What is a wart?
The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes warts, which are harmless, small lumps of skin. The rough skin that forms a wart and its flesh-colored appearance are typical characteristics of a wart. Warts can occur at any age, but they are most common in school-aged children.
What are warts' symptoms?
A wart's appearance is determined by its type. There are a number of distinct kinds of warts:
Verruca vulgaris warts are round-shaped, small, raised areas of skin with a rough surface that frequently resembles the top of a cauliflower. The hands, elbows, and knees are frequently affected by these warts.
Plane or flat warts are yellowish flat warts that typically appear on the face and hands. They are most prevalent in children and frequently multiply in groups.
Plantar warts are warts that appear on the sole, heel, or toes of the feet. Because the wart is pushed into the skin by the body's weight, a plantar wart typically does not rise like other warts and may even cause some discomfort when walking. You might spot a white patch of skin with a few tiny black dots in the middle.
Long, thin filiform warts usually appear on the eyelids, armpits, or neck.
The hands and feet are the most common locations for mosaic warts, which appear in clusters.
Warts that develop beneath or around the cuticle are known as subungual or periungual warts.
Warts called mucosal warts can appear on the lips, inside the nose and cheeks, in the airway, and in the genital area.
Why do warts appear?
You can get the HPV virus either directly from another person who has the virus on their skin or indirectly from contaminated surfaces like swimming pools and gyms. The cells in the skin's outer layer are infected by HPV, which causes them to grow and form a wart. The first appearance of the wart can take up to a year.
Warts on the genital area are the result of a different family of HPV. These can spread through sexual contact and can result in cervical and vulval cancer. Cancer is not caused by common skin warts.
When should I see my doctor? The majority of warts will disappear in time without treatment. Without treatment, half of all warts in children will disappear within six months, and nearly all (nine in ten) will disappear within two years. Adults may experience delays.
You should tell your doctor about the wart if:
the wart is causing you discomfort or pain; you have warts on your face, feet, or genitals; the wart appears to be infected (red, swollen, and warm); you have multiple warts or the warts are spreading; you have a reduced immune system; you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
What treatments are available for warts?
Because it can be uncomfortable to treat warts, many people choose not to.
Warts can be treated in a variety of ways, including self-treatment and medical interventions. If you decide to treat a wart, it is essential to continue doing so until the wart is gone.
Talk to your doctor before beginning any treatment if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant because you may need to avoid certain treatments.
Treatments at home Wrap the wart in strong, waterproof tape. Wrapping the wart in tape may help it get better. Additionally, it may halt the wart's spread.
Application of a liquid or gel containing salicylic acid or lactic acid (wart paint) to the wart is a common method of treating it.
Wart gel or liquid can be purchased at your neighborhood pharmacy and applied at home. Stronger treatments may be prescribed by your doctor.
Before applying wart gels or liquids, you must first prepare the wart:
Rub the wart with a nail file, emery board, pumice stone, or even sandpaper. Apply the gel or liquid to the wart, avoiding the healthy skin around it. Allow the gel or liquid to dry, then cover the wart with sticking plaster. You usually need to use wart liquid or gel every day, and it may take several weeks for the treatment to take effect.
Find out which wart treatment is right for you from your pharmacist. When using wart treatments, always follow the directions on the package, and if you have any questions, ask your pharmacist.
