The 7 types of warts, why they appear and how to remove them
Although they usually associate with people of a certain age, warts can appear at any stage of life. They are unsightly and can be a sign that something is not quite right in our body.
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What are warts?
Warts are bumps that range from about 1 to 10 mm in size. and that appear on the epidermis, that is, on the skin. They are usually pink to light brown in color and have a circular shape. They are generally not painful, although depending on their location they can be especially uncomfortable.
Source
Warts occur as a result of an infection caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) pathogen. This pathogen has more than a hundred subtypes that can give rise to the appearance of the wart. Warts are usually located on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet.
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Types of warts
There is a classification of the types of warts based on their location and histology. We see it below.
1. Vulgar warts
These are the most common types of warts. They are located on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, on its surface, on the fingers or between the fingers. They are circular in shape, rough and appear isolated or in groups.
2. Flat warts
These types of warts are generally located on the palms of the hand and the soles of the feet. Its color ranges from pink, white and yellow. They are small in size and can appear in groups.
3. Plantar warts
As the name suggests, they are on the soles of the feet. Due to their location, they can cause pain due to the pressure exerted when walking or depending on what footwear is used.
4. Genital warts
Genital warts are located in the genital area; penis, vulva; English and perianal region. They are generally softer than common warts (common warts) and are more irregular around the edges. They can become a typical cauliflower shape when several appear together. They are also called condylomata.
5. Water warts
Water warts are usually located on the armpits, arms, thighs, torso and elbows. These are rather pink or whitish warts and may contain a white liquid.
These appear as a consequence of infection with the Molluscum Contagiosum virus (MCV) and are manifested more frequently in between 1 and 5 years, since they have a less developed immune system and therefore more difficulty in coping with infection.
6. Filiform warts
Filiform warts are usually located on the neck and eyelids. They have a rather elongated shape and a soft texture. Their point of attachment to the skin is very small, so they tend to come off without doing anything, just with the very contact of clothing or hands.
7. Subungual and periungual warts
These last types of warts are located in the area of union to the nail; either underneath or around.
Are warts contagious?
Warts are contagious to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the type of wart. The most contagious are those that contain liquid - since there are the microorganisms of the infection - or are found in the urogenital mucosa, as they facilitate transmission through the fluids.
Prevention
To prevent this, you must first have very careful hygiene habits. That is, do not share personal hygiene products, such as towels, underwear or bath slippers, as well as files or pumice stones. In the case of coming into contact with a wart, wash and dry the contact area well.
Likewise, it is necessary to avoid walking barefoot in risk areas for public use, that is, humid and easily spread by the virus, such as swimming pools, saunas, gyms or showers.
Treatment of warts
Treating the wart means ending the lesion but they can appear again because the virus persists, since there is no specific treatment to eliminate it.
Although there is a high percentage of warts that disappear without specific treatment, there are several effective ways to eliminate warts, encompassing all types of wart:
1. Pharmacological treatments
Salicylic acid: this substance has exfoliating and keratolytic properties. It involves filing the surface of the wart (using a cardboard file or Pumice stone) to increase penetration of the liquid, leave to act for a few minutes, and when the wart softens, it is filed again to remove the product. This treatment is slow and requires perseverance, until finally the wart has disappeared.
Cantharidin is also used: this substance has the property of producing blisters without causing scarring. Therefore, its use is explained because when applied to the wart, a blister is generated, which is covered for 12-24 hours. Removing the bandage removes the dead skin from the wart. If the rest of the wart remains, a different treatment is usually tried.
2. Physical treatments
2.1. Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery consists of applying liquid nitrogen to the wart to freeze it and finally remove it. It is a painless process but it can be slightly uncomfortable.
2.2. Electrocoagulation
Electrocoagulation consists of applying electrical current to the wart - under local anesthesia - in order to clot the blood from the wart. It is an effective but quite aggressive method and can lead to scarring.
What to do if I find a wart?
First, It must be taken into account that, many times, the discomfort of the wart is nothing more than the place where it appears. So initially what must be taken into account is whether it is an uncomfortable place (face, neck ...) or sore (soles of the feet, places of friction ...).
The specific diagnosis and way of treating must be considered by the specialist, that is, the dermatologist or the dermatologist. He or she will determine the severity of the wart and the appropriate treatment based on the type of wart and its location.
Bibliographic references
Bolognia J.L., Schaffer J.V., Cerroni L. (2018). Dermatology. 4th Edition. Spain. Elsevier.
Bolognia J.L., Jorizzo J.L., Schaffer J.V. (2016). Dermatology. Main diagnoses and treatments. Spain. Elsevier.
Iglesias D.L., Guerra T.A, Ortiz R.P.L. (2003). Dermatology Treaty. 2nd Edition. Spain. McGraw-Hill.