Dr. Rockoff received his undergraduate degree from Yeshiva College with the distinction of Summa Cum Laude. He received his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. His internship and two years of Pediatric residency were at the Bronx Municipal Hospital Center, followed by training in Dermatology at the combined residency program at Tufts and Boston Universities. Dr. Rockoff is certified by both the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board of Pediatrics.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
The warts commonly seen on the skin are caused by a viral infection. The
culprit is one of the HPVs (human papillomaviruses) that can be spread from
person to person or be acquired through contact with a contaminated surface.
Over 100 types of HPVs have been identified that infect
skin or mucous membranes, depending on the virus type. HPV types that infect
skin lead to the development of common skin
warts.
HPVs have gained widespread attention for their proven
role in the development of genital and anal cancers, particularly cancer of the cervix. Specific
"high risk" types of HPV that infect the mucosal tissue that
lines the genital area are responsible for these carcinogenic (cancer-causing)
effects. "High risk" HPVs have also been implicated in the development of a
subset of head and neck cancers that develop in the area of the tonsils.
There are also "low risk" HPV types that lead to the development of benign lesions in the genital area,
such as genital warts.
Some of these HPV types
infect skin and cause warts in various locations on the body. Other HPV types
cause benign growths, or papillomas, on the vocal cords.
Common warts are local growths in the skin that are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Although they are considered to be contagious, it is very common for just one family member to have them. In addition, they often affect just one part of the body (such as the hands or the feet) without spreading over time to other areas.
What are some types of common warts?
There is the familiar type of dome-shaped warts on the backs of fingers,
toes, and knees.
Plantar warts are found on the bottom of the foot. (The "plantar" part of the foot. These are not "Planter's warts.")
Flat ("plane") warts may arise on the face, legs, and other parts of the body, often in large numbers.
Periungual warts are warts around or under the nail.
Filiform warts typically
appear as a single long stalk, often on the face.
What is the treatment for common warts?
Common warts can be annoying to anyone. This information is about the treatment of common warts. It does not apply to genital or venereal warts.
Over-the-counter treatment for common skin warts has long been based upon the use of products containing salicylic acid. Newer nonprescription wart treatments use aerosols to freeze warts.
Salicylic-acid preparations
These are available as drops, gels, pads, and plasters. They are designed for
application to all kinds of warts, from tiny ones to great, big lumpy ones.
Salicylic acid is a keratolytic medication, which means it dissolves the protein
(keratin), which makes up most of both the wart and the thick layer of dead skin
that often tops it.
Nonprescription freezing methods
Aerosol wart treatments available over-the-counter use sprays that freeze warts
at a temperature of minus 70 F (minus 57 C). This compares with the liquid nitrogen used by most dermatologists, which is considerably colder (minus 320
F or minus 196 C).
Duct tape
It is claimed that warts can be "suffocated" by covering them with duct tape or
other nonbreathing tape, such as electrical tape. This treatment is hard to
use, however, because in order to work, the tape must be left in place all the
time and removed only a few hours once per week. Almost always, the tape falls
off.
A skin tag is a small benign growth of skin that projects from the surrounding skin. Skin tags can vary in appearance (smooth, irregular, flesh colored, dark pigment, raised). Skin tags generally do not cause symptoms unless repeatedly irritated. Treatment for skin tag varies depending on the location on the body.
Foot pain may be caused by injuries (sprains, strains, bruises, and fractures), diseases (diabetes, Hansen disease, and gout), viruses, fungi, and bacteria (plantar warts and athlete's foot), or even ingrown toenails. Pain and tenderness may be accompanied by joint looseness, swelling, weakness, discoloration, and loss of function. Minor foot pain can usually be treated with rest, ice, compression, and elevation and OTC medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Severe pain should be treated by a medical professional.
Corns and calluses are sometimes painful areas of thickened skin that appear between the toes and fingers or on the soles of the feet. Abnormal foot anatomy, ill-fitting footwear, and unusual gait can put increased pressure in specific areas, causing corns and calluses. Treatment may involve using over-the-counter salicylic-acid products, visiting a podiatrist to be fitted with an orthotic device, or surgical removal.
Diabetes-related foot problems can affect your health with two problems: diabetic neuropathy, where diabetes affects the nerves, and peripheral vascular disease, where diabetes affects the flow of blood. Common foot problems for people with diabetes include athlete's foot, fungal infection of nails, calluses, corns, blisters, bunions, dry skin, foot ulcers, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, and plantar warts.
Corns and calluses are annoying and sometimes painful thickenings that form in the skin in areas of pressure. The medical term for the thickened skin that forms corns and calluses is hyperkeratosis. A callus refers to a more diffuse, flattened area of thick skin, while a corn is a thick, localized area that usually has a conical or circular shape. Corns, also known as helomas, sometimes have a dry, waxy, or translucent appearance.
Corns and calluses occur on parts of the feet and sometimes the fingers. Corns can be painful to walk on,
even when they are small. Common locations for corns are
on the sole, over the metatarsal arch (the "ball" of the foot);
on the outside of the fifth (small or "pinky") toe, where it rubs
against the shoe; and
between the fourth and fifth toes. Unlike other corns that
are firm and flesh-colored, corns between the toes are often whitish
and messy; th...