Flat warts (verruca plana) are small, slightly raised bumps that appear in clusters.
However, the viral strains transmitted through sexual contact are not the same as those responsible for warts.
Flat warts are typically light brown and most common in children but can also develop in adults.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
They often appear where adults shave and on children’s cheeks and foreheads.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Reproduced with permission from A DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Symptoms
Flat warts are smaller and smoother than other common warts.
However, they appear in groups of 20-100, making the tiny bumps more noticeable.
The virus must first get under your skin, whether through a small cut, sore, or rash.
They can examine your skin to rule out skin cancer and other potential lesions.
Flat warts are not an STD.
They’re not triggered by the same virus responsible for genital warts.
Diagnosis
Healthcare providers diagnose flat warts based on their characteristic appearance.
They may use a handheld magnifying unit (dermatoscope) to get a better view.
However, that takes time.
Your results may depend on the number and size of your flat warts.
In about half of all cases, warts disappear within one year.
Two-thirds improve in two years.
Flat warts (and any other skin wart) can also return after they go away.
They can recur because the virus can stay dormant and then reactivate in the future.
They may also reappear if the wart wasn’t completely removed or you get reinfected.
HPV spreads through direct contact with another person infected with flat warts.
you could also pick up the virus from objects that were touched or used by another person.
Flat warts eventually improve on their own (as long as you have a healthy immune system).
However, it can take years for them to disappear.
you’ve got the option to treat flat warts with over-the-counter medications containing salicylic acid or freezing substances.
you could also seek medical care and have your healthcare provider use stronger medications and more effective treatments.
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