There are many types of warts and they can be found anywhere on your body. Common warts are caused by the HPV (human papillomavirus), which is fairly contagious. However the virus will usually only appear on one part of your body without spreading to another area. There are over 100 different types of HPV viruses. Common warts tend to be domed shaped and generally appear your toes, knees and the backs of the fingers.
Common warts are very frequently found on your knees, toes and the backs of fingers. Plantar warts, found on the bottom of your foot, are different from Plantar’s warts. Warts found around or under your nails are called periungual warts and filliform warts tend to be long, single stalks that generally occur on the face.
The HPV virus infects you by invading your skin through breaks or cracks. It likes warm, moist places so make sure to wear those shower shoes in locker rooms and public showers and avoid contact with wet floors. The HPV virus has an incubation time and you may not notice any warts for months after you are exposed or infected. Also most individuals can fight the HPV virus naturally so your body may kill the virus before it begins.
You may be more susceptible to warts if you have some sort of immune system deficiency, as your body can’t fight against the HPV virus. Dry skin also allows more access to your body for the HPV virus as dry skin, cracks and breaks easily. You can also get warts around your nails if you common bit your nails or have hang nails as this provides a point of entry for the HPV virus.
Most warts can be treated with over the counter medication. To decrease the chance that your warts may spread you should visit your dermatologist. Also if the warts do not naturally disappear then you should visit the doctor, particularly if they are painful, bothersome or multiplying rapidly.
There are other conditions that cause warts by not being able to protect the body against HPV. If you notice that you are suddenly seeing a lot of warts then you should consult your doctor about any other possible medical problems. The following diseases have warts as symptoms; WHIM syndrome (immunodeficiency disease), eczema, Molluscum Contagiosum (virus found in young children and passed on through the saliva), and tuberous sclerosis (hereditary disorder), to name but a few.
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