Warts are one of the most common problems of the skin. They are epidermal growths that are non-cancerous, but that are caused by viruses and can be contagious. Usually, warts can have a rough texture and the appearance of a cauliflower, and they can appear in every part of the body.

There are two types of warts: the sebhorreic keratoses or “senile” ones, and the viral ones. The cause for senile warts is unknown, but they are extremely common and considered to be anti aesthetic. Once they have appeared, they tend to increase, and they appear in both men and women. As a matter of fact, 90% of people over 60 years of age have one or more¹.

Viral warts are caused by Human Papillomavirus, and they develop between two to six months after the skin is exposed to the virus. They represent a high risk of contagion, and they tend to appear in genitalia; for this reason, they are commonly known as genital warts. If you realize that you have them , you should see a specialist immediately.

Know your wart

To identify the type of wart that you have, you must check it out. This will tell you if it is harmless or it could be a warning of something more. Common warts have the following characteristics:

• They are a flat papule
• They have from 1 millimeter of diameter to several centimeters
• Their colors may vary: skin toned, light or dark brown or even have a mixture of them.
• They can be smooth, but also have a waxy or rough texture.

Types of warts

There are common types, as they are more likely to appear in certain areas of the body:

• Common warts: they emerge on fingers and toes, but they can also appear in other areas. They are round and ten to be more gray than the skin around them.
• Flat warts: they usually appear on the face and some areas of the body, like arms or thighs. As their name says, they are flat and their color might be between pink and brown.
• Plantar warts: they grow into your skin, and they can make walking painful. They look like a small hole surrounded by hardened skin.
• Periungual warts: these are extremely painful, as they grow inside your nails, both fingernails and toenails.
• Filiform warts: this type of warts grow on your mouth, chin and neck, and they are the same color as your skin.

Treating them: where and how?

As with many other skin problems, warts have several ways of treating them. You can choose to get rid of them at home, however the best way to do it is by visiting your doctor.

There are treatments that you can find at your local drugstore that could help you. Although, you should avoid using them if you have diabetes or you have them in sensitive areas, such as your mouth or nostrils. You can also try cryotherapy, that means they will disappear by freezing them with a mixture of ether and propane, or using liquid nitrogen.

If you choose to visit a specialist, he might recommend you this second option. Also known as cryosurgery, this may be a bit uncomfortable, and you should take into account that it may cause a blister around the area, and it takes a week after the procedure for the wart to fall off. If your warts are difficult to treat, surgery is also a way to get rid of them, but it can cause scarring and it is also painful.

Conclusion

Having warts is actually common, and in most cases, they are harmless. But if they make you feel uncomfortable or insecure, the best way to treat them is by visiting a specialist and choosing together the right solution that suits you.

References:

1. DermNet NZ: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/seborrhoeic-keratosis/
2. Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-warts/symptoms-causes/syc-20371125
3. NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279586/

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