Wart (Verucca)
A wart or a verucca is a small
bump caused by a virus that infects the top layer of the skin.
There are two forms of warts:
- Common warts
These warts occur on the fingers near the fingernails and the
back of the hand. They are usually not painful. Common warts
usually occur in children and young adults, although they can
occur at any age.
Common wart or wart vulgaris.
- Foot or plantar warts
These warts occur on the bottom of the feet, and may be quite
painful. These bumps are usually flat in shape and have dark
spots, which are actually clotted blood vessels.
Wart on the sole of the foot or plantar
wart.
Symptoms of Wart
The symptoms of a wart include:
- Rough, skin-colored, white, pink or tan bumps
- Pea-sized or smaller bumps
- Pain (for plantar warts)
An existing wart can shed viruses, which create new warts nearby
(even when the original wart is healing). Because it is difficult
to completely eradicate the virus, warts can be a chronic condition.
Causes of Wart
A virus called the human papillomavirus or
HPV. It is transmitted through direct contact
and through shared clothings or shoes, especially through open
cuts in the skin. It can also be transmitted if person happens
to step barefoot on the same floor that has the virus.
Wart Treatment
Warts can be treated by:
- Over-the-counter liquids and patches with salicylic acid.
- Cryosurgery or freezing with liquid nitrogen
- Laser
- Electrodessication, where electric current is used to destroy
the wart tissue
- Scraping with a medical instrument called a curette