Warts

What are warts?

Warts are small benign growths on the skin caused by a virus called human papillomavirus.

Most warts look like a thickening of skin, usually having a different color than the usual color of the surrounding skin.

In a very small number of people, they degenerate and develop a malignant disease, the most common of which is genital warts.

Warts appear more often in children. They are formed in most cases when they are between the ages of 12 and 16.

About 30% of warts disappear on their own after about 6 months. And the majority of them disappear without treatment in a period of about 3 years.

What are the symptoms of warts?

The most common non-genital warts are:

• Common warts – appear usually on the hands in the area around the nails, they are gray in color and rise above the surrounding skin, their upper surface has a sharp tip.

< li>Warts on the feet – can form anywhere on the feet, but most often in areas where there is the most pressure such as the heel and metatarsal bones – the area behind the toes. Warts develop inside the skin, which makes their treatment more difficult.

• Flat warts – they develop most often on the face and on the inside of the hands. They start as solitary small bumps about 0.5 centimeters in diameter. Flat warts can spread quickly when shaving.
• Verrucous carcinoma – in very rare cases, non-genital warts can degenerate and become a malignant tumor.

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What are the causes of warts?

Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus, of which over 100 strains have been identified.

The virus penetrates the skin by direct contact with recently infected surfaces or by contact with another person who is already infected. The virus usually lasts longer in warm and moist areas such as changing rooms.

The virus often penetrates through small wounds on the skin. The incubation period – the time from exposure to the virus to the formation of a wart – varies from 1 to 8 months. It is a myth that if you touch a frog you will get a wart.

Treatment of warts

In 60-70% of cases, warts disappear over time and without any treatment.

The ultimate goal of most wart treatment therapies is for our body to perceive the wart as a foreign body and destroy it like any other virus or bacteria.

To speed up this process you can do a few things:

• Put some waterproof adhesive patches on the warts, you can also put tape on them. Do not remove the patch for 6 and a half days. Then take it off and leave the wart open for 12 hours and put a new clean patch on the wart again for 6 and a half days. This therapy is effective because with the patch you seal the wart tightly and the virus cannot reproduce and spread.
• Among the alternative therapies for the treatment of warts is even hypnosis.

How to protect yourself?

The first and most important warning is to avoid touching warts, whether they are yours or someone else’s.

The virus that causes them is spread by touch and contact, so avoid touching these areas.

Even if you are at work, school or in public, you should refrain from touching the warts to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

It is also important not to scratch the warts. This can cause the virus to spread to healthy skin and speed up the infection process.

If you feel itching or irritation around the warts, try not to touch them and consult a doctor for appropriate treatment.

In places where there may be many people with shared spaces, such as gyms or changing rooms, be extra careful.

It is recommended that you wear slippers or other footwear in the bathroom to prevent your feet from coming into contact with moist surfaces where the virus can survive longer.

After training, follow hygiene habits and wash your hands well with soap and water.

If you suspect warts on your skin, do not hesitate to seek advice from a doctor or dermatologist. They can make a correct diagnosis and provide appropriate treatment.

Depending on the size and location of the warts, the doctor may suggest different methods of removal, such as cryotherapy (freezing), electrocoagulation, or the application of topical medications.

In conclusion, wart prevention precautions are essential to keep your skin healthy and beautiful.

Observe hygiene principles, avoid touching and scratching warts, and be careful in public places where the virus can spread.

If you follow these tips, you’ll be more likely to protect yourself from warts and their associated troubles.

However, do not forget that if the symptoms of warts worsen, consult a doctor or specialist immediately.