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Common warts occur due to a virus known as the human papillomavirus (HPV). The infection causes the skin to develop rough, skin-colored bumps or grainy skin growths and can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. Common warts also have a pattern of tiny black dots, which are small, occluded blood vessels.
Warts frequently appear on the hands, feet, face, genitals, and knees. Warts are noncancerous but very contagious. In most cases, it will go away on its own. However, many people prefer to have them removed because they are uncomfortable or embarrassing. The treatment may include medication, laser therapy, freezing or surgery.
Symptoms
The virus causing common warts can be transmitted from person to person or from one area of the body to another. Once infected, warts will appear with the following characteristics:
- Tiny, fleshy, skin-colored bumps that may appear dome-shaped or flat
- Feels rough to the touch
- Covered in black pinpoints, which are tiny, occluded blood vessels
It is recommended to consult a healthcare provider immediately if the following are observed or experienced along with the appearance of warts:
- Appearance of multiple warts, which may indicate poor immunity
- Cannot confirm whether the growths are warts
- It produces pain
- Have a different look or color
- Continue to grow, spread, or reoccur despite the treatment
- Appears to be contaminated, red or pus-filled
Causes
Warts are highly contagious and result from infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). However, not all individuals exposed to HPV will necessarily develop warts, as immune responses to the virus can vary. With more than 150 different strains, HPV is a widespread infection.
While some strains of HPV are primarily spread through sexual contact, only a limited number of strains cause warts on the hands. The majority of HPV strains are transmitted via skin-to-skin contact or through sharing of objects such as towels or washcloths. When the HPV penetrates a skin cut, it produces a skin infection that results in the formation of warts. Warts can also spread on the fingertips and around the nails if the person bite the nails.
Risk factors
Common warts are prevalent to the following individuals:
- Children, due to their frequent cuts.
- Children and young adults, whose body have poor immunity to the virus.
- Individuals with autoimmune diseases or compromised immune systems, such as the elderly, those with HIV/AIDS or those who have received organ transplants.
Diagnosis
In order to diagnose a common wart, a doctor may visually inspect and examine the bumps. They may also perform a procedure to scrape off the top layer of the wart in order to look for the presence of black, pinpoint spots or occluded blood vessels, which are common characteristics of warts.
Occasionally, the doctor may need to perform a biopsy of a skin growth to confirm the presence of HPV. This involves removing a small section of the wart and sending it to a laboratory for analysis. This procedure can also help the doctor to eliminate the possibility of other types of skin growths.
Treatment
Warts frequently disappear on their own once the immune system has defeated the virus. However, new ones may appear in the same part or other parts of the body. It usually takes 1-2 years for common warts to disappear. The treatment aims to either eliminate the wart or to induce an immune system response to fight the infection.
The treatment for common warts depends on factors such as the location of the warts, the severity of symptoms, and the patient’s personal preference. While some people may attempt home remedies, others may prefer to seek treatment from a physician if their warts are painful, spreading, or aesthetically unappealing and have not responded to self-care measures.
Warts tend to return or spread even after treatment. Treatment could last weeks or months. Doctors usually begin with the least painful procedures, especially with children. Natural remedies such as salicylic acid may be used in combination with the following treatments:
- Salicylic acid: Salicylic acid is a chemical that dissolves warts layer by layer. Salicylic acid is more effective when paired with freezing. These products are available in liquid, gel, and patch form. To totally remove the wart, one may need to use the treatment every day for several months.
- Freezing (cryotherapy): This procedure uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and kill aberrant tissue. It causes a blister to grow beneath and around the wart. The dead tissue then sloughs off within a week or so. This technique may also boost the immune system’s ability to battle viral warts.
The common side effects include discomfort, blistering, and discolored skin in the treated area. Patients will certainly require additional treatments after this procedure.
- Other acids: Trichloroacetic acid may be recommended if freezing or salicylic acid cannot resolve the warts. This treatment is repeated every week or so. The acid is administered using a wooden toothpick. The doctor may need to shave the surface of the wart prior to applying the acid.
- Laser treatment: This procedure cuts off the wart’s blood supply, destroying it. When the infectious tissue dies, the wart falls off. A pulsed-dye laser is used during this treatment. However, there is limited studies to support the effectiveness of this treatment.
- Minor surgery: In some cases, surgery may be recommended to remove the warts and the affected tissue. It is important to note that this procedure may result in scarring.
