subject: Should You Be Concerned Over Warts? [print this page] Warts can appear on anybody's skin at some point in their lifetime. It can be possible that we never have an idea that they are actually present, because some are barely noticeable and are not annoying. Warts are mostly harmless and simply disappear on their own after some time.
A wart is a viral skin infection, also known as verruca. It appears as a small area of hardened skin cells, usually with a bumpy surface, and comes in many sizes, shapes and colors. Warts are common and are caused by a virus, specifically by the human papilloma virus or HPV. The virus tends to invade warm, moist places, like the fingers, hands, and feet. They can easily be passed on through skin contact with an infected person, or by touching anything someone with a wart has used.
Unfortunately, warts are more common in children than in adults. Different kinds of warts grow on different areas of the body, caused by different infecting strains of the virus.
Common warts appear as raised, dome-shaped, grayish-brown lesions that usually grow on the hands and feet. Common warts characterized by a rough surface with interior black dots, are generally caused by types 1, 2 and 3 strains of the HPV.
Flat warts are smooth and not raised. They only grow to the size of a pinhead and usually found on a child's face. They are commonly found on a child's face as small, pinhead sized warts. It may also appear on arms, knees and hands. Flat warts are brought by type 1 strain of the HPV.
The only painful wart is a plantar wart. Found usually on pressure points of the sole of the foot, these warts grow as hard, oftentimes painful lumps, with few black specks on the center. HPV types 1 and 2 usually cause plantar warts.
Filiform warts are flesh-colored with finger-like appearance, that usually grow on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
Genital warts are mostly found in adults. HPV strain types 6, 11, 16, 18, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 39, 40, among others, causes genital warts which are specifically found in the anal, penile, vaginal and cervical areas in adults. This is the only type of wart which is sexually transmitted. HPV types 16 and 18 are strongly associated with cervical cancers in females, if left untreated.
Warts in children generally do not need treatment unless the child is uncomfortable or finds them painful. The treatment depends on the type of wart, so it is always best to consult it with a doctor. Plantar warts, for example, have very little difference with corn and calluses. Treatment options include prescription medicine, cryosurgery, laser treatment, and surgical removal.
Warts generally do not need to be removed. They can disappear without being treated, within months or even years. Wart removal may only be needed in case it is too painful or causes too much discomfort. Some warts may grow back several months after removal.
Although it may be close to inevitable for children to acquire warts because of the high communicability, it is still best to take preventive actions. Having the family develop the habit of frequently washing hands and skin is always a good idea. To protect against plantar wart and other infections, have them wear waterproof sandals or slippers in public showers, pools and locker rooms. It is also wise to make them aware to not use somebody else's towels or touch anything that has been used by somebody with warts. For those who already has warts, avoid rubbing, scratching or picking at the lesions to avoid its spread in the body.
