WARTS: What are warts?

Warts are skin growths caused by a viral infection in the top layer of the skin.  Warts are usually skin colored, and feel rough to the touch. 

There are several kinds of warts.  Common warts, foot (plantar) warts, genital warts and flat warts. 

Common warts usually grow on the fingers around the nails and on the backs of the hands.  They are more common where the skin has been broken. 

Foot warts are usually on the soles (bottom) of the feet and are called plantar warts.  Plantar warts are usually flat because the pressure of walking pushes them back into the skin. 

Flat warts are smaller and smoother than other warts.  They tend to grow in large numbers (20-100) at any one time.  In children they are most common on the face.  In adults they can be found in the beard area in men and on the legs in women, most likely due to shaving.

Genital warts (also known as venereal warts) occur on the genitalia, within the vagina, on the cervix in women, around the anus and the rectum.  They tend to be small flat bumps that are not rough or scaly.  New therapies for genital warts are being investigated.  Knowing one's sexual partner and other forms of safe sex help reduce transmission.

How do you get warts?

Warts are passed from one person to another, usually indirectly.  Some people get warts depending on how often they are exposed to the virus.  Wart viruses occur more easily if the skin has been damaged in some way.  Some people are just more likely to catch the wart virus than others are.

Treatment of warts depends of the age of the patient and they type of wart.  Treatment can range from using an acid gel solution at home, to use of laser treatment.

For more information on warts, causes and treatments click on the link below.
http://www.aad.org/pamphlets

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