DEAR DR. GOTT: I have read about plantar warts that your readers have. Well, I have seed warts almost over my complete back, and they have spread to other parts of my body. My grandfather also had them on his back. My back itches badly all the time. Are they inherited? Is there anything that will help me get rid of them? I have shown them to my dermatologist, and he said he could freeze them off but that was about all he could do. What do you think?
DEAR READER: Seed warts are simply common warts with black dots that originate from the blood vessels that surround them. They commonly appear on the face, fingers, soles of the feet and backs of the hands. They are contagious and caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) that enters the skin through a simple cut or crack. Latent infection can also occur in people who harbor HPV without skin trauma.
As with all warts, a number of treatment methods are available. However, because there is no single cure, some may appear ineffective. One option is cryotherapy. Liquid nitrogen is applied to freeze the wart and can be painful but effective. In my opinion, this is your best bet with the process performed by a dermatologist; however, liquid nitrogen can be purchased at your local pharmacy without the necessity of a prescription. The nitrogen freezes and bursts skin cells that contain the HPV, thus giving the immune system an opportunity to attack and destroy the virus. Then there’s minor surgery or laser surgery. The disadvantage to surgery is the expense and the warts might scar the skin.
