The common but infectious skin disease warts are caused by a group of viruses that appears anywhere in the skin. Warts are quite painful disease which is of special concern because it is highly contagious. There are about sixty different types of warts. The most common types of warts appear on the hands, fingers and arms. The warts are generally characterized by burning, itching and oozing and needs proper treatment. Thus, the Warts are benign thickenings in the skin or mucous membranes which are the result of human papilloma virus. Warts are available as Common wart (Verruca vulgaris), Flat wart (Verruca plana), Filiform or digitate wart, plantar wart (verruca, Verruca pedis), Mosaic wart and Genital wart (venereal wart).
The different types of wart has varying shape and site. Warts are also known as verrucae or condylomata. Warts occur when the individual`s immune system is affected. Thus, the situations that reduce immunity make it easier for the warts to spread and become more susceptible. Certain warts are curable with proper treatment, but some warts do not resolve without treatment. Warts can affect individuals of any age and in any location. Furthermore, they are particularly common in children and teenagers.
Among the types of warts, common wart (Verruca vulgaris) is raised wart with roughened surface. These are most common on hands and knees. Common wart is thickened bumps called papules or plaques. These warts have small tiny spots which occur from blood vessels that have clotted. These warts are dome-shaped and are usually grayish-brown. Flat wart or (Verruca plana) are small smooth flattened wart, flesh coloured, which can occur in large numbers. These are the kinds of warts which are common on the face, neck, hands, wrists and knees. Flat warts are about the size of a pinhead and have flat tops. They may be pink, light brown, or yellow is appearance. They are commonly seen on the face of women and spread easily by shaving.
The typical types of warts include Filiform or digitate wart. It is a thread- or finger-like wart. They occur commonly on the face, especially near the eyelids and lips. These warts resemble miniscule finger. Plantar wart (verruca, Verruca pedis) is a hard type which appears to be quite painful lump. It is often concerned with multiple black specks in the center. They are usually only found on pressure points on the soles of the feet. They vary in size is covered with a callus. These warts reveal very small black, brown or red spots inside blood vessels. The human papilloma virus (HPV) that causes wart, are found inside the body. Thus once removed, this wart does not necessarily cure the disease. Planter warts are contagious in nature and can be contracted by simply walking barefoot in public places. Mosaic wart is yet another type of warts. These are a group of tightly clustered plantar-type warts, commonly on the hands or soles of the feet.
Genital Warts or venereal wart, Condyloma acuminatum, Verruca acuminata are another contagious type of warts which appear in the genital peri-anal skin. These warts come in a variety of appearances. They look like common warts or appear in skin colour or small papules. They vary in size from tiny papules to much larger typically warty growths. They are also found to be pigmented. The genital warts are associated with carcinoma of the cervix, Bowenoid papulosis and Bowen`s disease.
The warts appear in specific location are transmitted by skin to skin contact. The transmission of warts depends in part on the immunity and susceptibility of the individual involved. Certain warts only affect adults where certain types of warts affect children must be treated as soon as possible.
