Warts are small, rough growths on the skin caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They are common, harmless, and usually go away on their own, but many people want to get rid of them quickly. A common question is whether warts leave holes or scars after they go away. The short answer is that warts usually do not leave holes or deep scars, but they can temporarily leave slight indentations where the thick skin of the wart was removed. With proper treatment and care, these indentations fill in over time.
What are warts?
Warts are non-cancerous skin growths caused by infection with certain strains of HPV. HPV enters the top layer of skin through tiny cuts and pores. It causes rapid growth of cells on the outer layer of skin, leading to the development of a rough bump.
Over 100 types of HPV exist, and different strains are associated with different types of warts in different areas of the body:
– Common warts – Rough, dome shaped bumps that typically occur on hands and knees
– Plantar warts – Hard, flat growths that develop on the soles of the feet
– Flat warts – Smooth, flat lesions that arise on the face, legs, or arms
– Genital warts – Soft, skin-colored bumps in the genital area caused by sexual contact
In most cases, warts are harmless and do not turn cancerous. They may spread from one part of the body to another or to other people through touch. But the immune system can usually clear the HPV infection and cause the warts to disappear over time, often within months or years.
Do warts leave holes when they go away?
When untreated warts go away on their own, they do not usually leave behind holes or pits in the skin. Here’s why:
Warts form in the outer layer of skin, called the epidermis. The epidermis is made up of squamous epithelial cells. Warts develop when HPV causes these cells to multiply faster than normal. This rapid cell growth leads to a localized thickening and hardening of the epidermis into a rough bump.
However, HPV does not infect the deeper skin layers below the epidermis. The dermis and subcutaneous tissue under the wart remain intact and unaffected.
When the immune system eventually fights off the virus, the wart goes away because the skin stops producing the excess thickened cells. The epidermis flattens out and returns to normal. The layers below are undamaged, so the skin layers can fill back in evenly, without any holes, gaps, or scarring.
Very rarely, a long-standing wart may reach deeper levels and potentially cause a minor indentation. But even these resolve without true scarring.
Can wart treatment leave a hole or scar?
The removal of warts does carry a small risk of scarring. Aggressive treatment methods that penetrate deep into the dermis have the highest risk. Methods like cryotherapy (freezing), surgical excision, electrodesiccation (burning), and laser therapy can potentially damage deeper skin layers.
Here are some points on how wart treatments may lead to holes, pits, or scarring:
– Most at-home treatments only apply light chemicals to the surface of the wart. These are unlikely to penetrate deep enough to cause scarring or holes. Acid treatments like salicylic acid have a very low risk of indentation.
– Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen can potentially scar if it freezes the dermis. It requires carefully controlled administration by a healthcare provider.
– Minor pitting is a risk with surgical excision if the dermis is damaged. To prevent this, only the wart should be cut out, not the normal surrounding skin.
– Laser removal vaporizes warts point by point. It may leave small marks if not done carefully.
– Electrosurgery that burns deep can disrupt the dermis leading to scarring. Superficial, gentle modes have a lower risk.
– Curettage involves scraping away wart tissue. Scarring is uncommon but may result if deep scraping damages the dermis.
Overall, the risk of scarring from properly performed, provider-administered wart removal is very low, around only 1-2%. Home treatments almost never scar. Any pits or holes present after wart removal are typically minor indentations that fill in over time as new skin layers grow.
Tips to avoid scarring from wart removal
– See a dermatologist or podiatrist for wart removal instead of attempting aggressive treatments at home. Doctors have specialized training to remove warts properly with minimal scarring.
– Make sure the provider carefully assesses the wart before treatment. The goal should be to destroy only the infected tissue, not the healthy surrounding skin.
– For invasive treatments like cryotherapy or excision, ask the provider to use the least invasive method necessary to remove the wart. Less damage means lower risk of scarring.
– Follow all post-procedure wound care instructions closely. Keep the area clean, moisturized, and protected until completely healed. Avoid picking at scabs.
– Use over-the-counter scar creams containing ingredients like vitamin E, silicone, and onion extract to help minimize the appearance of any indentation from wart removal.
– Wear sunscreen religiously on affected areas. UV exposure can worsen any potential scarring or discoloration.
– Be patient. Any minor wart-related holes often improve significantly within a few months after treatment as the natural healing process occurs.
When to see a doctor
See a dermatologist promptly if:
– A wart bleeds, itches, hurts, or changes appearance. This may indicate infection or malignancy.
– Warts spread rapidly or do not respond to over-the-counter treatments.
– You have a weakened immune system that may allow warts to persist.
– Warts are widespread and bothersome.
– You develop localized pain, tenderness, redness, and swelling after treating a wart at home. This may signal an infection or wound complication.
– A wart leaves a large hole, deep pit, or obvious scar after treatment or disappearance. A medical professional can determine if further intervention such as dermabrasion or laser skin resurfacing could improve the indentation.
Home care for warts
While waiting for warts to clear, try these self-care tips:
– Soak warts in warm water and gently rub with a pumice stone or washcloth to remove thick, dead skin layers. Do not dig into healthy skin.
– Apply over-the-counter wart removers like salicylic acid as directed. This gradually destroys wart tissue without harming deeper layers.
– Keep warts covered with bandages or duct tape to boost the immune response. Change daily.
– Try natural home remedies like banana peel, garlic, or apple cider vinegar. Evidence for their effectiveness is limited.
– Take oral zinc supplements. Zinc may help boost immunity against the wart virus.
– Get sufficient sleep and eat a balanced diet. A healthy lifestyle keeps your immune system strong.
– Avoid direct contact between warts and others. Do not pick at or scratch warts to prevent spread.
– Throw away emery boards, pumice stones and other items that touched warts to avoid reinfection.
With patience and proper care, most warts resolve without treatment within two years. See a doctor promptly if warts persist, spread, or become painful. Removing warts professionally carries a very low risk of minor scarring or holes. Following aftercare instructions carefully can help optimize healing. While waiting for warts to disappear, gentle exfoliation, bandages, and home remedies may hasten their removal.
Conclusion
In summary, warts themselves do not typically leave scars or holes in the skin when they resolve. However, aggressive wart removal methods that damage the deeper dermis very rarely cause slight indentations or pits. Any holes present after treatment are usually minor and often improve over time. To avoid scarring, have warts treated carefully by a medical provider using the least invasive method possible. Properly performed wart removal has an extremely low overall risk of scarring. Home remedies and natural resolution of warts do not leave holes or scars. With proper treatment and care, warts can be removed without leaving major skin defects behind.