Warts: what are they, how to treat them and how can we avoid them?

By Cristiano Antonino On Sep 8, 2022

Summer, holidays, hot…pool…. But beware. As relaxing and refreshing as they may be, these places can sometimes leave unpleasant ‘reminders’, including warts, i.e. unpleasant skin growths caused by one of the HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) strains

How many types of warts are there and how can we distinguish them?

– Common warts: also commonly called ‘leeks’, they usually have a rounded shape and are most frequently seen on the backs of the hands and fingers, legs and soles of the feet.

– Flat warts: are also known as ‘juvenile warts’ due to the fact that they typically appear in children. They are often asymptomatic, difficult to treat and spread mainly on the hands, face, arms and knees. Sometimes they can appear in clusters.

– Plantar warts: these are deep lesions located on the sole of the foot. They cause pain and are very common in people who walk barefoot in damp places.

– Mosaic warts: these also appear on the soles of the feet and appear as small warts close together, often painful.

– filiform warts: as the name suggests, they have an elongated shape and are usually located on the face, eyelids, lips, nose and neck.

– ano-genital warts or condylomata: they appear either as smooth papules or as rough growths. Usually asymptomatic, perirectal warts often cause itching. They are the main cause of cervical cancer.

How can we prevent warts?

Trauma and maceration favour contagion, and transmission can also occur through autoinoculation, i.e. from one part of the body to another.

It is best, therefore, to avoid walking barefoot in public places or sharing towels and nail care items.

Taking good care of skin hygiene also helps prevent the formation of skin lesions.

What about treatment?

Fortunately, many warts regress spontaneously within one to five years, while others persist for years and reappear in the same or different locations even after treatment.

This depends on the immunological state of the person and local conditions.

However, based on the evaluation of certain factors, one may opt for a specific treatment, such as the application of salicylic acid solutions, electrocautery, curettage, cryotherapy, excision or laser therapy in the case of more problematic treatments.

However, never resort to do-it-yourself treatments, but contact a specialist for an evaluation and targeted therapy.

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