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Author: Dr. Oh Chul, HJM Clinic
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Editor : Sia
Hello! I'm Oh Chul, doctor at Hwajeobmong(HJM) Korean Medicine Clinic.
Today, I'd like to discuss flat warts - those bumpy, bothersome blemishes that suddenly appear on your face or hands one day.
Have you ever felt frustrated because they seem small but keep catching your eye, and won't go away, no matter how much time passes? 😢
These are benign, non-cancerous growths caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. They're commonly known as flat warts or verruca plana.
In Korean, they're known as 'samagwi' (사마귀) - which, fun fact, is also the Korean word for 'praying mantis'!”
So why do these unsightly warts appear? And how can Korean medicine address these conditions? Let's explore together. 🔍
🔍 Why These Bumpy, Unsightly Warts Appear
The outermost layer of our skin is covered by epithelial tissue called the epidermis. The epidermis's most important role is creating the stratum corneum, a protective barrier of dead skin cells that shields us from external threats.
This protective barrier is formed in the deepest layer (basal layer) and migrates outward over approximately 4 weeks. The remaining dead skin cells then act as a shield on the skin's surface, blocking foreign substances for a specific period.
But what happens if problems occur during this process and you contract Human Papillomavirus?
Flat warts pop up suddenly. 🌋
📍 How Flat Warts Multiply and Spread
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) uniquely infiltrates only the epithelial tissue that comprises the epidermis to cause disease.
Epidermal cells infected by this virus start growing and multiplying out of control at an extremely rapid rate -In other words, they become tumors. 😢
Fortunately, most tumors from HPV infection are non-cancerous, so they're not life-threatening. However, since bumpy tumors protruding from smooth skin aren't aesthetically pleasing, many people experience stress from them.
📍 Flat Warts Transmitted Through 'Contact'
There's only one reason for HPV infection: 'contact'.
Unlike coronavirus, which floats in the air and enters through the respiratory system, HPV infects you when you touch warts that have proliferated.
Fortunately, light brushing or touching once or twice won't necessarily infect everyone. Infection requires repeated contact or conditions that damage your skin barrier, allowing the virus to penetrate.
📍 How Can You Prevent HPV Infection?
☑️ Don't touch others' skin that may have warts
☑️ Avoid using shared towels, slippers, or shoes when possible
☑️ If infection is suspected, don't scratch or rub (prevents skin barrier damage)
🔍 Effective Korean Medicine Treatment for Flat Warts
The most familiar removal method for these blemishes might be 'laser' treatment.
Unlike Western medicine's approach of burning flat warts with lasers, Korean medicine clinics can remove warts with acupuncture needles. 🪡
Acupuncture treatment precisely targets the affected area, which helps minimize damage to surrounding healthy skin and promotes faster healing without discharge.
Additionally, Korean medicine clinics employ not only direct removal but also immunotherapy methods depending on wart shape and condition.
📍 Small Dot-Shaped Warts: Direct Removal
If warts are independent with clear boundaries in small dot form, they can be removed with Guwoo Atx. This is the easiest method - once scabs form and fall off, the area becomes clean.
Small dot-shaped bumps are often seborrheic keratosis - common harmless growths that become more frequent with aging - rather than HPV infection. Either way, Guwoo Atx can cleanly remove them.
Particularly, Guwoo Atx is a specialized acupuncture technique trademarked by HJM Korean Medicine Clinic. 😎 This enables clean removal without scarring.
📍 Broad, Red-Shaped Warts: Immunotherapy
For slightly wider, red warts that appear as flat raised patches, treatment typically involves herbal medicine.
Taking herbal medicine enables your body's immune system soldiers to recognize and attack tumor cells infected with HPV. This process is called 'immunotherapy'.
While this may take considerable time, it's ultimately a method that completely treats HPV.
Since opening in 2007, Hwajeobmong Korean Medicine Clinic has specialized in skin treatments across our nationwide branches.
Wart treatment has become one of our key specialties, giving us deep clinical expertise in this area. 😉
If flat warts are troubling you, consider visiting one of our HJM clinics - we're here to help. ✋
See you in the next article with more useful insights. Thank you!
