Verruca vulgaris, commonly known as the common wart, is a benign skin growth caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). These growths are made of abnormal squamous cells and can cause discomfort or embarrassment.
Understanding Verruca Vulgaris
Verruca vulgaris often appears as a small, elevated bump on the skin, typically ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 cm. Its texture is usually rough and can resemble cauliflower. Warts are often flesh-colored, but can also appear brown, gray, or black, sometimes displaying small black speckles from clotted blood vessels.
These growths frequently develop on areas prone to minor trauma, such as the hands, fingers, and around the nails. They are also common on the feet, face, neck, knees, and elbows. While generally painless, warts on weight-bearing areas like the soles of the feet can cause discomfort.
How Verruca Vulgaris Spreads
Verruca vulgaris is caused by specific, low-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV), such as types 1, 2, 4, and 57. The virus spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact or by touching contaminated surfaces. Communal areas like showers, swimming pools, and gyms are common sources, as the virus thrives in warm, moist environments.
The virus often enters the skin through small cuts or scrapes. Autoinoculation allows the virus to spread from an existing wart to other parts of the body. Factors like wet skin, repetitive micro-trauma, or nail biting can increase susceptibility. After exposure, warts may take two to six months, or even up to 20 months, to become visible.
Approaches to Treatment
Various methods exist to treat verruca vulgaris, from home-based options to professional medical procedures. Over-the-counter treatments often involve salicylic acid, which gradually dissolves wart tissue by peeling away skin layers. These preparations, available in concentrations between 15% and 40%, are applied daily for several weeks, often after soaking the wart.
For more stubborn warts, healthcare providers may recommend cryotherapy, which uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart, causing it to blister and fall off. This procedure is performed every two to three weeks until the wart resolves.
Other professional treatments include:
- Electrocautery, which burns off the wart using an electrical current.
- Surgical removal, where the wart is scraped or cut away.
- Laser therapy for persistent cases.
- Topical prescription medications like imiquimod, which stimulates the immune system to fight the virus.
- Cantharidin, which causes a blister to form beneath the wart, lifting it from the skin.
Reducing Your Risk
Preventing verruca vulgaris involves several practical steps to minimize exposure and spread. Avoid direct skin-to-skin contact with warts on others. Do not share personal items such as towels, socks, shoes, razors, or nail clippers, as these can harbor the virus.
Maintaining healthy skin by keeping it moisturized and promptly covering cuts or scrapes can help prevent the virus from entering. Refraining from nail biting or picking at cuticles also reduces infection opportunities. Wear flip-flops or shoes in communal wet areas like public showers, pools, and locker rooms to create a barrier against the virus. If a wart is present, covering it with a bandage or verruca sock can prevent its spread.