12 Facts about Warts

12 Facts about Warts

By: Arlene Gentallan



Facts about Warts

1. Warts are skin growths that develops when the skin becomes infected with human papilloma virus (HPV). There are more than 100 types of HPV that can cause warts to humans.

2. Wart sizes can vary from tiny to large. It can be a single growth or multiple cluster. They  are usually painless  except when they grow on unfavorable location such as the sole of the foot.

3. Warts may disappear even without treatment, but it may take several months up to 2 years.

4. There are warts that do not disappear even after treatment.

5. It’s is not unusual for a wart to reappear even after finishing treatment.

6. Warts are contagious. It can be transmitted by person to person contact. Items touched by an infected person can harbor viruses which can then cause wart in another person. HPV virus enters it’s host through a break in the skin.

7. Using a public shower with bare feet can increases your risk of being infected and developing warts.

8. People with weak immune system are susceptible to develop wart, but healthy people may also develop warts.

9. A cluster of warts is more resistant to treatment than a single wart.

10. Are warts cancerous?

Warts usually are not cancerous, however there are certain types of human papilloma virus (HPV) that can cause cervical cancer, and vaginal cancer.

11. Human papilloma virus (HPV) causing wart can stay dormant in your body and be activated by conditions like stress and weakened immune system.

12. There are several types of warts:

Common warts (aka. Palmer wart) – usually appearing on the hand, but may also grow on other parts of the body. They appear as single or multiple small raised grayish or brownish rough growths on the surface of the skin

Plantar warts  - Warts appearing on the soles of the feet. They appear as small hard rough growths with black pinpoint spots on it’s surface.

Mosaic warts - Warts that appear in cluster

Flat warts - Appears as small, smooth, skin-colored growths usually that usually develops on the face, neck, legs, and hands.

Periungual warts – appears as raised rough growth under or around the nails.

Filiform warts – appears as thread-like growths, flesh-colored growths usually located on the face.

Genital warts (condylomata acuminata) – An STD that appears on the genital area.

Oral warts (Heck’s disease) – Appear on the oral cavity

Butcher’s wart – Appears among people who regularly handles meat, like butchers.