Warts are benign skin growths that appear when a virus settles in the upper layer of the skin. The viruses that cause warts are called HPV (Human Papilloma Virus). Whenever you have a cut or injury on your skin, your chance of catching one of these viruses increases. Most warts are harmless, but because they are caused by a virus they are highly contagious. Direct contact with a wart, or contact with something else that has touched a wart, can spread the virus. They are common on the hands, fingers and feet.
Warts or verrucae are limited to human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. More than 80 HPV subtypes are known, around 20 of which can affect the genital tract.
Warts are common in childhood and spread through direct contact or auto-inoculation. They can take up to 12 months to appear. They are more frequent and more troublesome in immunosuppression. Warts are more contagious on wet surfaces or when there is bleeding due to trauma (for example scratching). In children, 50% of warts disappear within 6 months even without treatment (90% within 2 years). They are generally more persistent in adults, but eventually resolve.
As with molluscum, common warts are often best left untreated. If the patient is desperate for treatment for cosmetic reasons, cryotherapy is known to be the most effective first-line option. Patients should be warned about pain, infection, blistering and pigmentation.
Warts on the soles of the feet (plantar warts) can cause pain when running and may therefore limit sporting activities. Warts may be seen more often in calluses that develop through sport. Plantar warts are difficult to treat, and the treatment can trouble the athlete more than the wart itself. Presentation and appearance vary according to the site of infection. For example, plantar warts occur on pressure-bearing areas and are flattened rather than raised.
Genital Warts and the Link with Cancer
Although warts are described as benign growths, it should not be forgotten that some types of wart virus, mostly the HPV viruses that cause warts in the genital area (cervix, vagina, penis, anus), can cause cancer. HPV viruses are seen to play an important role particularly in cases of cervical cancer. In genital warts the virus is sexually transmitted, but warts may not form on the body immediately after sexual intercourse. Warts can sometimes take up to 6 months to appear.
Not every wart that appears in the genital area carries a risk of cancer, but it must always be examined by a doctor.
Less commonly, HPV viruses can cause penile cancer or, transmitted through oral sex, lead to the development of cancerous tumours in the mouth or throat. Regular visits to a gynaecologist and having a smear test are extremely important for early diagnosis and treatment.
Wart Treatment
Wart treatment is not aimed directly at the HPV virus. Treatments only aim to remove the warts on the skin. The main methods for getting rid of warts include wart preparations containing salicylic acid available from pharmacies, and surgical methods performed by a doctor such as cautery (electrocauterisation), freezing (cryotherapy) and laser treatment. You can obtain more detailed information about warts by consulting a dermatologist.
However, for warts in the genital area, it is recommended that you see a specialist rather than using self-treatment methods.
In some people warts may reappear on the body after treatment. In others, after warts appear once, the virus remains dormant and the warts do not recur. In wart treatment, as well as removing the warts, attention should also be paid to strengthening the immune system.