When a person develops warts, this is actually caused by the human papillomavirus, otherwise known as HPV. There are over 100 types of HPV that can cause warts, and there are just as many different types that a person can develop. There are common, flat, genital and plantar, just to name a few. These types of warts are common, especially when a person is a child. It is estimated that one in five children have one at some point in their lives. Without seeking medical treatment, most will go away on their own.
Symptoms
The type of wart that the person has is going to be dependent upon the symptoms that they show. However, some of the symptoms include:
- Rough or smooth
- Usually a small raised bump on the skin
- Size can be anywhere from one to 10 millimeters
- Can be single, or there could be a cluster
- Itching may occur
- The hands, knees, feet and face are the most common areas.
Risk factors
Warts can affect anyone. However, there are some risk factors that put you at a higher risk of having one. These risk factors include:
- Having a skin injury
- Infection on the skin that breaks the surface
- Having constantly wet hands
- Sweating heavily on your hands or feet
- Nail biting
- Swimming in public areas
- Having direct contact with other warts
- Scratching your own warts and spreading the infection
Diagnosis
Diagnosing warts is relatively easy and most people can instantly tell that this is a wart. However, if you are unsure then you should visit a medical professional for their diagnosis.
Treatment of warts
There are several treatments that you can do. These treatments include:
- Do nothing and just let this wart run its course. Almost 65% of warts clear up on their own without medical intervention. If you have numerous or the one has been present for longer than 2 years, then do not wait it out, visit a doctor.
- Use topical chemicals such as salicylic acid or lactic acid. These chemicals can cause difficulties for those with sensitive skin. This type of treatment can take up to three months to work.
- Cryotherapy is where warts are frozen with liquid nitrogen. This can take up to four months of regular treatments in order to work.
- Laser therapy utilizes a laser to burn off the lumps but, this can result in scarring.
- Gardasil vaccination is given to girls to help with HPV strains, however, this is not really recommended to treat warts. It is simply a deterrent against the genital forms and cervical cancers.
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https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/contagious-skin-diseases/warts
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/ss/slideshow-warts
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-warts/symptoms-causes/syc-20371125