Warts

Overview of Warts

Warts Meaning in Urdu

مسے جِلد کی ایک طبی علامت ہے جو کہ جسم کے کسی بھی حصے پر نمودار ہو سکتے ہیں۔ ان مسوں کا سائز بہت بڑے نہیں ہوتا۔ مسوں کی سب سے عام وجہ وائرسز ہیں جو آسانی سے ایک شخص سے دوسرے شخص میں منتقل ہو سکتے ہیں۔ ان مسوں کی وجہ بننے والا وائرس جب جِلد پر حملہ آور ہوتا ہے تو دو سے چھ مہینوں کے دوران جِلد پر مسے ظاہر ہو جاتے ہیں۔ ایسے افراد جن کا مدافعتی نظام کمزور ہوتا ہے ان کی جِلد پر آسانی کے ساتھ مسے ظاہر ہو سکتے ہیں۔

Human papillomavirus or HPV is the most common viral infection that can be transferred and spread by skin-to-skin contact. It usually goes away on its own but in some cases, it can cause the growth of warts and certain cancers. 

Warts (مسے) are growth with a rough, grainy texture that can appear anywhere on the body. Sometimes they can look like a blister or a wrinkled cauliflower. 

They are caused by a virus (Human papillomavirus or HPV) and can easily be transferred by skin contact. Warts are usually harmless and go away on their own after sufficient time has passed. They are painless but can hurt depending on the location of the growth. 

Prevalence of Warts

People of all ages are affected by warts. In adults, the percentage is around 3 to 5 percent, while in children and teenagers 1 in 3 is affected.

Signs and Symptoms of Warts

Some of the common symptoms of warts include:

  • Appearance of rough and hard bumps on your skin
  • Harder edges
  • Having variable shapes
  • Black dots in the center
  • Pressure in the chest cavity
  • Mostly painful, but sometimes can be painful

Types of Warts

Warts can vary widely in their appearance and the place where they appear. Here are some of the common warts types to know about:

  • Common Warts: Common warts have a rough and bumpy appearance. You can get common warts on your backhands, fingers, feet, and skin around the nails. The size of common warts ranges from 1mm to 1cm. You can see them alone or in groups.
  • Plantar Warts: These warts got their name from the Latin word plantar which means ‘sole’. So these warts appear on your soles as a result of pressure exerted on the sole. These generally grow into your skin and appear to be hard, flat, and tough. Plantar warts can be of further two types.
  • Mosaic Type Plantar Warts - Caused by HPV-type 2
  • Myrmecial Type Plantar Warts - Caused by HPV-type 1.
  • Flat Warts: These warts have a smoother appearance than other warts types and are relatively small in size. Flat warts grow in larger numbers from 20-200 and you can see them growing on your arms, face, and thighs.
  • Filiform Warts: You are more likely to see filiform warts on your mouth, nose, eyes, chin, etc. Filiform warts resemble your skin color and can have a thread-like appearance.
  • Genital Warts: Just as the name indicates, genital warts are the ones that appear on your genitals. These warts can result in serious problems such as cancers related to genital areas.

Causes of Warts

Warts usually occur after being infected with human papillomavirus (HPV). There are almost 100 different kinds of the HPV virus. When this virus enters your body then results in the causation of warts. Warts are generally contagious and can spread from person to person. Here are some of the common modes of transmission of HPV.

  • Touching a wart directly
  • Touching a surface that is previously exposed to the virus
  • Skin abrasions or cuts that serve as an entry point for virus
  • Nail biting that exposed your skin areas for virus entry
  • Shaving your arms or legs
  • Having sexual intercourse with someone already affected with warts.
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Risk Factors of Warts

Warts are common and can affect anyone. However, a few factors increase your likelihood of getting warts. These include:

  • Having a weaker immune system
  • Skin injury
  • Wet hands and feet
  • Swimming in public pools
  • Excessive  sweating on hands and feet
  • Contact with warts or surfaces exposed to warts
  • Scratching your warts
  • Engaging in sexual activity with someone having the warts

Health Complications of Warts

Generally, warts are not problematic and can go on their own. However, sometimes they can result in complications like:

  • Pain: Most warts are painless. However, you can find them painful if they grow on areas inward to your foot or your skinfolds.
  • Spread: Sometimes scratching your warts can result in their spread to other areas as well.
  • Cancer: Several types of warts are related to the increased risk of cancers such as cervical cancer, throat cancer, anal cancer, etc.

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Prevention

You can’t prevent warts. However, you can lower the chances of suffering from warts by taking the following measures. These include:

  • Building a stronger immune system
  • Getting the HPV vaccine
  • Avoid scratching your skin
  • Quit nail-biting and cuticle picking
  • Stop sharing clothes, clippers, razors, and other items
  • Avoid touching your warts
  • Choosing the right footwear
  • Keeping your hands and feet dry
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Diagnosis

A doctor can diagnose a wart by simple physical examination. Other pointers include:

  • Scraping the top layer of skin to check for signs of warts
  • Examining the wart

Treatment of Warts | When to Consult a Doctor

Most of the time warts do not require any treatment and leave on their own. However, sometimes they can turn painful and spread widely which requires medical treatment. Here are some of the common treatment options for warts.

1- OTC Medications

Many over-the-counter medications can help to get rid of warts. These medicines are usually available as topic agents or as duct tape containing the agent. These medicines work by dissolving the wart tissue layer over time which makes them disappear.

Note: Consult your dermatologist/cosmetologist before taking any medications.

2- Immune Booster

Boosting your immune system also comes as a favorable treatment option for warts. These immune boosters stimulate your immune system to fight off viral infections.

3- Cryotherapy

In cryotherapy, warts are frozen by using liquid nitrogen. After multiple sessions, you can finally get rid of warts.

4- Electrosurgery

In electrosurgery, warts tissue is burned using electricity. General anesthesia is required for the procedure. It may take a few days for complete recovery however, there are still chances of scarring.

5- Laser Treatment

Sometimes laser therapy is also used to destroy warts but can result in scarring. This is generally the last treatment option for warts.

In case of any concerning signs and symptoms, you need to visit a certified dermatologist