Boxing Day

Warts: Facts & Treatment

Warts are an extremely common skin condition that affects the skin. They are small hard protrusions that are caused by a virus that infects the layers of the skin or mucous membrane.

Common warts may occur anywhere on the body, but are commonly found on the back of the hands, fingers, elbows, knees, arms, and face.

There are various effective wart treatments available including home remedies as well as pharmacy treatments.

Warts are non-cancerous tumors of the epidermis and they are generally easy to see or feel and are caused by an infection of the surface skin with the human papillomavirus (HPV).

Warts are usually skin coloured and feel rough to the touch but they can also appear dark, flat and/or smooth. They are usually indirectly passed from individual to individual with the time from first contact until a wart appears being often over a number of months.

Warts are generally not a serious health issue. Generally teens and children appear to be more suseptible to being infected by warts.

Types of Warts

The most common types of warts include:

• Common Warts - which can appear anywhere.
• Plantar warts - which occur on the sole of the foot (also called verrucas).
• Genital Warts - which appear on around the penis, vulva or anus
• Flat, or plane warts - which appear in groups.

What are the Causes of Warts?

Warts are very common and caused by a viral infection of the skin; more specifically they are caused by Human Papilloma Virus (known as HPV or wart virus). They are the result of virus particles, microscopic in size, which infect the skin. They are spread by direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.

As the body's resistance to the HPPV virus changes, this can affect how and when warts appear. HPV may be more likely transmitted when warts are present, but the virus can be transmitted even when there are no visible symptoms. There are a vast range of different kinds of HPV. In fact HPV is the name of a group of over 100 related viruses.

Other causes of warts could be friction or injury - like a bump - to the affected area. Wet or moist environments like sports changing rooms can be areas where the virus may be spread. Shaving the face or inderarms or legs may also be a reason for the spread of warts.

Warts Treatment

Often warts will go away of their own accord after months or years. However, if warts are unsightly, painful or uncomfortable, they can in most cases be treated with a range of different home wart removal remedies, chemical wart treatments available from your pharmacy.

Instructions should be followed carefully and precautions should be taken before using wart treatments if you are pregnant. Please see your health professional.