What are warts and why do they appear?

It is quite possible that we all have one or two warts somewhere in the body. However, we must bear in mind that in reality not everything that looks like a wart really is, so that it is necessary to differentiate between a mole and a wart. A wart is a small growth on the skin caused by a virus (the human papilloma virus), usually painless and in most cases harmless.

This virus - also known as HPV - is actually a diverse group of DNA viruses that are well known for their sexual transmission, but the truth is that they can also be spread easily through wounds or cracks in the skin. Some types of this virus can cause skin warts and produce common warts, which appear mostly in the hands and feet, knee or elbow.

Therefore, depending on the serotype of the virus, the affected area will be different: hands, face, nape, feet, armpits, ano-genital area or any other part of the body not mentioned in the previous line. However, we must differentiate between lax fibroids that appear in the neck or in the armpits of the true warts produced by said virus, and that usually tend to be confused.

Why do warts appear?

These warts can be contracted by intimate contact with people affected by the human papillomavirus, especially when these are in the genital area, or because inbred transmission of asymptomatic carriers.

The appearance of warts is favored, especially when there are failures in the immune system of the person.

How can they be?

Most warts tend to be elevated, showing a rough surface, which may be round or oval in turn. At the point where the wart is found it may be a lighter shade or darker than the rest of the skin.

However, we can also find warts with flat or smooth surfaces, in rare cases they can be black and sometimes they can also cause pain.

Differences with moles

While a wart consists of a skin lesion caused by the human papillomavirus and has a generally globular shape, moles are growths on the skin produced when skin-producing cells (melanocytes) grow in groups.

The wart may be lighter or darker than the rest of the skin, rough, flat or smooth. While the mole is usually pink, brown or brown, flat or raised, round and oval; In short, both tend to be easily distinguishable.

In case you have warts in the first place you should not worry, it is advisable to go to the consultation of your dermatologist who will examine your skin to diagnose the possible presence or not of the warts. In case of doubt you can carry out a biopsy of the skin, to confirm that it is actually a wart and that it is not another type of tumor, such as skin cancer.

Images | Kai Hendry This article is published for informational purposes only. It can not and should not replace the consultation with a Physician. We advise you to consult your Trusted Doctor. ThemesSkin

Human Papillomavirus | HPV | Nucleus Health (March 2024)