What Is A Wart

A wart is a generally small, rough, cauliflower-like growth, typically on hands and feet. Warts are common and contagious, and are caused by a viral infection, specifically by the aerobic Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). They typically disappear after a few months but can last for years and can recur. A few Papilloma viruses are known to cause cancer. However, warts can be disfiguring and embarrassing, and occasionally they itch or hurt (particularly on the feet).

Wart is typically a raised round or oval growth on the skin with a rough surface. Compared with the surrounding normal skin, warts may appear light, dark, or black (rare). Most adults are familiar with the look of a typical wart and have little trouble recognizing them. Unusual warts with smooth surfaces or flat warts in children may be more difficult for parents to recognize.

Common warts tend to cause no discomfort unless they are in areas of repeated friction or pressure. Plantar warts, for example, can become extremely painful. Large numbers of plantar warts on the foot may cause difficulty running and even walking. Warts around and under your nails are much more difficult to cure than warts elsewhere.

Warts will sometimes disappear without treatment, although it can sometimes take a couple years. Treated or not, warts that go away often reappear. Genital warts are quite contagious, while common, flat, and plantar warts are much less likely to spread from person to person. All warts can spread from one part of your own body to another.

Warts are generally considered unsightly, ugly, and there can be embarrassment, they often seek treatment or home remedies for warts.

Warts appear as different types, including:

• Common warts: usually appear on the hands, but can appear anywhere.
  
  
• Flat warts: generally found on the face and forehead. Common in children, less so in teens, and rare in adults.
  
  
• Genital warts: usually found on the genitals, in the pubic area, and the area between the thighs, but can appear inside the vagina and anal canal.
  
  
• Plantar warts: found on the soles of the feet.
  
  
• Subungual and periungual warts: appear under and around the fingernails or toenails.

Other names and types of warts include: Plane juvenile warts, Periungual warts, Subungual warts, Plantar warts, Verruca, Verruga, Verrucae planae juveniles, Filiform warts, and Verruca vulgaris.





Portions of this article are licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Warts".