The Features and Risks of Viral Warts

Warts

Warts are benign skin growths that show when a virus affects the epidermis layer of skin. They are contagious. There are many different types of warts and each are different in their own way. Zur Hausen looked for viruses in human genital warts, leading to the discovery of a new type of papillomavirus, which he called HPV-6 (versions one to five had already been discovered). there are more than 100 different types of the hpv. These viruses can enter the skin through small cuts and cause extra cell growth. The outer layer of skin turns thicker and harder, forming a raised wart. Wart viruses are mainly spread by direct skin contact, but they may also be spread by touching objects like towels or razors. They are more likely to infect moist and soft or injured skin.

This is one of the main causes of most warts. To prevent these warts from occuring you can get the vaccine for HPV which is Gardasil. This prevents all warts besides plantar warts. Warts were discovered in 1907. You should be informed on warts because they can appear to be something they are not and they cause a lot of pain.

The risk factors vary but some include people who work with raw meat, for example at a butcher’s shop or slaughterhouse, children and teenagers who often use communal showers, for instance after sports or at the swimming pool, people with family members who have warts, children who share a classroom with a lot of children who have warts, people who have a weakened immune system: especially adults and children who have had an organ transplant or who have a serious disease like cancer or AIDS, and people with atopic conditions like eczema.

Genital Warts are the most common type of sexually transmitted infection. They are small, flesh-colored or gray swellings in your genital area. Symptoms include several warts close together that take on a cauliflower like shape, itching or discomfort in genital area, or bleeding with intercourse. They may be very small and flat and may not be able to be seen with the naked eye. They are caused by the human papillomavirus. HPV is spread through sexual contact and in most cases your immune system will kill genital HPV and you will never develop signs or symptoms of the infection. Complications can include cancer and problems during pregnancy. If warts aren’t causing discomfort, no treatment may be needed. If symptoms include itching, burning, and pain, or if warts are visible, your doctor can help clear outbreak with medications or surgery. Medications include imiquimod, podophyllin, trichloroacetic acid, or sinecatechins. Surgeries may include freezing with liquid nitrogen, electrocautery, surgical excision, or laser treatments.

Verruca Vulgaris is a common wart. They usually occur on fingers and hands and may be small, fleshy, grainy bumps, flesh-colored, white, pink, or tan, rough to the touch, or sprinkled with black pinpoints. They are caused by infection with the human papillomavirus. One can acquire from skin-skin contact between others, or indirectly by touching something that someone with warts has touched. The virus spreads through breaks in one’s skin. These warts go away without any treatment necessary. If treatment is needed, it can be done a various amount of ways. These ways including stronger peeling medicine, freezing, acids, or laser treatments. Duct tape can be put over the wart for six days, then left exposed for about 12 hours, and then repeating the same process until the wart is gone.

Plantar Warts are hard, grainy growths that usually appear on the heels or balls of your feet, areas that feel the most pressure. They can also occur on the ankles. The symptoms include a small, fleshy, rough, grainy growth (lesion) on the bottom of your foot. They can become very large and cause pain or tenderness when walking or standing. Because the soles of your feet have to support your body weight, plantar warts do not grow outward like other kinds of warts. They are pushed inward when you stand or walk. They’re lesions that interrupt the normal lines and ridges in the skin of your foot. Hard, thickened skin over a spot where a wart has grown inward. The causes include an infection caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Not everyone who comes in contact with virus develops warts. It thrives in warm, moist environments. One may come in contact with the virus by walking barefoot around swimming pools or locker rooms. The virus needs a point of entry into skin such cracks in dry skin, cuts or scrapes, wet, softened, fragile skin from being in the water a long time. The treatment is freezing by liquid nitrogen, minor surgery to cut out wart.