There are various types of warts that can appear on different body areas. For example, plantar warts grow on the soles of the feet while genital warts are located in the pubic area. Flat warts can appear in many areas, according to Mamashealth.com, such as the hands, arms or knees. However, they most commonly crop up on the face, where they have a distinct appearance.
Definition
A flat wart is a small, benign tumor that grows on the surface of the skin, according to Mamashealth.com. It is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which has about 60 different varieties. They can be annoying and ugly, especially when they appear on a highly visible area like the face. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that flat warts most commonly affect children, although teenagers and adults can develop them too.
Description
Flat warts come in a variety of colors, from skin tone to pink, yellowish or light brown, Mamashealth.com explains. They are mostly flat, although there is a slight elevation of the affected area. Flat warts are usually pinhead sized, but wartsremedy.com states that they appear in large clusters of 20 to 100 warts. They can show up anywhere on the face, but in men they are most common in the beard area.
Effects
Flat warts on the face don't have any bad health effects, although Mamashealth.com says they may itch or occasionally be painful. They can be harmful psychologically because of the embarrassment, especially when you have a large flat wart cluster. They are also prone to spread or to return after an outbreak has cleared up because the HPV remains in the body.
Treatment
NIH states that over-the-counter remedies should not be used on flat warts on the face. These treatments can cause scarring that will be very visible due to the location, especially when used by an inexperienced person. A doctor can prescribe an appropriate medication or remove the wart by freezing or burning it. Most flat warts will eventually disappear without treatment, but this can take months or years.
Precautions
Mamashealth.com warns that flat warts can be passed along from one person to another, particularly through direct skin-to-skin contact. They may also be transmitted through sharing items such as towels, which can carry and spread the virus.
