Warts May Be Common, But They Require Proper Treatment

Warts are small, firm noncancerous skin growths that appear on the skin of human beings. It is a disease that has plagued humans for thousands of years. They occur when one is infected by one or more of the many viruses belonging to the family of Human Papilloma Viruses (HPV). There are more than 100 HPV responsible for different types of warts.

Children are more affected by warts. It is estimated that one in every five children has one type of warts. Children aged between 12 to 16 years are the most affected group. HPV triggers extra cell growth, making the skin's outer layer in the affected areas thick and hard.

There are many places where warts can develop but primarily affects the hands and the feet. Its location and appearance depend on the type of wart. Many infections are known to disappear on themselves without any medical treatment.

Types of Warts

• Common warts are small grainy bumps that occur mainly on the fingers or hands of an infected person. It is transmitted through body contact and has an incubation period of up to six months.
• Filiform warts resemble thin threads. They mainly affect the face, especially near the eyes and the mouth.
• Plantar warts; resemble common warts in shape and texture but have black dots on them. They mainly affect the lower parts of the feet.
• Mosaic wart are also referred to as verrucae. They mainly affect the soles of the feet. Most of these warts go on their own, while others are hard to treat.
• Flat warts are, as their name suggests, flat-topped flesh and brown. They affect any part of the body but mostly the legs and the back of the hands.
• Genital warts are soft growths that appear on the genitals. They mainly cause pain, discomfort, and itching. It is sexually transmitted, and the penis, vulva, and anus are the most affected areas. Some genital warts predispose women to cervical cancer.

Causes of Warts

Typically, warts are transmitted by direct skin contact or objects infected by HPV. Whenever these viruses make their way to the epidermis, they start to divide. It is in this process they trigger cell division resulting in skin lumps.

This virus affects the skin that is broken either from natural dryness or injuries. The type of warts developed depends on the strain of HPV you are exposed to. There are more than 100 types of this virus and cause different kinds of warts. Genital warts are the most feared and deadly type if they remain untreated for long.

Children who bite their fingers are at high risk of contracting warts because they create an opening on their skin where the virus enters and causes warts. Picking at already developed warts can spread it to other parts of the body

Like people with cancer and HIV, people with compromised immunity are at more risk of developing warts. In addition, people who have weak immunity like the old and children are also at high risk of this disease.

Getting Treatment

Many types of warts go away on themselves while others need medical attention. There are many types of treatment, and you should discuss the benefits and risks of the treatment you are receiving with your doctor. Some warts treatments include the following:

• Topical chemicals - some topical agents are applied to get rid of warts. Some of these agents are harmful to healthy skin and thus should be used by doctors.
• Cryotherapy - This is a wart treatment type where warts are frozen with liquid Nitrogen. It would take four months to get rid of warts with this treatment entirely.
• Laser therapy - In this type of treatment, the laser is used to burn warts on the skin and may cause scarring.
• Vaccination - This is a prevention measure primarily administered to teenage girls. It is meant to protect them against HPV that causes genital warts that predispose them to cervical cancer.
• Immune system stimulator - This method is used to treat genital warts. It stimulates the body's defense system to fight viral infection. These chemicals are applied around warts to stimulate body cells to fight and destroy the already existing warts.