts on hands:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I'm sorry you are having this problem. I am assuming that the OTC medication that you tried had salicylic acid in it. That is usually the first thing to try.
It is typical for warts to start off softer and then they sometimes develop a callous over them. Sometimes the callous has to be paired down for the medicine to get to the virus effectively.
It's not clear why some people get warts, but it isn't unusual for them to come out in an injured area.
It really isn't going to cause you long term harm to have warts. And warts can sometimes just go away over time but it sounds like you have a great deal of them. If you gave the salicylic acid a good try, I think it may be a good idea to see a dermatologist to discuss options. One of the most common doctor-administered treatments is to freeze them with liquid nitrogen. This is usually effective at getting rid of the current warts. Or to use cautery with an electric needle. But if you have so many that it would be a lot of area to freeze or burn, the doctor may want to try other things.
Other treatments a doctor may use are
1. Aldara (imiquid) an immune-stimulator.
2. Injections of Candidin.
3. Injections of bleomycin.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification. Good luck.
About warts on hands:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I'm sorry you are having this problem. I am assuming that the OTC medication that you tried had salicylic acid in it. That is usually the first thing to try.
It is typical for warts to start off softer and then they sometimes develop a callous over them. Sometimes the callous has to be paired down for the medicine to get to the virus effectively.
It's not clear why some people get warts, but it isn't unusual for them to come out in an injured area.
It really isn't going to cause you long term harm to have warts. And warts can sometimes just go away over time but it sounds like you have a great deal of them. If you gave the salicylic acid a good try, I think it may be a good idea to see a dermatologist to discuss options. One of the most common doctor-administered treatments is to freeze them with liquid nitrogen. This is usually effective at getting rid of the current warts. Or to use cautery with an electric needle. But if you have so many that it would be a lot of area to freeze or burn, the doctor may want to try other things.
Other treatments a doctor may use are
1. Aldara (imiquid) an immune-stimulator.
2. Injections of Candidin.
3. Injections of bleomycin.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification. Good luck.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
