What are they, why do they occur and how to remove warts What are they, why do they occur and how to remove warts

Common warts are small bumps or granular bumps on the skin that, although they are not usually painful or cause further complications, can be very annoying and, above all, very unsightly. They are usually rough to the touch and present small black dots of clotted blood.

They can appear at any time in life and on any part of the body, but they generally occur in children and adolescents who are not yet immune to the virus that causes them, and more frequently on the hands.

Although there are many types of warts and it is often confused with other skin lesions, warts are generally:

Why they appear

Warts are caused by a virus, specifically the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which has more than 150 subtypes and 100 of them can cause common warts. Being a virus, they appear by contagion, by direct contact with a person carrying the virus or through towels, gloves, glasses, etc. but they need a route of entry to the blood, that is, small breaks in the skin or through the mucous membranes.

The Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) reminds us that in no case are they transmitted through blood, as this virus does not 'live' in it.

Once contagion occurs, the incubation period begins, which ranges from one month to one year.

What types of warts are there?

There is a wide variety of warts, but we can mainly classify them as:

•Vulgar. They are the most common and appear more frequently in the hand, but also in other areas exposed to trauma, such as knees, elbows, etc. They are rounded, with a rough surface and can appear singly or in groups.

•Flat. They are very common in children and adolescents, but not so much in adults. They do not stand out much and are usually white, located on the face and distributed in clusters. They are quite resistant and to remove them it is not recommended to use aggressive therapies, as they could leave marks.

•Genitals. Known as warts, they usually appear on the pubic area or thighs, but they can also appear inside the vagina. They are highly contagious and are transmitted through sexual intercourse.

•Plant plants. They are found on the soles of the feet and can be very painful and make actions such as walking and running difficult if they are large or abundant. In these cases, extraction is always recommended.

• Subungual and periungual. They are those that appear under or around the nails of the hands or feet.

•Mucosal papillomas occur on the mucous membranes, especially in the mouth and vagina, and are white.

•Filiform warts. Elongated and softer in texture, they usually appear on the neck and eyelids. They are attached to the skin by a small area, so they often come off on their own with a little rubbing, scratching...

When to see a doctor

Warts do not usually carry major risks, beyond a cosmetic issue. If they are large, annoying or resistant or you want to remove them for aesthetic reasons, you can go to a dermatologist to recommend the most appropriate treatment. In addition, you have to be alert in case it produces some of these symptoms, because we could be facing a more serious injury:

How to get rid of it

Warts usually go away on their own after a maximum of two years, when the immune system kills the virus. 30% disappear in six months and 40% after 2 years, which is why dermatologists do not usually recommend very aggressive treatments unless they cause a lot of discomfort. Before resistant warts, there are now several treatments that work.

According to the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV), there is no single and demonstrably effective treatment, but there are many common ones that are usually useful on many occasions. In the case of over-the-counter treatments in pharmacies, the instructions for use must be strictly followed.

Salicylic acid. These are over-the-counter medications that usually have a concentration of between 10%-20%. They work by gradually removing the layers of a wart and are most effective when combined with cooling or cryotherapy.

Cryotherapy. These treatments usually contain liquid nitrogen and are very fast and effective. As a counterpoint, they are usually painful, leave a mark and require more than one treatment. It is better to have it done by a professional to avoid burns.

Cantaridita. This substance is extracted from a Coleoptera (Spanish Fly) and is also applied to other skin lesions, such as molluscs. Two applications is usually enough.

Electrocoagulation. It is a fairly aggressive and painful procedure that requires anesthesia, postoperative care and usually leaves a scar, which is why it is not generally used.

Imiquimod. It is quite expensive and is only indicated for genital warts.

Bleomycin. In subcutaneous injection that can produce side effects such as pain, pigmentation or scars.

Laser. It is very quick, but also quite expensive and can cause scarring and pain.

Retinoids. It is recommended only for large warts that are resistant to other treatments, as it is very irritating. Its use is preferred for flat warts.

Immunotherapy. Through an infiltration of yeast extracts or other substances, the aim is to produce a local inflammatory reaction that ends with the elimination of the wart.

Minor surgery. It is effective, but in addition to requiring anesthesia and being painful, it may leave a scar in the area.

Other products are podofilin, podofilinotoxin, glutathaldehyde, 5-fluorouracil or 1% cidofovir.

Can they be prevented?

There are a number of precautions that can be taken to minimize the chances of contagion, such as:

•Avoid direct contact with a wart on someone else's skin.

•Wash your hands carefully after touching a wart.

•Do not walk barefoot, especially in common areas, such as swimming pools and gyms.

•Always use a condom.