Warts are benign tumors that appear on the upper layer of the skin as a result of a viral infection. The viruses that cause warts are called HPV. Warts are often skin-colored, rough to the touch, and firm, but they can also be dark-colored, flat, and soft. The appearance of warts varies depending on the area where they are located.
Different types of warts can be classified as common warts, plantar warts, and flat warts:
• Common warts: These frequently develop on the fingers, around the nails, and on the hands. They often grow in areas where the skin has been damaged, such as from nail biting or cutting off the cuticles.
• Plantar warts: These most often appear on the soles of the feet. When they appear in clusters, they are called mosaic warts. Unlike general warts, they are not raised. They have ingrown into the skin due to the pressure of walking. Plantar warts can be confused with calluses. Like calluses, they are painful and hard formations.
• Flat warts: These are small and have a flatter surface. They can be numerous, ranging from 20 to 100. They can appear anywhere, but are most common in children and on the face. In adults, they can appear in the beard area in men and on the legs in women. Shaving can increase their number due to irritation.
How are warts transmitted?
Warts are transmitted from person to person through direct contact or via shared areas or objects. The time between initial contact and the appearance of a wart can take months. However, the likelihood of hand, foot, and flat warts being transmitted is low.
Wart viruses can easily spread if there is any damage to the skin. However, some people are much more susceptible to the virus and develop warts. This is also related to a weakened immune system resistance to the wart virus in these individuals.
Should warts be treated?
In children, warts may heal spontaneously over months or years without treatment. Treatment is necessary if the wart is painful and multiplies rapidly. In adults, warts do not disappear as quickly and easily as in children.
Treatment
Dermatologists determine the appropriate treatment based on the type and location of the wart, as well as the patient's age.
• Generalized warts: In young children, solutions, patches, or gels (containing salicylic acid) can be applied at home by their families. This treatment, which is easily applied, may show results after a few weeks. Once a response to treatment is seen, the medication can be discontinued.
• Cryotherapy (freezing) is the preferred treatment for adults and older children. This treatment method is not very painful and usually leaves no scars. Repeat treatments are performed at intervals of one to three weeks. Electrocautery is another treatment method. Laser treatments are used when other methods have failed.
• Plantar warts: These are difficult to treat because they burrow under the skin. Salicylic acid patches or solutions and other chemical medications can be applied. Surgical methods such as cryotherapy, electrocautery, or laser can also be used for these warts. Wearing appropriate shoes to reduce foot pain and keeping the foot dry to prevent the warts from spreading are important.
• Flat warts: The methods listed above are also valid for these warts. However, peeling methods such as salicylic acid, tretinoin, and glycolic acid can be tried. Some adult patients may require treatment at certain intervals.
• Various lasers can be used in wart treatment. However, laser treatment is both very expensive and requires local anesthesia with an injection.
• Treatment can also be done by injecting bleomycin, a chemotherapy agent, into the wart. This is a painful treatment method with side effects.
• In immunotherapy, an allergenic substance is applied to the wart to induce a reaction in that area. This provides treatment.
• Interferon therapy is both expensive and, due to its side effects, is only used under very specific circumstances.
Can I treat my own warts without seeing a doctor?
Many over-the-counter wart medications are available, but you could mistake another growth for a wart and take a serious risk. It is necessary to consult a dermatologist for diagnosis and the most appropriate treatment.
What are some of the various superstitious remedies commonly believed in among the public?
Many people believe that these kinds of local, superstitious remedies are effective. This is because warts, especially in children, can go away without treatment. However, it is questionable whether these improvements are due to these methods or whether the warts resolve spontaneously.
What causes recurring warts?
Sometimes, as soon as an old wart is gone, a new one appears. This can happen because viruses have spread from the old wart before treatment. This is similar to a mother wart giving birth to a baby wart. The best way to prevent this is to treat warts immediately before the virus spreads.
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