Warts: What to Know Before Removal
Yaan Clinic · Gangnam, Seoul
Warts are small, rough skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), most often on the hands, feet and face. This guide explains what warts are, common removal methods, and when to see a board-certified dermatologist in Seoul. Yaan Clinic, an aesthetic clinic in Gangnam, does not remove warts, but explains how they affect cosmetic treatment plans.
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Warts are benign (non-cancerous) skin growths caused by infection of the top layer of skin with the human papillomavirus (HPV). At Yaan Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, we are an aesthetic clinic, not a dermatology specialist clinic, and we do not offer wart removal. We wrote this page because many visitors search for wart removal in Seoul, and we want you to have accurate information and know where to go.
Good to know: Diagnosis and removal of warts belongs with a board-certified dermatologist or your primary-care doctor. Any growth that bleeds, changes quickly or looks unusual should be checked by a doctor rather than treated at home.
What are warts?
Warts are rough or smooth bumps that form when HPV infects skin cells through tiny cuts or breaks, causing them to grow faster than normal. They are common, especially in children and young adults, and many disappear on their own within months to a couple of years.
Warts are mildly contagious. They can spread by direct skin contact, from shared surfaces such as pool decks and gym showers, or from one part of your body to another through shaving or picking.
What are the common types of warts?
The type of wart depends on the HPV strain and where it grows. Some types look similar to other skin growths, which is why a doctor's diagnosis matters.
| Type | Appearance | Typical location |
|---|---|---|
| Common warts | Rough, raised, cauliflower-like | Hands, fingers, knees |
| Plantar warts | Hard, flat, sometimes painful; tiny black dots | Soles of the feet |
| Flat warts | Small, smooth, flat-topped, often many | Face, forehead, legs |
| Filiform warts | Long, thin, thread-like projections | Around the mouth, nose, eyes |
| Genital warts | Soft, flesh-colored growths | Genital area (needs a doctor or sexual health clinic) |
How are warts usually removed?
Common medical options include salicylic acid preparations, cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen), electrocautery, laser treatment and prescription creams. A doctor chooses based on the wart type, location, size and your skin.
- Salicylic acid – available over the counter; slowly peels away wart tissue over weeks.
- Cryotherapy – freezing in a clinic; often needs several sessions a few weeks apart.
- Electrocautery or laser – used for stubborn warts; may leave a small mark.
- Immunotherapy or prescription creams – for multiple or resistant warts.
Warts can recur even after successful treatment, because the virus can remain in surrounding skin. Facial warts and warts near the eyes need particular care and should be treated by a doctor.
When should you see a dermatologist about a wart?
See a board-certified dermatologist if a growth bleeds, hurts, changes color or shape, spreads quickly, appears on your face or genitals, or does not respond to over-the-counter treatment. People with diabetes or a weakened immune system should see a doctor rather than self-treat.
A doctor can also confirm the growth is a wart. Seborrheic keratoses, skin tags, moles and some skin cancers can sometimes look similar. Our guides to skin tags and moles explain those differences.
How do warts affect aesthetic treatments?
If you have a wart in or near an area planned for injection, microneedling or laser, your doctor will usually avoid treating over it. Needling or laser through a wart could, in principle, spread the virus to surrounding skin.
| Situation | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Wart away from the treatment area | Treatment generally proceeds; the wart is avoided |
| Flat warts across the treatment area | Microneedling or laser in that area usually postponed until warts are treated |
| Recently treated wart (healing) | Wait until the skin has fully healed |
Tell your doctor about any warts at consultation, including on the hands if a treatment involves the hands, such as hand rejuvenation filler. Your doctor will confirm what is appropriate.
For international patients: If you want a wart treated during a trip to Korea, book it with a dermatology clinic first and allow healing time before any aesthetic treatment in the same area. Our treatment trip planner helps you sequence appointments.
How can you prevent warts from spreading?
Avoid picking, biting or shaving over warts, keep them covered, wear sandals in shared showers and pools, and do not share towels or razors. Wash your hands after touching a wart.
Jjimjilbang bathhouses and hotel spas in Seoul are shared wet environments, so flip-flops are a sensible precaution. Keep cuts and cracked skin on your hands and feet moisturized and covered, since HPV enters through small breaks in the skin. If someone in your household has warts, avoid sharing nail clippers, pumice stones and towels until they have cleared.
What does Yaan Clinic offer instead?
Yaan Clinic focuses on aesthetic treatments for skin quality, pigmentation, lifting and contouring. If your concern is actually brown spots or freckles rather than warts, see our pigmentation guide and Personal Brightening program.
For help choosing appropriate care in Korea, read our guide to choosing a safe clinic, or browse Yaan's full range on the aesthetic treatments hub.
Frequently asked questions
Does Yaan Clinic remove warts?
No. Yaan Clinic is an aesthetic clinic, not a dermatology specialist clinic, and does not offer wart removal. Please see a board-certified dermatologist or primary-care doctor, who can confirm the diagnosis and choose an appropriate treatment such as cryotherapy, salicylic acid or electrocautery.
Are warts contagious?
Yes, mildly. Warts are caused by HPV and can spread through direct skin contact, shared wet surfaces such as shower floors, or from one area of your body to another by picking or shaving. Keeping warts covered and not sharing towels helps limit spread.
Can I have Botox or filler if I have a wart on my face?
Usually treatment can proceed if the wart is away from the injection points, but your doctor will avoid treating over or near it. Flat warts across a treatment area may lead your doctor to postpone microneedling or laser. Mention any warts at consultation.
Do warts go away on their own?
Many do, especially in children, often within months to a couple of years as the immune system clears the virus. Treatment can speed removal or help with painful or spreading warts. See a doctor if a growth changes or you are unsure what it is.
How do I know if a bump is a wart or something else?
You often cannot be sure by looking. Skin tags, seborrheic keratoses, moles and some skin cancers can resemble warts. A board-certified dermatologist can examine the growth, sometimes with a dermatoscope, and confirm what it is before any treatment.
Related pages
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About this information: Prepared from Yaan Clinic's published treatment information. Treatments at Yaan Clinic are performed by licensed physicians — meet our doctors. Last updated: October 2026. This page is general information, not a substitute for an in-person medical consultation; suitability, dosage and results are confirmed by your doctor.
