What should you know about warts after pregnancy?

A wart is a rough or smooth growth caused by a viral infection in the outer skin. Pregnancy-related immune and hormonal changes may make an existing wart more noticeable, or a new growth may appear during the postpartum period. Not every bump is a wart, so a clinician may inspect its shape, surface and location before recommending treatment.

If you are breastfeeding, mention it before using any medicine. Avoid picking, shaving over, or sharing towels and nail tools that touch the area, because these actions can irritate skin and spread the virus to nearby skin.

Arrange a skin assessment if the growth is new, spreading, catching on clothing, or bothering you. Depending on its location and appearance, options may include a prescribed cream such as Imiquimod Treatment, freezing with Cryotherapy (Lesion Removal), or a procedure such as Electrosurgery. Wart Removal may involve more than one visit, and healing can include temporary tenderness or a crust.

Do not apply an over-the-counter wart product to genital skin, the face, broken skin, or a breastfeeding-related area without professional advice. Keep the area clean and avoid causing friction while it heals.

Seek prompt medical assessment if the growth bleeds without being rubbed, becomes persistently painful, develops an uneven dark colour, ulcerates, or changes quickly. Arrange care sooner if redness, warmth, swelling or discharge suggests infection, or if you are unsure whether the lesion is a wart.

Could this be a wart or another type of growth? Which treatment fits my skin, postpartum healing and breastfeeding plans? How should I protect nearby skin, and what changes should make me return for review?