Warts

Did you ever hear this one, touch a toad and you'll get warts? The truth is warts are not caused by holding, touching or even kissing a toad. Warts are caused by viruses in the human papillomavirus (HPV) family. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say there are more than 100 different strains or types.

Some types of HPV can cause genital warts. (Read about genital warts in "STD's")

Other types of HPV cause warts on the skin (Read about "Skin") of the hands, feet or face. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), there are least 60 types of HPV viruses that can cause skin warts. The warts are the result of the virus invading the outer skin layer (epidermis) stimulating some of the epidermal cells to multiply rapidly, forming a benign tumor. This article focuses on skin warts.

Types of skin warts

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) lists three different kinds of skin warts:

• Common warts - These warts usually grow on fingers and on the back of the hands and often appear in areas that are injured frequently. Under a magnifying glass, the roughened surface of a wart may look like a tiny cauliflower. Common warts can also be called "seed" warts because the blood vessels to the wart may produce black dots that look like seeds.
• Foot warts or plantar warts - These form on the soles of the foot where they are usually surrounded by a thick area of skin. Most plantar warts do not stick up above the surface like common warts because the pressure of walking pushes them back into the skin. The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) says, unlike common warts, plantar warts can produce a sharp, burning pain because they often form on the weight bearing areas of the foot. This pain may feel as if you are walking on a small pebble. (Read about "Feet, Ankles and Legs")
• Flat warts - AAD describes these warts as smaller and smoother than other warts and generally growing in clusters, anywhere from 20 to 100 at one time. Flat warts can form anywhere. In children, they are most often found on the face. In adults, they can be found in the beard area in men and on legs in women. AAD says irritation from shaving may account for this.

Treatments

While warts are generally not a serious health problem, they should be treated because they can easily spread to other parts of the body or to someone else.

Sometimes warts will disappear on their own, although it may take months or years for them to go away.

AAFP lists some of the most common ways to remove skin warts.

• Salicylic acid - Many over-the-counter medications contain this acid or others like it. The acids are peeling agents that remove the dead skin cells of the warts and cause the wart to fall off eventually. But there are some things to consider before self-treatment. AAD warns you should be sure you have a wart and not something more serious before using the acids. APMA also advises against using the acids on plantar warts.
• Cantharidin - A doctor may "paint" the wart with this chemical, then bandage it. AAFP says you could experience some pain and blistering in the wart area in about three to eight hours after it's treated.
• Cryotherapy - The doctor or healthcare provider can freeze the wart with liquid nitrogen. Chemicals that freeze the wart are also now available over-the-counter.

Other treatments administered by a doctor include burning the wart, cutting out the wart or removing the wart with a laser. These treatments are stronger and may leave a scar. (Read about "Plastic Surgery")

If you have any questions about whether you have a wart, it is a good idea to see a doctor. This is especially true if the suspected wart is on the face or a sensitive area. Your doctor will be able to determine whether you need treatment and, if so, recommend the best method.

Preventing warts

AAD says some people are more likely to catch the wart virus than others, just as some people seem to catch colds (Read about "The Common Cold") very easily. APMA says children, especially teenagers, seem to be more susceptible to warts than adults and some people just seem to be immune.

Although there is no sure way to prevent warts, AAFP lists several ways to minimize the risk of getting them:

• Wash your skin regularly and well and don't touch another person's wart. AAFP also says it is possible to get warts from towels or other objects that were used by a person with warts.
• If you cut or scratch your skin, be sure to use soap and disinfectant because open wounds are more susceptible to warts and other infections. (Read about "Microorganisms")
• If you do have warts, don't rub, scratch or pick at them or you may spread the virus or cause a bacterial skin infection. (Read about "Microorganisms")
• In the case of plantar warts, APMA advises against going barefoot, except on sandy beaches. Wear waterproof sandals or flip-flops in public showers, locker rooms or public pools.
• Change your shoes and socks daily and keep feet clean and dry.

You may consider warts an unsightly nuisance, perhaps an embarrassment. But remember, warts are caused by a virus and anyone can get them.

Related Information:

    Skin Care

    Skin

    The Immune System

    Immune System Glossary