Types of Warts
Warts are fairly common nowadays and you will find them in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Warts appear as skin lesions which are raised above the surface of the skin and differ in color to the surrounding skin. The appearance of warts is a sign of the human papilloma virus (HPV) and can also be associated with several forms of STD. Even though the appearance of the warts can be very similar, there are certain indications you can look out for which will help y ou distinguish the specific cause of the warts.
Low Risk – The HPV virus works through infecting the skin cells and mucosa which can cause the cells to grow and change in different ways. Through accelerated growth, the result is warts on the skin indicating a visible sign of the HPV virus. According to research, an average of 75% of men and women who are sexually active will suffer with some form of the HPV virus at some stage in their lives. In certain cases, the HPV virus can transform into forms of cancer and it is important to make sure you are careful about getting regular check-ups and keep up careful with all sexual partners.
High Risk – The main high risk types of HPV are 16 and 18. It is very difficult to differentiate between the high and low risk HPV as the warts are almost identical in appearance. The warts are also generally located deep inside the vaginal canal and are unable to be detected, even during a routine exam. The only way in which you can differentiate properly between the two types is through a PAP smear. This involves taking a scraping of the cells on then further medical procedures can be taken to help with the cervix and analysing their DNA. If there is any sign of high risk HPV being present condition.
Syphilis – This is a slightly different condition, although it presents in the same area of the body. This is a bacterial infection which appears on the skin as an ulcer and, if left untreated, can increase in severity and you can develop further symptoms. One of the types of symptom you can get from syphilis in the more advanced stages is a wart called ‘condyloma latum’. This has a flat appearance which differs from the general round headed shape of the HPV warts.
Molluscum Contagiosum – This condition, again, is a viral infection which presents with rounded warts, similar to HPV warts though much smaller in size. These type of wart also have a more unique aspect of being belly button like in appearance or umbilicated. This virus remains hidden from the immune system by locating itself in a protective fatty capsule in the middle of the wart. This allows for it to attack the system for longer before being detected. This disease is not only transmitted through sexual contact, it can also be passed on through normal skin to skin contact and be found on children. The disease will clear up on its own after a few months.
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