A viral infection of the skin caused by HPV.
These bumpy growths might seem like a harmless change in the skin’s surface, but there is more to it. Warts are an infection of the skin, and it’s essential to know the warning signs and what to do if you have warts.
By the end of this piece, you will understand what causes warts and what your options are if you seek professional help.
What Causes Warts?
What many people misunderstand is the cause of warts. Warts result from transmission of the human papillomavirus or HPV. The virus infects the skin usually through small cuts or openings in the surface. It causes skin cell growth on the exterior, which leads to the grainy and bumpy appearance that we call warts.
Unfortunately, anyone can develop warts, and it doesn’t mean that you are dirty or in contact with someone who is dirty. There are over 100 types of this virus, and it almost always lives on the hands. You may have contracted the virus from a simple handshake at a business meeting or from drinking out of a dirty cup with a cut on your lip.
Symptoms of Warts
While the symptoms are minimal, and they don’t usually cause any pain or discomfort, you’ll want to look out for them. All of the following are possibilities when you have common warts:
- Grainy bumps on the skin.
- Flesh-colored or pink bumps.
- Rough skin growths.
- Black blood vessels throughout the bumps.
Most people who develop warts can live with them until they go away on their own. It may take as long as six months for them to go away, so many individuals opt for wart removal because they are embarrassed.
When to Seek Professional Help
As we said, many individuals experience little to no discomfort other than the appearance of warts. It’s important to pay attention to some of these warning signs because they may lead to further, more dangerous issues.
- Painful growths.
- Failed treatment of warts.
- Warts interfering with normal activities.
- Uncertainty about the growth.
- The repeated appearance of warts.
In some cases, continuous development of warts may actually be an immune system disorder, so you want to pay close attention to how often you’re experiencing warts. Most people will go their whole lives without ever having a wart.
Treatment and Prevention
There are many modern treatment options available such as freezing warts or chemical compounds. These treatments are non-invasive, and some are even available over the counter at a local pharmacy.
To prevent warts in the future, you want to avoid contact with someone else who has warts. If you develop a wart, do not pick at it because you can spread the virus.
If you think you might have warts, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. Wart removal is simple and often painless.