Many of us have had an irritating bump - or a cluster of them - on our hands, feet or even face. It may have been a wart. These common skin growths are caused by various strains of a particular virus that most people are exposed to at some point in their lives, experts said. If you get a wart, even though ones on those body areas are usually harmless and tend to go away eventually on their own, you may prefer to get rid of it sooner. That’s why we spoke to three dermatologists about different types of warts, how you get them and, most importantly, how you can treat them at home.
What are warts? Warts are caused by a virus known as the human papillomavirus, or HPV, and often appear as flat or raised bumps or clusters of bumps on the hands, feet or genitals but can occur elsewhere. Different types of warts are caused by different strains of HPV, said Adam Friedman, a professor and chair of dermatology at George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences. There are more than 240 strains of HPV and they can have a varied impact on your body depending on the type and location of the infection (not all of them cause warts). Click here to read the full article.
