A viral wart is a very common condition that appears as a growth on the skin caused by an infection linked with human papillomavirus (HPV). A cutaneous wart also is also termed a verruca or papilloma.
Wart condition can affect anyone at any age. However, there are a few groups that are particularly at risk and have a higher prevalence of it. One of the most affected groups is school-aged children. Patients with eczema are also prone to warts due to the damaged skin barrier. Lastly, individuals who are immune suppressed with medications like ciclosporin or azathioprine as well as those infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have a chronic condition of warts regardless of whether they are receiving treatment or not.
In children, 50% of reported wart cases disappear within the next 6 months and 90% disappear after 2 years. Adults have more persistent cases, but the majority clear up after administrating a proper treatment.
Warts are caused due to human papillomavirus (HPV) which makes it a double-stranded DNA virus. The infection starts in the basal layer of the epidermis, which facilitates the formation of keratinocytes and hyperkeratosis. HPV can be spread by skin-to-skin contact or by autoinoculation. Any action of scratching and/or picking the wart will cause the spread of viral particles over different areas of the skin. The incubation period can last up to 12 months.
Generally, cutaneous warts tend to have a hard and keratinous surface. Sometimes a very tiny black dot in the middle of the lesion can be observed due to inner bleeding ( intracorneal haemorrhage). In dermatology, warts are grouped based on their clinical features into the following categories: common wart, plantar wart, plane wart, filiform wart, and mucosal wart.
Common warts appear as lesions with rough, papillomatous, and hyperkeratotic surfaces. Usually, they are found on fingers and/or toes. These warts can also form around nails, which can negatively affect nail growth.
Plantar warts appear on the soles of limbs. Due to applied pressure, these warts have an inward growth which may lead to callus. In rare cases, plantar warts may lead to the formation of verrucous carcinoma.
Plane warts appear as clusters of flat lesions. They are commonly found on the face, shins, and hands. These warts may be caused by shaving and/or scratching which gives them a linear feature.
Filiform warts have a thread-like appearance. They are usually found on the face.
Mucosal warts are also known as oral warts. They appear on the lips and inside of the cheeks. They are much softer than other types of warts.
Warts are diagnosed according to their unique features. If the top part of the wart is getting removed, pinpoint dots are expected to be observed. Dermatoscope is applied in order to distinguish some viral warts from other lesions like skin cancer and seborrhoeic keratosis. Very rarely, a skin biopsy can be done to confirm the wart diagnosis.
Treatment of warts is quite complex and may be uncomfortable for some patients depending on their pain tolerance. Moreover, individuals with warts report experiencing self-esteem issues because they find it embarrassing to have warts and tell others about their condition. In order to remove warts, the patient’s immune system needs to be stimulated so it can attack the wart virus.
Topical treatments are very common. They consist of wart paints that contain salicylic acid which helps to remove the dead surface of affected skin cells. Podophyllin is a cytotoxic agent that may be used as well. However, it is not recommended for pregnant women or women who are planning on getting pregnant.
The wart paint should be applied daily on the affected skin but it is highly suggested to avoid getting the chemical onto healthy skin. Before applying the paint, the wart needs to be softened by soaking it in a warm water bath. Then, the top surface of the wart(s) must be rubbed with a pumice stone. After, the paint needs to be applied. Once it dries up, the lesion is suggested to be covered with a band-aid. This treatment method helps to reduce the size of the wart and decrease the feeling of discomfort. After 12 weeks of daily paint applications, the majority of warts disappear.
Another great option is cryotherapy which consists of using liquid nitrogen to destroy lesion(s) on the superficial skin layer. After 3-4 months of regular cryotherapy sessions (once every two weeks), the majority of warts are expected to disappear.
Electrosurgery is another treatment option. The technique of electrosurgery involves burning the base of the affected skin area. This method is applied to large lesions and wart lesions resistant to other methods. A local anaesthetic is applied during the procedure. On average, the wound heals within a month. The permanent scar will appear as a result of electrosurgery.
Centre for Medical and Surgical Dermatology offers various treatment options for warts that are unique for every patient. For more information on warts condition, visit the following link:
Centre for Medical and Surgical Dermatology offers surgical methods as one of the options for wart lesion removal. For more information on surgical procedure, visit the following link:
