Types of Warts

There is nothing funny about warts starting to grow on your skin. Warts generally appear as tiny bumps upon thickened skin layer which cause consciousness and worry among most people who have it. For a more detailed description, warts are benign growths and thickening of the layer of the skin and surfaces of mucous membrane. These growths have a rough surface and typically have black dots on its surface. Warts (or scientifically known as verruca or condylomata) are caused by the human papilloma virus – this virus has a lot of variety, which explains why there exist different types of warts.

There are over 50 varieties of human papilloma viruses, and each causes a unique type of wart and has a specific location on where it manifests. These are all depending on the type of virus’ mechanism of attack. Here are some of the most common types of warts:

The common wart or Verruca Vulgaris. This type of wart is the most usual type of wart found mostly in children. They usually appear as bumps of thickened skin called plaques or papules. Its surface is rough and commonly appears to have tiny black dots on top – this is due to the clotted blood in the blood vessels. This type commonly appears on areas of great exposure such as knees, hands and elbows.

Flat warts. Unlike other warts, flat warts appear flat and smoother. They usually appear with brownish color and sometimes blend with the skin tone. It is usually seen on the face of women. This is acquired by having the face in direct contact with an article contaminated by the virus.

Plantar warts. This is also a very common type of wart that appears on the surface of the feet. The skin usually appears to be thickened, which can frequently be mistaken as calluses or corns. However, these warts can be distinguished simply by looking at them closely. Plantar warts usually have a rough top with tiny black spots while corns and calluses are smooth. They can be acquired by coming into contact with moist ground surfaces with viral contamination. This is usually obtained from walking barefoot in communal showers, pools and grassy areas.

Genital warts. This type of wart usually affects people which are sexually active. They have various appearances which range from being skin colored papules to larger and more rampant growths. They are sometimes pigmented, depending on the type of virus that is present. This is also considered as a sexually-transmitted disease, because it is usually passed on via sexual contact. Recent studies show that the chance of having cervical cancer increases when exposed to this type of wart.