The warts They are like most insects: they can be unpleasant in sight, but they are harmless. But with some of them you have to be careful, especially if they appear on the genitals or the anal area, because they can present symptoms of cancer in those parts of the body.
warts are skin infections caused by the human papillomavirus. The most common, the vulgar ones, are cauliflower-shaped with a ‘cock’s-comb’ surface, slightly grayish-brown, pink or skin tone, which appear on the hands or face, but also on the knees. , scalp or feet.
In the latter cases, plantar warts can hurt because they grow inside the sole of the foot, and appear more frequently among people who usually walk barefoot. There are also the filiform ones, which are thin and can be attached to the skin by a thin pedicle, which are usually located on the eyelids. Children are the most likely to generate them. As for anal and genital warts, also known as condylomata acuminata, they are located on the penis or vulva, as well as in the pubic, perianal and between the legs areas.
true and false warts
On many occasions people talk about warts but they do not have a viral origin. “These are really fibromas or skin tags, which usually appear on the neck and armpits due to rubbing against clothing or objects,” says Dr. Paloma Borregón, a dermatologist at the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV). “Those people who usually wear tight shirts either chains they are usually more likely to have them, ”he adds.
Beware, contagion in sight
Being a virus, warts they are contagious. It can be “by direct contact, skin to skin, or by indirect contact through objects,” says Dr. Borregón. Contrary to popular belief, towels – unless they are wet – are not an effective transmission vehicle. contagions are more likely in humid areas such as changing rooms, pool edges or bathtubs, describes this expert.
Healthy skin shouldn’t get infected. In any case, the transmission occurs when there is small or large skin wounds, or in people suffering from atopic dermatitis. “You have to think that these wounds or skin alterations are a front door for the virus”, indicates Borregón.
Even one person can self-infect by manipulating the warts, scratching them and then touching other areas of the body, which causes these wounds to increase in size and number. In the case of the genitals, its contagion occurs through sexual intercourse, whether oral, vaginal or anal.
let them go alone
30% of warts disappear on their own in six monthsand other 40% can last at most two years. But for aesthetic reasons, or because it can be an indicator of a disease if it appears on the genitals, many people may be tempted to take justice into their own hands and try to take them away. That would be a serious mistake.
For this reason, it is best to avoid those ‘grandmother’s recipes’, such as applying onion to the wart. Much less try the foolishness of removing it with a thread or other homemade product, since can be infected very easily. In fact, “there is no specific treatment for the human papilloma virus, which causes warts,” warns Dr. Lourdes Navarro, member of the AEDV.
How to remove them
For this reason, in all cases, especially with the appearance of protuberances in the anal or genital areas, it is recommended consult a dermatologist. Both warts and fibroids can be removed with cryotherapyand in the case of the latter, it is the professional who can cut them and favor coagulation, to avoid infections.
Being generated by a virus, the doctor has to remove all viral traces of warts, “because otherwise they will reappear”, warns Dr. Borregón. When treating them, the dermatologist may recommend the use of keratolytic agents, such as salicylic, lactic or formic acids, which are applied to the skin until the wart disappears. “There are also preparations with immunomodulatory substances, designed to improve local defenses, especially in genital warts,” says Navarro.
Other methods are the use of liquid nitrogenwhich produces a freezer burn, or the electrocautery coagulation or by means of a laser, which eliminates this bulge by heat.
How to avoid its appearance
Although some people may have a certain propensity to develop warts, some precautionary measures can be taken to avoid their appearance. For example, it is suggested don’t walk barefoot in public facilities, such as swimming pools, showers or saunas. The use of footwear such as flip-flops is the safest.
Must take care of foot hygienewith the use of clean socks every day, and with an intense washing between the fingers and on the soles. Don’t touch other people’s wartsand in that case, then you have to wash your hands intensely.
Who has a wart could get it cover with a dressing to reduce the risk of contagion and to avoid the temptation to touch her. If it appears on the foot, it can be protected with a padded dressing, which reduces pressure on the wound. And in the case of vaginal, contagion is reduced if condoms are used in the sexual act.
