Rashes and Warts
Finding a rash on your skin or child can be quite
distressing, especially if you don’t know the cause of
the irritation. If you’ve never experienced a rash
before or if you’ve never seen the type of inflammation
you are currently experiencing, self-diagnosis is not
recommended. Even though most rashes are not dangerous,
expert medical diagnosis is recommended for all unknown
skin irritants to safely determine the cause and proper
treatment of your rash.
The treatment of skin rashes
must be individualized. Facial skin is more delicate and
more visible than some body skin. Baby skin is far more
fragile than adolescent skin, and must be treated so as
not to damage the dermis (deeper) layer of skin.
Rash Treatments
Rashes and skin irritations are
caused by many different factors including illness,
allergies, insect bites and even heredity. Rest assured
that there is a medical treatment for almost every type
of rash and skin irritation. During your visit we will
examine your rash and obtain a complete medical history.
In most cases, rash treatment will consist of a
prescription for a topical medical cream to reduce
inflammation or physician strength skin care products.
In some cases, laser or chemical treatments might be
necessary. In rarer cases, we may need to take a tissue
sample to determine the exact cause and extent of the
rash. Once a determination is made, we will explain your
options to you in detail. In most cases, with proper
medical treatment, skin irritations will clear up in a
reasonable time period. Warts
Warts are
benign (not cancerous) skin growths that appear when a
virus infects the top layer of the skin. You are more
likely to get one of these viruses if you cut or damage
your skin in some way. Wart viruses are contagious.
Warts can spread by contact with the wart or something
that touched the wart. Warts can grow on any part of
your body and can be treated by providers at Newport
Coast Dermatology in Newport Beach and Santa Ana.
Types of Warts
Warts are generally harmless. However,
warts can be unattractive and embarrassing, and
sometimes they itch or are painful (particularly on the
feet).
Different types of warts:
- Common warts
usually appear on the hands, but can appear anywhere on
the body.
- Flat warts are generally found on the
face and forehead.
- Genital warts (also known as condyloma) are commonly found on the genitals.
- Plantar warts are found on the soles of the feet.
- Subungual and periungual warts appear under and around
the fingernails.
Treatment of Warts
Some warts
will disappear without treatment, although it can
sometimes take a couple of years. Treated or not, warts
that go away often reappear. All warts can spread from
one part of your body to another. Warts around and under
your nails are much more difficult to treat than warts
in other places.
- Using a home treatment such as
salicylic acid. You can get these without a
prescription.
- Prescription creams to boost your
body’s immune system against the virus.
- Freezing
the wart in office (cryotherapy).
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