BODY WISE

Warts

A wart is a skin growth caused by some types of the virus called the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) which infects the top layers of skin and usually enters the body in an area of broken skin. The virus causes the top layer of skin to grow rapidly forming a wart.

Most warts go away on their own within months or years. They can grow anywhere on the body.

Warts can be spread by direct contact with HPV or by touching the wart and another part of the body. It can also be spread by sharing towels, razors and other persobal item with an infected person.

Most warts do not require treatment; but when they are painful, they can be treated by using home treatment such as salicylic acid or duct tape. It can also be treated by putting a stronger medicine on it or getting a shot of medicine in it; or by freezing it (cryotherapy). Warts can also be removes through electrosurgery, curettage and laser surgery.

Even after a wart shrinks or goes away, warts may still come back or spread to other parts of the body because most treatments destroy the warts not the virus.