Remove common and plantar warts with cautery, liquid nitrogen, cantharidin, prescription treatment or excision, chosen for your wart, at Glow Theory in Carlsbad.
Medical dermatology
Warts are contagious raised bumps on the skin, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), that can spread to other areas and other people. While warts aren’t dangerous, they do cause a cosmetic concern for many of our patients. At Glow Theory Aesthetic & Dermatology Studio, we believe in using the power of science to enhance our patients’ natural beauty and boost their overall confidence. Our warm aesthetics experts are proud to offer warts treatments and other cutting-edge medical dermatology treatments to patients in Carlsbad (La Costa), Encinitas and the neighboring communities of Rancho Santa Fe, Oceanside, Solana Beach and Del Mar, California.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Jonathan Sykes, MD, Medical Director · Updated October 12, 2026
Voted best med spa in North County San Diego
Request an appointment
Send us your details and our team will call you to find a time that suits you. Your visit starts with a consultation with our dermatology team, who examine your skin, explain your options and confirm costs before any treatment.
Warts
Request a consultation
Financing available on treatments of $2,000 or more
Treatment options
We choose the method that suits your wart’s type, size and location, including cautery:
Warts Carlsbad
Your providers
Founder & CEO
Insiyah has spent more than 15 years in medical dermatology and aesthetics. She completed a Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Fellowship at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, affiliated with the Harvard Dermatology Residency, and founded Glow Theory to bring that clinical standard to aesthetic care in Carlsbad.
Medical director
Dr. Sykes is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon with more than 30 years of practice. He is the former Director of Facial Plastic Surgery at UC Davis and a Past President of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and has trained many practitioners in facial anatomy and Botox injection technique.
Answered by Insiyah Darugar, MSN, FNP, founder and CEO
Yes. Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and can spread through skin-to-skin contact or shared surfaces such as pool decks and showers, and to other areas of your own body by picking or shaving.
Depending on the wart, we use cautery, liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy), cantharidin, topical prescription medication or excision. Stubborn warts often need several treatments a few weeks apart.
Most treatments cause only brief discomfort. Afterwards, expect some soreness, redness, a blister or scabbing that heals in days to weeks.
Yes. Treatment removes the wart, but the virus can stay in the skin, so new warts can appear. Keeping feet dry, wearing sandals in shared showers and not picking at warts helps prevent them.
Yes if the wart is painful, spreading, on your face or genitals, does not respond to over-the-counter treatment, or if you are not sure it is a wart. If you have diabetes or poor circulation, have warts on your feet checked rather than treating them yourself.
Pricing varies by treatment and wart size: cryotherapy is affordable, and surgery may cost more. Medical dermatology visits at Glow Theory are $150–$375.
