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Wart is a prevalent disease caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), forming hard, rough and small growths of the skin resembling a small cauliflower. They are usually harmless and seldom painful unless they occur on one’s feet. Wart removal and treatment are available to deal with warts.
Warts are non-cancerous, hard, rough and small growths of the skin resembling a small cauliflower. There are multifarious warts, including common warts, flat warts and genital warts. They are distinguished based on their characteristics and the areas they appear, even though they share similar treatments.
Wart is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) entering through skin and infecting squamous epithelial cells of the skin or genitals. HPV viruses promote the excessive and fast-paced growth of keratin, resulting in warts. Different sub-types of HPV tend to infect different body parts and give rise to different types of warts. HPV infection is mostly transmitted through contact, including sexual contact, biting fingers, shaving, contact with towels, etc.
Most of the time, wart occurs on persons who are otherwise totally healthy and well.
Some people may be more prone to HPV infection, thus warts formation, such as:
Warts in different body parts and of different characteristics are categorized into different types. Common types of warts and their signs and symptoms include:
Warts are mostly benign, but treatment is recommended or needed because:
Warts can often be diagnosed easily by physical examination by medical practitioners. Sometimes, in case of wart on hands and feet, a bit of paring and scraping of superficial thickened skin may be needed to assess the base of the lesions to look for characteristic ‘black dots’ of palmoplantar wart. In rare cases, a diagnostic biopsy may be needed to confirm the diagnosis and to exclude other rare type of skin problems (such as verrucous form of atypical bacterial or deep fungal infection or skin cancer).
Wart may occasionally spontaneously resolve without any treatment, particularly in young kids, but rarely in adults. In case warts do not go away by themselves or cause trouble, treatments will be needed to destroy them:
Warts are contagious by nature, that’s how one gets it in the first place.
Warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Upon infection, it stimulates the local growth of excessive keratin, leading to small growths on the skin which are warts. Therefore, to avoid warts, ensure good hygiene to prevent HPV infection.
In some cases, they will, particularly in young children.
More often than not, particularly in adults, they won’t.
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters and is not sponsored. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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