when skin When warts appear, they may appear as if a harmless tumor has appeared out of nowhere.
However, common warts are actually infections of the top layer of the skin caused by viruses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) family. When a virus invades this outer layer of the skin, usually through a small wound, cells in the outer layer of the skin multiply rapidly, forming a wart.
„HPV is ubiquitous,“ says dermatologist Conway Huang, M.D., associate professor of dermatologic surgery and cutaneous laser surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. „We all touch it sometimes“ throughout his life, whether it's shaking hands, turning a doorknob, or typing on a keyboard.
Scientists have identified more than 100 unique types of viruses. And most people will have at least one common wart in their lifetime, usually on their hands.
Certain types of viruses are more likely to cause skin warts on the hands. Other types of HPV are more likely to: cause genital wartsHowever, some strains of the virus can cause both.
If you have any type of skin wart, it means that you have come into contact with a virus that causes warts at some point in the past (this could be several months ago).
„People get warts from other people who have warts, but they don't get warts from frogs or toads,“ says Dr. Robert Brodell, a dermatologist in Warren, Ohio. „The most common way is through direct skin-to-skin contact, such as shaking hands with someone who has a wart on their hands. The virus can also be transmitted from inanimate objects such as towels used by someone with a wart. There is likely to be.“
Warts are more likely to develop if the virus comes into contact with damaged or cut skin. Warts can develop when you get a small scrape or bite your nails. Similarly, nicks and cuts from shaving can also be a route for infection. This explains why men often get warts in their beard areas, and women often get warts on their legs.
Everyone encounters viruses that cause warts, so why do some people get skin warts while others don't? Although doctors are not sure, they believe that certain people have immune systems that can fight the virus and prevent warts from growing.
For example, children develop skin warts much more often than adults. This is likely because their immune systems have not yet built strong defenses against the large number of human papillomavirus strains they will encounter throughout their lives.
Also, just as some people are more likely to be affected, poison ivycertain individuals' genetic makeup and immune system make them more susceptible to infections that cause skin warts.
It is also common for multiple siblings within the same family to have warts. And the children of people who had skin warts as children are often more prone to skin warts, Braudel tells his WebMD.
Still, experts still don't know exactly what's different about the immune systems of people who frequently develop skin warts.
For people who frequently develop skin warts, it is important to focus on prevention and promptly treat skin warts if they appear.
The first way to prevent skin warts is to avoid contact with viruses.
- surely wash hands Thoroughly and regularly.
- If you train at the gym, be sure to clean the equipment with a clean towel before each use.
- Protect yourself by wearing rubber flip-flops or sandals in the gym locker room and showers.
The second way to prevent skin warts is to keep your skin as free of cuts and cuts as possible.
„Try to keep your skin healthy and moisturized to avoid cuts and cracks in your skin, which can be entry points for viruses to enter your skin,“ says Dr. Sandra Johnson, a dermatologist in Fort Smith, Ark. says.
If you suffer from skin warts on your fingers and have a tendency to bite your fingers, nail It is in your best interest to break the habit of pulling or tugging at hangnails. Also, when shaving, use a sharp razor that will not cut or damage your skin.
If you develop skin warts, they should be treated immediately.
„The most important thing to do when you find a wart is to remove it right away,“ says Braudel. Warts can spread throughout the body if left untreated.
„All warts are mother warts that can give birth to children,“ says Braudel. „Any visible warts should be removed to prevent further spread.“
Most dermatologists agree that you can start with home remedies and drugstore wart removers.
“I usually recommend trying at-home treatments to get started. salicylic acid Or use clear nail polish, tape, or other methods to suffocate the virus,“ Johnson tells WebMD.
If you use commercial salicylic acid or propane freezing solutions, be sure to use them carefully. Please follow the instructions. It may take several weeks to several months to remove the entire wart.
If your warts are causing you mental or physical discomfort, see a dermatologist. Freeze or incinerate the wart, or use immunity-boosting medications.