Skin Care Specialist

Warts Summary

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There are many different kinds of warts, all of which are caused by different strains of the human papilloma virus.

Infection with the strains of HPV that cause genital warts is highly likely for any adult who is sexually active.

Because genital warts are passed backwards and forwards by sexual contact, it is essential that anyone who has warts of this type should always practice safe sex.

However, because people can be HPV carriers without developing genital warts themselves, it is also essential that anyone who even suspects that they might have contracted HPV through sexual activity should seek medical advice.

Genital warts

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This is the name that is applied to warts that men suffer in the groin or on the penis. Most commonly, genital warts come up in clusters and are clearly visible. Given that they are most commonly passed from one sexual partner to another during unprotected sex, the simple way of ensuring that warts of this nature do not occur is to avoid sexual encounters with those who have them.

As suggested previously, it is possible for genital warts to infect both sexes, with the female version being known as 'vaginal warts'.

A third variation is anal warts which are small clusters of the same warts that appear around the anal hole which are once again sexually transmitted. However, in the same way that vaginal warts may not be visible if they have infected the cervix, so anal warts may be invisible if they are only present inside the anus.

Another important consideration is that genital, vaginal or anal warts do not have to be visible for any individual to be a carrier of the HPV virus. Hence, it is possible that you could be infected by someone who has no outward signs of infection if you are not practicing safe sex (or abstaining).

According to the statistics reported by Wikipedia, it is believed that HPV is the most commonly contracted sexually transmitted disease in the USA. In fact, it is estimated that 75-80% of sexually active Americans will contract HPV at some time in their life while the Center for Disease Control (CDC) suggests that some 80% of US woman will have contracted at least one strain of HPV before they reach age 50.

Given all of these statistics and suggestions, there can be little doubt that the chances of being infected with one of the HPV strains that cause anogenital warts (between them, HPV strains 6 and 11 are responsible for 90% of cases) is remarkably high. There can therefore be no argument against the suggestion that anyone suffering from warts of this nature should do whatever is necessary to prevent them infecting other people.

However, it is important to understand that home remedies are not appropriate for the treatment of genital warts. While there are various products that are claimed to get rid of genital warts completely naturally (try here or here), it is still probably the best idea to seek medical attention if you have any reason to suspect that you have been infected with HPV.

Flat warts

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Many people who have flat warts do not even know that they have them. This is because the most common flat warts that people are actually aware of are brown marks on the skin that they treat as 'sun spots' or even beauty spots!

Flat warts of this nature will generally appear as a result of too much exposure to the sun. Sunshine 'activates' the particular strain of human papilloma virus that causes flat warts to become active. In effect, the virus has been underneath the skin for some time and has remained 'dormant' but the necessary 'dose' of sunlight has triggered a reaction.

This particular variety of wart might be brown (as suggested), but is not necessarily so because you will sometimes see them in a variety of colors including white, pink and yellow. While many flat warts do not protrude above skin level (hence the name), some may do so and they can sometimes 'rise' to a slight point.

Generally speaking, flat warts are unlikely to cause pain or discomfort and can appear on the face, back of the neck, legs, arms and hands. They are very commonly seen in children who spend a lot of their time acquiring the cuts and scratches that are necessary for the HPV strain 3 or 10 to infect the body.

These are warts that appear around the nails of both the fingers and toes, causing roughening of the skin surface and some peeling. In order for warts to develop, there must be some existing damage to the skin around the nail, including the situation where shards of the nail break off at the sides, where the skin is damaged at the base of the nail or where the nails have been cut too short.

Warts of this type appear raised and uneven, plus they can cause damage to the nail itself by separating it from the skin or causing the nail to partially detach.

If the wart spreads under the nail, the pressure generated by the growth of the wart can cause considerable pain and in a worst-case scenario, if the wart causes damage to the nail matrix, a deformed nail structure could be the final result.

It is generally suggested that periungual warts can be more difficult than most other types to get rid of, and they will often be accompanied by unpleasant symptoms such as itching (very commonly) or pain (less so).

Whether it is itching or pain, both of these symptoms would make it extremely likely that anyone suffering from periungual or subungual warts would definitely want to do something to improve their condition as quickly as possible.

Warts of this type appear raised and uneven, plus they can cause damage to the nail itself by separating it from the skin or causing the nail to partially detach. If the wart spreads under the nail, the pressure generated by the growth of the wart can cause considerable pain and in a worst-case scenario, if the wart causes damage to the nail matrix, a deformed nail structure could be the final result. It is generally suggested that periungual warts can be more difficult than most other types to get rid of, and they will often be accompanied by unpleasant symptoms such as itching (very commonly) or pain (less so).

