
Board-certified MD dermatologists in a clean modern office. Obsessed with customer service and running on-time. We see children and adults for medical, surgical, cosmetic, and laser dermatology.
Never an automated phone menu, always a live person
Early morning, early evening, and saturdays
Two of our doctors are assistant professors of dermatology & teach at University of Miami School of Medicine.
We’ll get you in
same-day
HPV is the virus that causes common warts and genital warts. The virus infects the top layers of your skin. Many people infected with HPV have no symptoms and no warts, but they are still contagious.
They are transmitted by skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who is infected.
Genital warts can be treated, and probably cured in many cases. A “cure” means that the virus is gone. There is no reliable way to determine whether or not the HPV virus is gone. Treatments are effective at getting rid of the visible warts, but the virus may persist in the skin, and cause new warts to develop months or years later.
If you or your sexual partner has warts that are visible in the genital area, you should avoid any sexual contact until the warts are treated (and ideally until they are “cured”). Condoms may reduce the risk of spread. Be aware that people with no visible warts may be infected with HPV (they may not even be aware themselves that they have it) and spread it to you.
Some HPV infections that cause genital warts will go away on their own, taking anywhere from a few months to two years. But most require treatment. Note that even if your genital warts disappear, you may still have the virus. Also note that when left untreated, genital warts can grow very large and in big clusters.
There are several options for the treatment of genital warts. Often, prescription home treatments will be combined with office treatments and several treatment sessions may be necessary:
Some types of HPV can cause cervical cancer. Other types are associated with anal cancer, and cancer of the penis (a rare cancer).
Cutting off warts (or more accurately “shaving” them off) is a common way to remove genital warts. We frequently shave warts at our office but YOU should never do it home. There are many reasons why you should always consult with a professional for any type of wart:
There is no reason to be embarrassed about this very common medical condition, however, we respect your concerns. You will be treated with sensitivity and respect for your privacy by our providers. No one else, including the staff, will learn about your condition. Women may request a female medical assistant to be present in the room during treatment, and men (or women) may request no one to be present other than the doctor.
There are no effective treatments for genital warts available without a prescription, including those advertised on the internet. Do not try to treat genital warts with over-the-counter medications, which are not intended for use in the genital area. Doing so can cause even more pain and irritation. In addition, you must visit a physician to be examined and tested for other sexually transmitted diseases. Please do not allow fear to delay your treatment, because everything is easier to treat when addressed early.
© 2020 Minars Dermatology. All rights reserved.