Viruses that enter through tiny breaks in the skin cause warts. Warts are skin-coloured and feel rough to the touch. Most warts do not cause any medical problems. Warts occur in a variety of types and locations, such as the hands, feet, and in the genital area. Half of all warts go away in one year with no treatment. Two-thirds are gone after two years. Warts are often perceived as:
Warts located on the hands are most common on the fingers. They are also seen around the nails and cuticles, especially in children who bite their nails or pick at loose skin around their nails. Warts on the sole of the feet are known as plantar warts. Plantar warts are warts that are pushed inward, instead of outward, on areas that bear weight, such as the soles of the feet or the palms of the hands.
Flat or plane warts on most of the rest of the body are smaller and smoother than the warts found on the hands or feet. They can grow in clusters of 20 to 100 at a time in the bearded area on the face of men and on the legs of women.
Genital warts are very contagious and occur on the genitalia, around the anus, and within the rectum. In women, they are also found inside the vagina and on the cervix. Genital warts are hard to treat and some are associated with an increased risk of cancer of the cervix. Both sexual partners should receive medical care at the same time.
Physicians use many treatments to remove warts. They can be frozen off, burned off, surgically removed, treated with chemicals and medications, or removed by laser. Seek treatment for new warts as quickly as possible to prevent the virus from spreading to nearby skin, particularly those warts found in the genital area.
Article #4980
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