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Periungual or subungual warts

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Warts of this type appear raised and uneven, plus they can cause damage to the nail itself by separating it from the skin or causing the nail to partially detach.

Plantar warts

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Plantar warts (commonly known as a verruca) are typically found on the soles of the feet, especially at pressure points such as on the heels or balls of the feet. While these warts are not particularly dangerous, they can be very painful because of the fact that they grow inwards.

Plantar warts can often be mistaken for corns or calluses, but they are recognizable because they are generally flesh colored growths that are hard, flat and have very clearly defined boundaries.

Under normal circumstances, plantar warts will show the small black dots caused by broken blood vessel ends which would give you a further indication that you have plantar warts, rather than corns or calluses.

Because they are generally found at pressure points on the soles of the feet, these warts can be extremely painful. Consequently, as children in particular are very prone to plantar warts, it is often the case that the warts mean they can hardly walk at all.

Compared to many other types of wart, plantar warts are not especially contagious, but the particular strain of HPV that causes them thrives in moist, warm conditions like those that would be found in locker rooms or public swimming pools.

It is for this reason that plantar warts are very common in youngsters who use public swimming pools on a regular basis.

Extended time in the water softens the soles of their feet, the abrasive edge of the pool cuts or scratches their feet, and finally they enter the communal changing area. In these circumstances, it is hardly any wonder that so many children who enjoy swimming end up with warts almost every time they go to the public pool.

It is possible for plantar warts to disappear entirely naturally, but it is far more likely that they will spread if left untreated. For this reason, it is always best to treat plantar warts as soon after discovery as possible, because if they are left untreated, they can grow to an inch or more.

Furthermore, because they shed infectious cells all over the sole of the foot very quickly, it does not take long for a community of plantar warts to develop if the initial infection is not quickly dealt with.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that plantar warts can be extremely painful, so there is no question but that the wart has to be dealt with immediately. Although there is a chance that it might go away on its own (depending on the strength of your immune system), it is pretty unlikely, and who wants to wait while they are in pain?

Most common type of warts

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Common or classic warts are most commonly found on the hands and feet, but they can also develop in other areas of the body such as the knees or elbows. Typically, the uppermost surface of a common wart will be raised above the surrounding skin and will present a mosaic or cauliflower like appearance.

Generally speaking, common warts are not painful nor do they present any particular danger to the sufferer. Nevertheless, most people would consider these warts to be unpleasant and unsightly, meaning that they want to get rid of common warts if at all possible:

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HPV types and associated diseases

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Most of the virus strains shown are harmless, but there are a few of the strains which are mentioned which are generally considered to pose a serious health risk:

From HPV-1 to HPV-45, portion of it causes war. And to present some perspective on how likely it is that cervical cancer could result from an HPV infection, this chart gives a clear indication of how many cancer cases are believed to be caused by HPV infection on an annual basis:

As you can see, it is suggested that almost all cervical cancer cases result from HPV infection. Hence, it is absolutely essential that any woman who has any reason to suspect that she might have contracted warts through unsafe sex with an infected partner must seek professional medical attention as soon as possible.

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Many different types of warts

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As there are many different strains of HPV, it logically follows that there are many different types of warts as well.

The two following charts (taken from Wikipedia) indicate the particular strains of HPV that are most commonly indicated to be the cause of particular types of warts, and those which are generally considered to be dangerous:

Who is most likely to contract warts?

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Children are especially prone to warts, as are teenagers. However, irrespective of age or gender, anyone, anywhere can find warts growing on their body.

The time that it takes for a wart to develop will vary from person to person. Some people might find a wart developing on their body almost immediately after coming in contact with an infected person, while some people will never have a wart problem because their natural immune system has the ability to protect them against HPV.

Once you have a wart, it is possible that it will go away entirely naturally in as little as a couple of weeks, while on the other hand, some warts can hang around for many months or even years and be extremely difficult to get rid of.

Yet again, it comes down to the individual wart sufferer. If you have a strong, healthy immune system, it will generally make it far more likely that your body will naturally 'solve' your wart problem, but it does not always follow.

What is more likely is that if you have an immune system that has been weakened by a pre-existing medical condition like Aids or something as invasive as chemotherapy, it becomes far easier for warts to develop. Furthermore, it is probably going to be far more difficult to get rid of them as well simply because your body would be far less capable of 'fighting back' when your immune system is weakened or otherwise compromised.

