Laser Treatments of Flat Warts on the Face

Flat warts appear on the skin usually in great numbers. The human papillomavirus infects the skin causing the warts to appear. There is usually no pain involved with this type of wart, and in many cases they go away on their own. Laser treatment is a successful treatment in this type of wart and is used in severe cases when the warts interfere with daily life.

Diagnosis

• Before laser treatment can begin, diagnosis of the type of warts or skin infection is necessary. Doctors make the diagnosis of flat warts. The condition is common among children and not often seen in senior adults. Warts are not usually a cause for concern, but flat warts on the face can cause some embarrassment and discomfort in patients.

  Flat warts are flesh colored and smooth on the surface. There can be hundreds of the warts located on the face or neck. These warts also appear on the legs and arms in some cases as well.

Laser Treatment

• Treatment of warts with lasers can involve pulsed dye lasers and carbon dioxide lasers. For facial warts, pulsed dye lasers are most effective. These lasers cut off the blood supply to the wart and do not affect the surrounding skin. Carbon dioxide lasers may leave a scar behind and are not as effective for the face.
  Treatment for warts can take more than one session. It depends on how many warts are present on the face and whether the warts respond to the laser treatment. Treatments can extend over several sessions if there are a large number of warts to treat. Each treatment session can last between 10 and 30 minutes.

  Other treatments for flat warts on the face include freezing the wart and burning with a needle. Both of these treatments may result in scarring. Topical medications may also be prescribed to remove the wart from the face.

Preventing Recurrence

• The human papillomavirus is very contagious and can spread from person to person. Avoid contact with those infected with warts. Those with weakened immune systems may be at a greater risk of infection with the virus.
  Treatment of flat warts with laser therapy may result in a recurrence of the warts if the virus continues to spread to other areas of the body. Laser treatment is an effective treatment for flat warts on the face. The treatment can be repeated if additional warts appear on the face.