Seed warts caused by HPV

January 16, 2011 By

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.
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Warts revisited

November 27, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: How do you remove a family of plantar warts off the bottom of a big toe? My 10-year-old daughter has had them for a couple of years (shortly after starting gymnastics). There are about six or eight on her big toe right where it joins her foot. Please help!

DEAR READER: Since my last column about plantar warts, I have received many letters about various treatments. Many of the readers claim that over-the-counter and physician treatments offered limited success, with the warts either returning or never completely disappearing. Many also complained of the pain associated with these treatments, which is why they turned to alternative and home remedies.
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Plantar warts difficult to remove

November 27, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I recently read your column about the person suffering from plantar warts. My son had a number these (large and small) a few years ago. I took him to a dermatologist, who looked at his foot and told us to use over-the-counter Duofilm. He said to apply the product twice a day, and every three days either scrape or pumice the wart and start the process over again. A month later, I took my son back, and the doctor declared the process was working and to keep at it. He then proceeded to charge us $80 for the five-minute visit. The doctor didn’t even do anything! I would like to say — save your money, folks, and do the removal yourself.

DEAR READER: Unfortunately, this situation is becoming more and more common. As you saw in my last column and in the above letter, many readers are frequently dissatisfied with the care they get from a doctor for common and plantar warts, not to mention how painful some of the procedures can be.
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Plantar-wart remedies sought

October 15, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am seeing a dermatologist for plantar warts on the tops and bottoms of my feet. He is using a combination of acid and freezing. This is painful, and I have difficulties walking, even two weeks after treatments that are every three weeks. Is there anything else I can do?

DEAR READER: Plantar warts are benign growths caused by the human papillomavirus (of which there are more than 100 types), which enters the body through cuts or breaks in the skin. These lesions present as small, hard bumps and are most commonly found on pressure points on the heels or balls of the feet.
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