Common Warts

Definition

Common warts are larger and firmer elevations with a rough surface. They can be found anywhere on our body but they usually occur on the hands, forearms, knees and the upper parts of the feet. People usually develop thickening of the skin surface at the weight-bearing area in the sole. Commonly known as corns they are caused by consistent pressure at a particular area which makes the outermost, horny layer of the skin proliferate. Planter warts are slightly different. They normally contain blood vessels and the surface of the wart, if carefully cut off, bleeds because of this.

A mole or a nevus is synonymous with birthmarks. It is a discoloration of a circumscribed area of the skin due to extra pigment deposition. A mole is darker in colour and is solid. In comparison, a wart is a softer structure which is translucent and marked with veins.

Causes of Common Warts

1. Warts are caused by a virus called HPV.
2. These spread from one person to another by contact. You can also get the wart virus by touching a towel or object used by someone who has the virus. Each person's immune system responds to warts.
3. Warts can spread from one area of your body to another, on adjacent fingers of an infected hand. Biting your nails can also cause warts to spread on your fingertips and around your nails.
4. You may cause the warts if you take a medication to suppress your immune system following a liver or kidney transplant operation or for treatment of some other disorder.

Signs and symptoms

• Common warts do not cause pain.
• Common warts can be bothersome and can spread easily if they are in areas that are constantly irritated by rubbing or shaving.
• Common warts usually appear singly or in groups on the hands. Although they may grow on any part of the body.
• They may vary in shape, size and color.
• They usually are rough, gray-brown, dome-shaped growths.
• A wart may appear as a bump with a rough surface, or it may be flat and smooth. Tiny blood vessels grow into the core of the wart to supply it with blood.

Treatment of Common Warts

• Minor therapy: In this treatment the wart is cut away destroyed by using an electric needle. This is done in general anesthesia and is painful. It is an effective treatment and leaves a scar on body.
• Laser surgery: Laser surgery can be expensive, and it may leave a scar. It's usually reserved for tough-to-treat warts.
• Warts don't require treatment, but you may want to treat them for cosmetic purposes and to prevent their spread.
• Cryotherapy: Your doctor may use liquid nitrogen to destroy your wart by freezing it. This treatment isn't too painful, and is often effective.
• Cantharone can be used particularly in children as it is more easily tolerated.
• Substances such as DNCB involve painting the substance on the warts in order to develop an allergic reaction. This immune allergic reaction will be useful for destroying the wart.