Summary

While children and teenagers are the highest risk group as far as developing warts is concerned, those who have weakened immune systems may also have problems.

In this scenario, a weakened immune system can make you more susceptible to developing warts while also making it less likely that your body will be able to banish warts naturally.

Are warts contagious?

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The answer to this question is, yes, warts are highly contagious, although some types of warts are less contagious than others. A wart can be passed from one person to another by nothing more than personal contact. It is even possible to contract warts indirectly by the use of a contaminated towel, for example.

Generally speaking, children tend to contract warts more easily than adults, and because they tend to touch other people more consistently (hugging their parents, for instance), it is from children that the majority of warts are contracted.

Most commonly, it is very easy for children to pick up warts on their hands from day-to-day contact with other children who already have warts. This is the most dangerous scenario for the child concerned, because they will often rub their eyes and touch other parts of their body which can very quickly spread the warts.

All kinds of warts are highly contagious, but none more so than genital warts. These are warts that are very easily passed between one sexual partner and the other from vaginal, anal or oral sex. Consequently, if you or your partner is aware that you have genital warts, you must ensure that you only practice safe sex, or that you do not indulge in sexual practices at all.

In the case of women who had sex with an infected partner, it is possible to contract genital warts on the cervix. Genital warts are the number one cause of cervical cancer, and it is possible that a sexually active woman could have warts on her cervix for some time without knowing it.

Any woman who suspects that her sexual partner has genital warts should seek medical advice as soon as possible.

The bottom line is, the only way of preventing warts is by adopting very high levels of cleanliness and hygiene at all times.

For example, if someone in the family has warts, you should make certain that they use their own towels and that these are changed regularly.

All warts are contagious, but some types are more contagious than others.

Warts are most commonly seen in children and teenagers, and are generally passed from one person to another by personal contact.

Sexually active adults are at a significant degree of risk of being infected by genital warts, as you will see in more detail later.

Many different viruses…

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According to Wikipedia, there are around 130 different strains of HPV, a proportion of which cause several types of warts. Others are known to cause cancer, while there are strains of HPV that appear to have little or no effect.

Everyone who is infected by HPV will react differently to other people simply because every human being is different. Indeed, at any given moment, there are probably millions of people all over the world who have been infected with one strain of HPV or another who are not going to develop any kind of wart problem.

While the most common types of warts tend to develop on the fingers and hands, it is possible for different kind of warts to develop anywhere on the body, including the genital and rectal area, and even inside the mouth.

The exact cause of human papilloma virus is unknown, hence it is not possible to protect against or minimize the risk of infection from the virus. Consequently, while doctors know how to treat warts once they appear, there is little that they can do to prevent those warts appearing, although it is possible to be screened for HPV.

Because there are so many different strains of HPV, there are also many different types of warts. Not all of these warts can be treated in exactly the same way.

For example, while some types of wart can be treated with over the counter medicines and got rid of within a few days, there are others that can take months to get rid of (if you can get rid of them at all).

It is also common for a wart that has been removed to grow back in the same place, but because the returning wart may not necessarily be caused by exactly the same strain of HPV, the treatment for it could be entirely different the second time around.

Some warts can be extremely painful, while others are totally benign and almost unnoticed. In the latter situation, and particularly if the wart is in a place where it will not be seen, many people would probably choose to leave the wart well alone.

In this situation, it becomes a matter of personal choice and taste with there being no great need to do anything about getting rid of the offending wart.

There are 130 or so strains of the HPV virus.

Some of these viruses cause warts, while others can cause cancer or absolutely no problems whatsoever.

Some types of warts are painful, but all are unsightly and possibly embarrassing.

What are warts and what causes them?

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Let's begin by getting rid of one old wives tale.

Warts are not caused by coming into contact with frogs or toads! Despite the fact that these creatures have notoriously 'warty' skin, the condition in humans is nothing to do with either frogs or toads!

Warts are actually caused by a viral infection, and are known to be benign tumors in the epidermal layer of the skin.

The virus that causes warts is known as the human papilloma virus (or HPV for short) which is a double-stranded DNA virus that causes warts to develop in the outer layers of the skin when it enters the body through a cut or abrasion. Once the virus has gained access to the body, it remains in the inner or lower layers of the epidermis where it may remain totally unnoticed and benign. If it does not do so, however, you get warts developing.

