Even people who have never kissed, or even touched, a toad can still end up with warts. Warts come in a variety of shapes, sizes and locations, ranging from plantar warts on the foot to common warts everywhere from knees to knuckles. Flat warts have their own distinct size, shape and locations, as well as methods of treatment.
Appearance
As their name implies, flat warts are less raised than other warts. They are also much smaller and smoother than other warts, often barely larger than a small dot. Their color often mimics skin tone, with a slightly discolored hue. At a glance, they may look like freckles, at least until they spread and multiply.
Characteristics
Flat warts generally crop up in groups, mainly on legs and faces, especially around the forehead. These warts are also common near cuts or areas where people shave, such as men's chins or women's underarms. Children and teens are most susceptible to flat warts, the Mayo Clinic says, although adults do contract them, albeit rarely.
Cause
While flat warts may seem to pop up out of nowhere, they could have been hanging around for up to a year before they are big enough to see with the naked eye. All cutaneous warts, or those on the skin, come from a virus, namely human papillomavirus, the American Academy of Family Physicians says. While you can get rid of the warts, there is no cure for the virus. It will often stick around with no side effects or go away on its own.
Peeling Treatments
Because flat warts frequently show up in large groups that cover large areas, peeling treatments are often effective. The American Academy of Dermatology notes the application of daily doses of "peeling preparations," such as tretinoin, salicylic acid or glycolic acid, peels off the skin, the flat warts and the virus that causes the warts. Salicylic acid is also the top treatment recommended in an American Academy of Family Physicians article for non-genital cutaneous warts. The article first appeared in the Aug. 15, 2005, issue of the print medical journal "American Family Physician" and is now available on the American Academy of Family Physicians website. Peeling treatments need to be applied regularly over a number of weeks.
Other Treatments
Those with fewer flat warts or incredibly stubborn flat warts often benefit from a surgical treatment or other method to get rid of them. Cyrosurgery, which uses liquid nitrogen to freeze off the wart, is one option. Laser surgery is another. The Mayo Clinic notes that a topical prescription medication, called Imiquimod, is often effective for flat warts in the genital area. Other than laser surgery, these methods, too, often take more than one application to successfully remove the warts.
