About Flat Warts

Flat warts don't look like the typical warts that form thick, discolored areas of the skin. Although the skin is thickened by a flat wart, this type of wart is far flatter than the more recognizable variety. Flat warts also develop in large patches of warts, unlike with many other wart varieties. However, the underlying cause of flat warts is the same as with any other type.

Significance

The flat wart is one specific type of verruca, the medical term for wart. The human papillomavirus, also known as HPV, is the cause of all types of warts. This virus is often spread by scratching the affected area and then scratching or touching other areas of the skin. They can sometimes be passed by touching something that has been touched by someone infected, but this transmission method is rare.

Identification

Flat warts are made up of skin that has been slightly thickened by the virus. They may cause no discoloration of the skin or they may have a slightly pinkish or reddish tone. They can be found on any area of the body, including the face. In people with light skin, these warts often have a darker pink hue. In those with darker skin, they may be lighter than their normal skin shade.

Significance

Flat warts are not harmful to health and don't cause any other health issues. They can often be found in straight lines because of the way they spread through scratching with fingernails. They are very prevalent among school-age children, with as many as 20 percent of them having them at any given time.

Considerations

Flat warts can be present in extreme numbers. There are three grades to a flat wart infection: mild, moderate and severe. When a patient has less than 10 flat warts and has no pain from them, the infection is classified as mild. Having from 10 to 100 flat warts, still with no pain, is considered a moderate infection. A severe infection is having more than 100 flat warts that are causing pain to the patient.

Prevention/Solution

Most flat warts last only a few months, and few last more than two years. It is not necessary to seek treatment for flat warts unless they are presenting some type of problem such as pain or a prominent placement that is causing embarrassment. Duct tape can be used to remove them by applying the tape to the warts every day. The reason behind the success of this treatment is unknown. There are also other-the-counter remedies, not all of which work effectively.