There are many different types of HPV, and there are therefore many different types of warts that can develop in different parts of the human body. Generally speaking, warts are not dangerous, although it is known that some strains of HPV can be responsible for causing cervical and other related cancers.

Warts are common and most people are likely to find warts on their skin at least once during the course of their lifetime. In general, they are nothing more than unsightly and troublesome, but they can occasionally become painful if, for example they were to appear on the heel of your foot, making it difficult and uncomfortable to walk.

In addition to the old wives tale about warts being caused by frogs, people also often believe that warts have 'roots', whereas in fact they do not. Warts go no deeper than the top layers of the skin because the human papilloma virus can penetrate no deeper into the body than this.

It is common for warts to feel hard on the outside, and sometimes even perhaps a little abrasive. However, this hardness only comes about as a direct result of contact with the outside air, and wart itself is soft and pliable in its natural state.

As a general rule, warts tend to grow as cylindrical columns that issue upwards and outwards from the skin.

These tiny cylindrical columns will usually fuse together to cause what you would recognize as a wart, although this is less common when the wart is on the face, because the thinness of the skin in this area of the body prevents this from happening.

However, when the wart is growing on a part of your body where the skin is thicker, like your fingers or hands, the individual cylindrical columns will fuse together to become the tightly packed mass of what you would recognize as a wart.

Most commonly, when a wart grows in a part of the body where the skin is thicker, the surface will have a mosaic pattern which is sometimes broken up by black dots. These are actually the visible broken ends of blood vessels which grow quickly but irregularly into a wart. Warts need a blood flow to survive, so if you attempt to cut a wart out, you should expect to bleed, often quite profusely.

Summary

Warts are caused by infection with the human papilloma virus.

They do not penetrate any further into the body than the upper skin layers, and contrary to popular belief, they do not have roots either.

A quick overview of warts

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1. It is children and teenagers who are most susceptible to warts, with many experts suggesting that one in every ten children or teenagers will suffer warts.

2. Warts are extremely contagious, with the most common cause of infection being direct contact with another wart sufferer. However, the infection can also be spread by contact with anything carrying the bacteria that cause warts, such as dirty clothing, towels and so on.

3. If you want to avoid warts, practicing good hygiene and staying clean is the primary and easiest way of doing so. In addition, shoes should always be worn in public places if at all possible.

4. If your warts will not go away, you might need to seek the advice and attention of a doctor or dermatologist. Before doing so, however, there are plenty of natural treatments that you can try to use to get rid of your warts yourself (and of course, you are going to read of these treatments in this book).

5. Using home remedies is not generally effective if you are trying to get rid of genital warts. In this situation, medical advice is definitely necessary.

6. Warts are benign tumors that are confined to the epidermal layers of the skin. They occur when the skin cells known as keratinocytes become infected.

Why warts is unpleasant?

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Anyone who has ever been afflicted with warts will know exactly how unpleasant they can be. They are unsightly, unpleasant and can make your life a complete misery.

There are many different types of blemishes that can grow on your skin, and warts are only one of these blemishes, with others being moles and skin tags. Sometimes, warts can be painful (often depending on the area of the body where the wart is located), but any kind of skin blemish such as a wart or mole is going to be unsightly and probably embarrassing.

For anyone who has unsightly and highly visible warts or moles, they will want to have them removed. Consequently, most people who suffer from warts or a similar skin problem will visit a dermatologist in order to discuss and assess the problem. A doctor will almost certainly be able to get rid of warts or moles using various procedures (that we will briefly consider later). It may even be possible to remove them surgically, if the wart or mole problem is serious enough.

However, not everyone will be happy dealing with their wart problem by allowing them to be treated medically. Also, not everyone will be able to afford such treatment.

The good news is, you don't necessarily need medical attention or surgical assistance to get rid of a wart or mole problem, because it is possible to get rid of many unsightly skin blemishes totally naturally at home.

This book is going to focus on introducing as many different natural treatments for warts and moles as possible, because it is always preferable to use treatments which are both safe and natural for any condition or complaint you might have. Nevertheless, this does not mean that you should never seek the advice of your doctor or dermatologist, especially if you attempt to get rid of your problem naturally but the warts keep coming back or if you suspect the problem may be more serious.

You might even seek professional medical advice before attempting to use any of the natural treatments you will read of in this book, for their opinion.

However, one other significant advantage of using entirely natural methods of treatment to get rid of warts, moles or skin lesions is that while medical treatments can leave scars, using natural treatments generally means that there is no scar tissue left behind.

Let us therefore start our investigation by looking at what warts are and what causes them.