Dorothy FarrarWarts (Verrucae)
Warts are usually small, sharply demarcated, pointed or flat, usually benign skin elevations with thickening of the cornea (swellings). The most common form of warts (verrucae vulgaresist) is caused by a viral infection, the so-called papilloma virus.
What are warts?
Simple warts are the bumpy-looking and rough-to-the-touch tissue growths that most commonly appear on the hands and fingers. The much smaller but smooth flat warts can also appear on the hands, face and particularly often in the neck area.
Plantar warts are warts that appear on the soles of the feet and can sometimes grow as large as a euro coin. They are very uncomfortable under the soles of the feet as they hurt with every step. Genital warts are primarily found in the genital area.
But they are also not uncommon to find in the anal area (anus). In the case of this type of wart, it is advisable to immediately consult an appropriate specialist (e.g. dermatologist) in order to avoid further infections. Under no circumstances should you try to remove this type of wart on your own.
causes
Warts are caused by the human papilloma virus. Since it is a virus, warts can of course be transmitted to other people.
If the viruses get into the skin via the smallest skin wounds, they can cause an infection. Due to the high risk of infection (e.g. when shaking hands, in the swimming pool, in the sauna), an original wart can bring many other warts with it.
However, not everyone who comes into contact with the human papillomavirus is automatically affected by warts. Depending on the nature of the virus itself and the physical condition ( immune system ) of the person, the disease may or may not break out.
To this day, however, warts remain a medical mystery. Experts cannot definitively explain why warts appear spontaneously in some people and then simply go away. Scientists still haven’t found a safe, tested, and effective wart vaccine that can get rid of warts forever.
genital warts
The number of cases of genital warts is becoming alarming, according to statistical studies. This is because genital warts are extremely contagious. The method of transmission is primarily sexual contact in a partnership. It is also possible for an expectant mother to transmit this virus to her child during the birth process.
Condoms can prevent infection. A problem, however, is that many people are still generously ignorant of protecting themselves from such infections. The reason nobody cares about something that doesn’t directly affect them – it doesn’t happen to me. A key incentive to use repellents is the fact that certain strains of papillomavirus have also been classified as carcinogenic.
symptoms and diagnosis
First of all, you should make sure that it really is a wart and not another skin condition behind it.
Warts generally have a rough surface with small round dots (except for flat warts). These red dots are actually just blood vessels that supply the wart tissue with the necessary substances.
Skin moles are usually smooth, uniform bumps that are also not flesh-colored, like flat warts. Hard and rough bumps streaked with skin lines could also be corns or calluses.
However, it can definitely be a very malignant tissue change such as skin cancer. Skin cancer can be recognized by its irregular edges and colour.
If you suspect it, you should consult a doctor immediately, even if you cannot diagnose yourself. In addition, diabetics should always consult a doctor about the recommended home remedies that are used to combat warts.
When to the doctor?
Warts, when they occur sporadically, are primarily a cosmetic problem for those affected. If the wart is a single wart, new warts do not appear all the time and the affected area of skin does not hurt or even bleed badly, it is sufficient to treat it at home with a wart pencil. This takes some time, but it is effective and the wart will disappear over time.
A doctor should be consulted if it does not improve over weeks or months despite treatment. Even if new warts keep appearing, or if a single wart expands, hurts or bleeds, the dermatologist should take a look at the problem.
Warts on mucous membranes or other places where the origin is not so easy to explain, such as a wart on the foot after a visit to the swimming pool, are also of concern. They can indicate other underlying diseases that cannot be treated like a harmless wart.
In children, the elderly or patients with existing diseases that weaken the immune system, warts should always be examined by a doctor. Even if the doctor only prescribes the wart pencil to take home, you can be sure that there is no serious illness behind the wart and that it will heal well.
complications
Warts are mostly harmless and do not cause any major symptoms. Anyone who follows the doctor’s instructions and eliminates the cause of the warts ensures that the warts heal quickly. The growths often go away on their own without the need for further treatment. Occasionally, however, warts can cause serious complications.
After surgical removal, for example, the wound can become inflamed. If the wound is not treated adequately or incorrectly, warts can develop again. Often the growths spread to surrounding regions or increase in size. This can be accompanied by severe pain and sensory disturbances in the affected area. If the warts are treated with medication despite an allergy or intolerance, serious side effects can occur.
Serious complications can occur if the wart is scratched open. This can then lead to infection and eventually to the formation of scars. In the worst case, the bacteria penetrate the blood and cause blood poisoning. Pregnant women are at risk of passing the infection to the baby. Rarely, the birth canal may become blocked, necessitating a caesarean section. To avoid these and other complications, warts should be examined and treated by your family doctor.
treatment and therapy
There are a variety of common remedies for warts. The treatment methods range from grandma’s home remedies (e.g. discussing the warts) to their surgical removal. The effect of many unconventional methods is controversial from a medical point of view. However, the success proves that many of those affected are right.
In most cases, warts will heal on their own. In any case, you should avoid bloody surgical procedures on yourself, as this can quickly lead to reinfection of the virus elsewhere.
Wart plasters and wart tinctures
Wart plasters or tinctures from the pharmacy can help with common warts. These usually contain salicylic acid or lactic acid, which will burn the skin growths. However, this treatment must be carried out until the entire wart has disappeared.
Icing and icing sprays
The doctor has the option of locally freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen. There are now also icing sprays for home use in pharmacies that are sprayed on the affected area. In the best case, the wart falls off after a few days.
Surgical interventions
In the case of particularly stubborn warts, the dermatologist can surgically remove the growths. The therapy methods include: scraping, electrical scabs or laser treatments.
prevention
Basically, all wart prevention measures are aimed at not getting infected with the virus in the first place. Because many types of warts are highly contagious, she should not touch wart-infected skin.
Warts can also spread through biting or scratching. If you touch infected areas, there is a risk of further self-infection of other parts of the body or infecting other people with the wart virus.
As soon as the virus penetrates the healthy skin via a small injury on the surface of the body, a new wart develops there. (Injuries such as small cuts, tears, hangnails, abrasions from shaving).
There are many ways of infection and yet the spread of the virus can be limited by not touching the warts in the first place. However, if contact has occurred, washing with hot water is one way to prevent damage.
In the case of sexual contact, a suitable and effective protective measure against viral infection is the use of condoms.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.