Understanding Warts: Causes, Types & Treatment Options

Warts are a growth or lesion that occur on the skin. They are generally a cosmetic problem but can cause pain. The principle cause of warts is infection by the HPV, or the human papilloma virus. HPV has an incubation period that can range from two to nine months before the first appearance of a wart. These types of warts frequently resolve by themselves, but treatment options are available.

Types

• There are more than 80 varieties of HPV that can cause warts, but most confine themselves to the skin. A few types can also affect the mucus membrane or cause genital warts.

Transmission

• HPV can be transmitted by direct contact from person to person, indirect contact among people or from one location on the body to another.

Infection

• Infection by the human papilloma virus tends to occur in an area of the skin where there is moisture or skin damage.

Risk Groups

• HPV infection can occur at any age and among any ethnic group, but it is more common among children and teens.

Treatment

• Treatments can include freezing the wart, laser removal, prescription creams, burning, scraping and injecting the wart with Bleomycin, a chemotherapy medication.