Warts
Introduction
Warts are benign, non-cancerous growths that develop on the epidermis as a result of a viral infection. There are more than 100 different strains of the virus known as the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the one that produces warts. Warts can show anywhere on the body, but the hands, feet, and face are where they most frequently occur. Warts usually have a small, raised appearance and a rough, bumpy feel. They can appear alone or in groups and range in colour from flesh to pink to brown to greyish. Warts can be as small as a pinhead or as large as several centimetres. Even though they are typically painless, they occasionally cause itching, burning, or discomfort, especially when they affect the soles of the feet or other areas that carry weight.
There are several different types of warts, including:
- Common warts
- Plantar warts
- Flat warts
- Filiform warts
- Genital warts
Pathophysiology
The human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the virus responsible for warts, is extremely contagious and can be spread through direct contact with an infected person or item. The virus can infiltrate the body through a tiny skin scrape or cut, and it may take several months for a visible wart to appear.
The epidermis, the skin’s outer layer, contracts and grows quickly as a result of the virus’s infection. The outcome of this quick cell growth is the development of a raised bump on the skin that is known as a wart. The virus can also alter the pigmentation of the skin, giving the wart its distinctive look.
Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms of warts depend on the type and location of the wart. Here are some common symptoms:
- Tiny, raised bumps on the skin: Warts commonly appear as tiny, raised bumps on the skin, which can be either round or oval in form.
- Rough, scaly texture: Warts can have an uneven, rough texture that is covered in scaly or crusty skin.
- A flesh-colored or greyish appearance: Its hues can range from pink to brown to greyish to flesh-colored.
- Aching or tenderness: Plantar warts on the feet, for example, can cause discomfort.
- Itching or irritation: If a wart is in a sensitive region, it may itch or irritate the surrounding skin.
- Clusters: Warts, particularly those on the digits and toes, can appear alone or in groups.
- Pain or humiliation: Depending on where the wart is, it may cause pain or embarrassment.
How do Dermatologists treat Warts?
Dermatologists may use a variety of treatments to remove warts, depending on the type and location of the wart, as well as the patient’s medical history and preferences. Here are some common treatments for warts:
- Topical drugs: To help the wart eventually disappear, dermatologists may recommend topical drugs like salicylic acid. The treatment, which is applied directly to the wart, can take anywhere between a few weeks and several months to take affect.
- Cryotherapy: The wart is frozen with liquid nitrogen during cryotherapy, which kills the wart’s cells and makes them come off. This procedure may need numerous sessions and be painful.
- Electrosurgery: Electrosurgery entails destroying the wart tissue with an electric current. Usually carried out under local anesthesia, this procedure may call for several rounds.
- Laser treatment: A laser therapy targets the wart tissue with a narrow beam of light. Usually carried out under local anesthesia, this procedure may call for several rounds.
- Immunotherapy: In order to activate the body’s immune system to combat the viral, an agent is injected into the wart during immunotherapy. Warts that are recurring or persistent may respond well to this therapy.
