Warts are like most insects: they may be unsightly, but they are harmless. But with some of them you have to be careful, especially if they appear in the genitals or anal area, because they can present symptoms of cancer in those parts of the body.

Warts are skin infections caused by the human papillomavirus. The most common, the vulgaris, are cauliflower-shaped with a 'cockscomb' surface, slightly greyish-brown, pinkish, or skin-tone in color, appearing on the hands or face, but also on the knees. , scalp or feet.

In these latter cases, plantar warts can hurt because they grow inside the sole of the foot, and they appear more frequently among people who usually walk barefoot. There are also the filiform ones, which are thin and can be attached to the skin by a thin pedicle, which are usually located on the eyelids. Children are the most likely to generate them. As for the anal and genital warts, also known as warts, they are located on the penis or vulva, as well as in the pubic, perianal, and between the legs areas.

True and false warts

Many times people talk about warts but they don't have a viral origin. “These are really fibroids or skin tags, which usually appear on the neck and armpits due to rubbing against clothing or objects,” says Dr. Paloma Borregón, a dermatologist at the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV). “Those people who tend to wear tight shirts or chains are usually more prone to having them,” he adds.

Caution, contagion in sight

Being a virus, warts are contagious. It can be "by direct contact, skin to skin, or by indirect contact through objects," says Dr. Borregón. Contrary to popular belief, towels –unless they are wet- are not an effective transmission vehicle. Contagions are more likely in humid areas such as changing rooms, pool edges or bathtubs, describes this expert.

Healthy skin shouldn't catch it. In any case, the transmission occurs when there are small or large wounds on the skin, or in people who suffer from atopic dermatitis. "You have to think that these wounds or skin changes are a gateway for the virus," says Borregón.

Even a person can self-infect by handling warts, scratching them and then touching other areas of the body, which causes these wounds to increase in size and number. In the case of the genitals, its contagion occurs through sexual intercourse, be it oral, vaginal or anal.

Let them go away on their own

30% of warts disappear on their own in six months, and another 40% can last up to two years. But for aesthetic reasons, or because it can be an indicator of a disease if it appears on the genitals, many people may be tempted to take the law into their own hands and try to take it off. That would be a serious mistake.

For this reason, it is best to avoid those 'grandmother's recipes', such as applying onion to the wart. Much less try the foolishness of removing it with a thread or another homemade product, since it can become infected very easily. In fact, "there is no specific treatment for the human papillomavirus, which causes warts," warns Dr. Lourdes Navarro, a member of the AEDV.

How to remove them

Therefore, in all cases, especially with the appearance of bumps in the anal or genital areas, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist. Both warts and fibroids can be removed with cryotherapy, and in the case of the latter, it is the professional who can cut them and promote coagulation, to avoid infections.

Since they are generated by a virus, the doctor has to eliminate all viral traces of the warts, "because otherwise they will reappear," warns Dr. Borregón. When treating them, the dermatologist may recommend the use of keratolytic agents, such as salicylic, lactic or formic acids, which are applied to the skin until the wart disappears. "There are also preparations with immunomodulatory substances, designed to improve local defenses, especially in genital warts," says Navarro.

Other methods include the use of liquid nitrogen, which produces a frostbite burn, or coagulation with an electric scalpel or laser, which removes this lump by heat.

How to avoid their appearance

While some people may have a certain propensity to develop warts, some precautionary measures can be taken to avoid their appearance. For example, it is suggested not to walk barefoot in public facilities, such as swimming pools, showers or saunas. The use of footwear such as flip flops is the safest.

You have to take care of the hygiene of the feet, with the use of clean socks every day, and with an intense washing between the toes and on the soles. Do not touch other people's warts, and in that case, then you have to wash your hands intensively.

Anyone who has a wart could cover it with a bandage to reduce the risk of contagion and to avoid the temptation of picking at it. If it appears on the foot, it can be protected with a padded dressing, which reduces pressure on the wound. And in the case of vaginal infections, contagion is reduced if condoms are used during sexual intercourse.