Warts: The Facts

Warts are small, skin colored tissue protruding from the skin. They are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) which has over 100 strains and causes the protein keratin, in the upper layer of the skin to multiply too quickly. As the protein multiplies, the tissue of the wart is formed.

Where do they grow?

Warts can grow absolutely anywhere on the body, including the genital area (internal and external) depending on the strain of the virus which has been contracted. The most common places for general warts to grow are:

• Hands
• Feet
• Back
• Legs
• Face

Different strains of the virus can cause the warts to present in different forms:

• Common warts – small, raised skin lesions with a rough surface. Most often found on the knuckles, knees elbows and fingers.
• Verrucas – Seen on the soles of the feet. Because of this they often grow up into the skin rather than out of it. This particular type of wart may appear to be lighter in color to the surrounding skin with a black spot in the middle.
• Plane warts – Mostly seen in children, these warts are round and smooth and can be found mostly on the hands, neck and face.
• Filiform warts – Long and thin in their appearance, often presenting themselves on the eyelids, neck and armpits. These can often be confused with skin tags but the two are not the same.
• Mosaic – As the name suggests, these warts grow in groups that resemble a mosaic pattern.

Are they contagious?

All forms of warts are extremely contagious. HPV is an aggressive virus which only needs a slight opening in the skin, such as tiny cracks from dried skin, to be able to enter the blood stream and infect a person. 

The virus can also survive without a host for a substantial amount of time. It dwells in moist places, which is why public showers and swimming baths are known to be at the top of the list of most likely places to contract a verruca.

If a person is known to be infected, contact should be avoided and personal items should not be shared to minimize the risk of being infected. For the most part the virus is passed on through touch and direct skin contact. In the case of genital warts, they are most often spread through sexual intercourse.

One thing to note about the virus is that it can sometimes be dormant, showing no signs at all (such as warts). If there are no warts present then it may be harder to contract the virus but still possible.

Can the virus be cured?

There is no cure for the human papilloma virus, although there are treatments to remove troublesome or painful warts. Chemical solutions to the problem can be used by doctors to burn or freeze the warts. In addition to this there are a variety of creams and gels for the lesions as well as a plethora of natural home remedies. If a person is concerned about warts of any kind, they should seek a doctor’s advice for the best course of action. In most cases, the problem can be easily solved.

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