What are viral warts?
Viral warts are caused by HPV (Human Papillomavirus). The virus enters through tiny breaks in the skin — for example, after a pedicure, at the swimming pool or at the gym. It infects epidermal cells and triggers localised, excessive tissue growth.
There are several types, depending on location and appearance:
- Verruca vulgaris (common wart) — appears on the hands, fingers and knees; looks like a rough bump
- Verruca plantaris (plantar wart) — on the sole of the foot, often painful when walking, with characteristic black dots at the centre
- Verruca plana (flat wart) — on the face and hands, small, flat, often appearing in clusters
Wart or corn — how to tell them apart
A plantar wart and a corn can look similar, but they differ significantly — both in cause and in treatment. Here are a few pointers to help you tell them apart:
- Skin ridges: interrupted at the site of a wart; run normally through a corn
- Black dots: visible in a wart (clotted blood vessels); absent in a corn
- Pain: a wart hurts when squeezed from the side; a corn hurts under direct pressure
- Infection: a wart is a viral lesion (HPV); a corn is a mechanical thickening of the skin with no viral involvement
Wart removal methods at J'ADORE
We select the method individually, based on the location, size and number of lesions. We assess each lesion before every treatment.
Electrocoagulation
A fine needle delivers a controlled electric current that coagulates HPV-infected cells and destroys the wart. This method works best on small, single lesions.
- High effectiveness on single, small warts
- A scab remains for around 7–14 days after the treatment
- With deep lesions there's a small risk of scarring — we always discuss this before the treatment
Plasma IQ — cold plasma
The Plasma IQ device destroys wart cells through precise sublimation — without heating the surrounding tissue. This matters especially for lesions near the face, where minimising the impact on healthy skin is a priority.
- High precision — safe for lesions on the face and delicate areas of skin
- Deeper or recurrent lesions may need a series of sessions
- Often preferred for flat warts (verruca plana)
Chemical methods — at home and in the salon
Wart treatment also involves chemical preparations — both over-the-counter products and those applied only in the salon.
- Salicylic acid (17–40%) — available at the pharmacy, works with regular, consistent application; moderate effectiveness
- Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) — applied by a specialist in the salon, causes deeper tissue destruction
- Cantharidin — used by a dermatologist, triggers a controlled blistering reaction in the wart
When should you see a dermatologist?
Some cases fall outside the scope of a cosmetology salon and need medical care. A dermatologist visit is advisable if:
- The warts are numerous or cover a large area of skin
- Three to four months of treatment bring no improvement
- You're immunosuppressed (after a transplant, during chemotherapy, or with an autoimmune condition)
- Lesions appear in intimate areas — always see a dermatologist or gynaecologist in this case
Why do warts come back?
Warts can return even after successful treatment. The most common causes of recurrence:
- Incomplete destruction of the lesion — residual HPV remains in the tissue and rebuilds the wart
- Reinfection from outside — pool floors, shared towels, or manicure/pedicure tools that weren't single-use
- Weakened immunity — HPV can reactivate during infections, stress or nutrient deficiencies