What Causes A Verruca?

What’s covered?

Verruca warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and are transmitted via skin-to-skin contact or sexual intercourse with someone with the virus. The virus does not cause any harm to adults but can lead to genital warts in young children and adolescents. It can also spread to other body parts, such as the mouth and mouth mucosa. People with oral HPV often suffer from oral warts, and those with the virus can suffer from verrucae or mosaic warts, which doctors sometimes refer to as plantar warts in the palms of the hands and feet.

The human papillomavirus (HPV)

Warts caused by viruses, also known as verruca pedis or plantar warts, are common skin ailments that can affect children and adults. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is accountable for plantar verrucae.

The virus is spread through sexual intercourse, skin-to-skin contact (including kissing), or specific sexual activity involving lubricant or close skin-to-skin contact. For instance, people may overlook skin warts, but they may see skin breakouts in the genital area and buttocks if they have skin lesions. These skin lesions are not usually warts, but the warts are the result of a viral infection with HPV. Most people will have only one or two skin warts, but some can have infected skin cells with the virus and in the surrounding skin cells.

How to Identify Verruca Warts?

The rash is typically about the size of a grain of rice and occurs as tiny, brown circular spots. The spots can be pressed and magnified, varying in colour and consistency. Warts vary in colour from tan to green to brown, and they can become more prominent as time goes by. Some of the spots are unnoticeable to the human eye.

How Do Verrucae Affect the Body?

Verruca warts usually start in the hands, feet, and genital areas. They may look like plane warts. However, they can grow to form a blister on the outer layer of the skin, leading to large and hard skin lesions. They tend to occur on the hands and feet, with warts commonly occurring on the feet, feet, and knees. Some people develop warts on the penis and vulva.

Who Is at Risk of Verruca Warts?

The most common people at risk for getting verruca warts are those young adults who have come into contact with HPV. People who have experienced oral sex or sexual intercourse with someone who has had warts in the affected area of the genitals are also at risk. People who regularly engage in vaginal sex or oral sex are also at risk of contracting the virus.

You might notice that verrucae will disappear on their own without any specific treatment because your body's immune system recognises its presence and responds to help us fight the virus.

How Is A Verruca Wart Diagnosed?

Verruca warts are often diagnosed by examining the wart with a microscope and then with a biopsy. A dermatologist can do this procedure. However, people should not wait to see a dermatologist to treat warts caused by verrucae. They can do it themselves. A doctor may need to diagnose the verrucae warts by taking a tissue sample from the broken skin lesion and dry skin, which will need to be examined under a microscope to determine the extent and the type of the verruca.

How Is A Verruca Wart Treated?

There is no cure for verrucae warts, but a doctor will treat verrucae with minor surgery or with the following medications depending on skin conditions: acyclovir (Zovirax), clindamycin, and Diflucan (Diflucan) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Some of these medications are over-the-counter treatments. Verruca warts do not respond to these medications if they are not severe, as the medications often have adverse effects on the skin.

You can also utilise the help of a pumice stone to thin down common warts or cutaneous warts. Other treatments include verruca needling and wearing a verruca sock to prevent the spreading of verrucae, especially in swimming pools.

You can also apply salicylic acid for verruca removal. However, you should be cautious when doing the salicylic acid treatment when treating warts since it may cause skin irritation when you apply salicylic acid to your face. Further treatment should be discussed with your doctor about preventing warts.

Talk to your health care provider about the best treatment for verruca warts and eliminating human papillomavirus. They can use liquid nitrogen in treating warts. They may even recommend you to a dermatologist for specialist treatments such as laser therapy.

Welzo offers several kinds of medications that can help you manage a verruca. See our information page here to learn more.