Warts are common skin growths caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. These viral infections alter skin cells, forming characteristic raised or flat bumps. A common question is whether hair can grow from these lesions. Understanding the distinct biological processes of wart formation and hair growth clarifies how they might appear together on the skin.
How Warts and Hair Interact
A wart is a benign skin growth initiated when human papillomavirus infects epithelial cells in the basal layer of the epidermis. This viral activity triggers increased cell proliferation, causing the skin to thicken and harden. The wart is composed entirely of these virally altered epidermal cells, forming a distinct lesion.
In contrast, hair growth originates from hair follicles, structures located deeper within the skin in the dermal layer, beneath the epidermis. Each hair follicle produces a single strand of hair and regulates its growth cycle.
Warts develop solely within the epidermal layer and do not contain hair follicles, so a wart cannot inherently grow hair. If a hair appears to emerge from a wart, it is because the wart formed on an area where an existing hair follicle was already present. The wart simply surrounds the hair shaft as it grows through the thickened skin of the lesion. This means the hair is growing through the wart, not from it.
Addressing Warts with Hair
Hair in or around a wart introduces specific considerations for its management and removal. Common wart removal methods, such as cryotherapy, salicylic acid applications, or surgical excision, target the wart tissue. These treatments aim to destroy or remove the virally infected epidermal cells.
When a wart is situated around a hair, care must be taken to treat it effectively without damaging the surrounding hair follicles or irritating the area. Temporary hair removal methods like shaving or waxing can create micro-abrasions on the skin. These small injuries can potentially spread the HPV virus to adjacent healthy skin.
It is advisable to consult a healthcare professional for diagnosis and safe removal, especially if a wart is in a hairy area. Plucking hair directly from a wart or aggressive self-treatment might cause irritation, bleeding, or spread the virus. A medical professional can assess the wart and recommend the safest removal method, considering the presence of hair.