Warty

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Warty is a term used in medicine to describe a type of growth that is rough, hard and resembles a wart. Warts are caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which infects the top layer of the skin and causes it to grow rapidly, creating a wart.

Types of Warts[edit | edit source]

There are several types of warts, including:

  • Common warts: These are often found on the hands, but can grow anywhere. They are rough, shaped like a dome and gray-brown in color.
  • Plantar warts: These grow on the soles of the feet and are hard and thick with a small black dot in the middle.
  • Flat warts: These are smaller and smoother than other warts. They can grow anywhere, but children usually get them on the face and men get them in the beard area.
  • Filiform warts: These are long, thin warts that grow on the eyelids, face or neck.
  • Periungual warts: These grow under and around the toenails and fingernails.

Causes[edit | edit source]

Warts are caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). There are more than 100 types of HPV, and different types cause different types of warts. The virus is usually spread by direct contact with a person who has a wart. It can also be spread by touching something that a person with a wart has touched, like a towel or a doorknob.

Treatment[edit | edit source]

Treatment for warts depends on the type of wart and its location. Some warts disappear on their own, but others require treatment. Treatment options include:

  • Salicylic acid: This is a common treatment for warts. It is applied to the wart to help peel off the infected skin.
  • Cryotherapy: This treatment involves freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen.
  • Laser treatment: This treatment uses a laser to burn off the wart.
  • Surgery: In some cases, a doctor may choose to cut out the wart.

Prevention[edit | edit source]

The best way to prevent warts is to avoid direct contact with HPV. This can be done by avoiding direct contact with warts and not sharing towels, razors or other personal items with someone who has a wart.

Warty Resources
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD