Warts can grow on your face and various other body parts. Facial warts are especially frustrating because they are so noticeable. These growths can take a year or two to disappear by themselves. Fortunately, warts on your face are treatable so you don't have to suffer 24 to 48 months of embarrassment.
Definition
A wart is a small, rough growth that is usually flesh-colored or light brown, according to MayoClinic.com. It sometimes has blood vessels that show up as tiny black spots. The American Academy of Family Physicians, known as the AAFP, notes warts are most common on the hands, feet and genitals, but they can also appear on the face. They are usually in a visible area, but they sometimes grow in the mouth. Facial warts are known as flat warts to distinguish them from plantar warts, which grow on the soles of the feet, or genital warts.
Cause
The AAFP states all warts, including the facial variety, are caused by the human papillomavirus, known as HPV, which has more than 100 varieties. The virus enters the skin through cracks and leads to warts in some people. You can spread warts on your own body, so you may get a facial wart if you have growths on your fingers and touch damaged skin on your face.
Prognosis
Facial warts are painless and medically harmless. They will eventually disappear if left alone and will not cause lasting damage. The AAFP notes many people decide to treat them because of embarrassment. This is best done by a dermatologist to prevent scarring of the face.
Treatment
A doctor can remove facial warts with minimal scarring risks. Some common treatments, such as cutting, burning or laser excision, are not appropriate for growths on your face because they tend to lead to scarring. The doctor can use another method on your face such as freezing with liquid nitrogen. This treatment, called cryotherapy, may need to be repeated every one to three weeks for up to four sessions, according to the AAFP. Facial warts can return because your body still carries the HPV.
Warning
See a doctor if you have a facial growth and are not sure it is a wart. The American Cancer Society warns more than 2 million people get basal or squamous cell skin cancer each year, while tens of thousands get the more serious melanoma skin cancer. The face is a common site for skin cancer because the face spends a lot of time exposed to sunshine. Melanoma can be fatal, but it is highly curable if caught quickly. Your physician can determine whether your growth is a harmless wart or something more serious and treat it accordingly.
