Warts

Warts and verruca’s are small lumps on the skin that most people have at some point in their life. They usually go away on their own but may take months or even years. Warts do not cause you any harm but some people find them itchy, painful or embarrassing. Verruca’s are more likely to be painful – like standing on a needle.

You can treat warts if they bother you, keep coming back or are painful.

WARTS CAN BE HELPED WITH (WHICH TREATMENTS):

Cryotherapy

SYMPTOMS OF WARTS

Warts feel firm and rough. They can appear on palms, knuckles, knees and fingers.
Some warts are round, flat and can be yellow (plane warts). You can have many of them.
Clusters of warts spread over an area of skin (mosaic warts) are common on feet and hands.

CAUSES OF WARTS

Common warts are caused by a virus and are transmitted by touch. It can take a wart as long as two to six months to develop after your skin has been exposed to the virus. Common warts are usually harmless and eventually disappear on their own. But many people choose to remove them because they find them bothersome or embarrassing.

Common warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The virus is quite common and has more than 150 types, but only a few cause warts on your hands. Some strains of HPV are acquired through sexual contact. Most forms, however, are spread by casual skin contact or through shared objects, such as towels or washcloths. The virus usually spreads through breaks in your skin, such as a hangnail or a scrape. Biting your nails also can cause warts to spread on your fingertips and around your nails.

Each person’s immune system responds to the HPV virus differently, so not everyone who comes in contact with HPV develops warts.

PREVENTION OF WARTS

To reduce your risk of common warts:

Avoid direct contact with warts. This includes your own warts.
Don’t pick at warts. Picking may spread the virus.
Don’t use the same emery board, pumice stone or nail clipper on your warts as you use on your healthy skin and nails. Use a disposable emery board.
Don’t bite your fingernails. Warts occur more often in skin that has been broken. Nibbling the skin around your fingernails opens the door for the virus.
Groom with care. And avoid brushing, clipping or shaving areas that have warts. If you must shave, use an electric razor.