Genital Warts - Are They Bad

By Lesa Bolt

If you think you have a genital wart and acquired it from another wart you may have elsewhere on your body do not worry. Common warts are not the same as a genital wart and are caused by different types of HPV viruses which affect the skin.

Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus or HPV. This is true of all warts that they are caused by this virus. Over 100 types of HPV are known and almost 40 of these types can affect the genital region.

Most genital warts, however, are caused by two specific type of viruses. These types are called (low risk) because they have a low cancer causing potential. Some other HPV types are known to cause cancerous changes and these are usually caused in women.

Usually two third of people who have or acquire genital warts do so within three months of being with a partner that also has genital warts. These warts are acquired through the mucous surface are and minute abrasions on that skin area.

Young age and birth control are also responsible for increased genital warts. This is due to the use of birth control instead of a barrier protection and increased activity. This has been seen more widely in young girls as they are put on birth control earlier than previous generations and promiscuity is more widely practiced with multiple people and without the use of some type of barrier protection which could help to avoid the spread of genital warts.

One caution with genital warts and a reason why you may want to get treatment is their possibility to bleed.

These warts are usually not a concern but if they are located in an area that could cause them to get scraped and start to bleed it could pose a possible risk.

Warts each have their own blood supply, therefore, if one gets scraped and starts to bleed it can continue for a long time and be difficult to stop.

If you suspect you have a wart you should see your doctor to discuss treatment options and take necessary precautions to prevent trauma to the area, which could result in excessive bleeding.

You will want to be cautious with any partners because you do not want to spread the infection to others as you have received. Since they are infectious you want to avoid touching them. Never pick or squeeze a wart.

There is no single treatment that is effective in eliminating warts and keeping them from coming back. A wart may go away on its own in a small percentage of people. This usually takes a few months to happen.

Therapies doctors use include;

Cryotherapy-This is the process of freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen.

Laser treatment-This uses a laser to kill and remove the growth.

Electrodessication-This used electrical waves to remove the wart.

Genital warts need to be treated by a doctor and not a home remedy.

Get more information on warts at http://warts.learn-about-it.com

Lesa Bolt is a contributor to warts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lesa_Bolt

Warts - Causes, Symptoms, Information with Treatment

By Juliet Cohen

Warts are small harmless tumors of the skin caused by a virus called the human papillomavirus. The HPV virus causes a hard protein called keratin in the top layer of the skin (the epidermis) to grow too much, producing the rough, hard texture of a wart. Warts are usually harmless, but they can look unattractive. They often clear up by themselves, although treatment can help to get rid of them more quickly. Warts arent normally painful, although verrucas can sometimes hurt. Warts are very contagious. It is also possible to get warts from using towels or other objects that were used by a person who has warts. Warts on the genitals are very contagious and can be passed to another person during oral, vaginal or anal sex . It is important not to have unprotected sex if you or your partner has warts on the genital area. Warts can grow on the cervix (inside the vagina), and a woman may not know she has them. She may pass the infection to her sexual partner without knowing it. They typically disappear after a few months but can last for years and can reoccur. A few papilloma viruses are known to cause cervical cancer.

A wart is generally a small, rough tumor , typically on hands and feet, that can resemble a cauliflower or a solid blister. The technical name for a wart is verruca vulgaris. There are a wide variety of warts, which are named by their appearance or location. Warts can grow on all parts of your body. They can grow on your skin, on the inside of your mouth, on your genitals and on your rectal area. Contrary to popular belief, warts do not have "roots". They only grow in the top layer of skin, the epidermis. When they grow down, they displace the second layer of skin, the dermis. They do not grow into the dermis. The underside of a wart is actually smooth. There are several types of warts common warts (around nails on the fingers and toes), foot warts (also called plantar warts and located on the soles of the feet), flat warts (flatter and smoother than other warts, they grow in great numbers at any one time. Found on children's faces and the beards of men and legs of women-irritation from shaving could account for this). It is reasonable to have all warts treated since they can spread to other parts of the body and to other people.
Warts are treated either by using salicylic acid, cryotherapy (freezing), or electrodessication (burning).

Causes of Warts

Find common causes and risk factors of Warts :

• Warts are caused by direct contact with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Some types of HPV tend to cause warts on your hands, fingers or near your fingernails.
• By sharing towels, razors, or other personal items it can spread to others.
• Picking or scratching the wart may cause the virus to spread.
• HPV can enter the skin through cuts or scratches on the plantar area of the foot.

Signs and Symptoms of Warts

Sign and symptoms may include the following :

• Flesh-colored, white, pink or tan.
• Small, fleshy, grainy bumps.
• Rough to the touch.
• Treatment for Warts

Treatment may include:

• Laser treatments (e.g., CO2 laser cautery) can be used to treat warts.
• Duct tape occlusion therapy.
• Applied manually.

Cryotherapy involves freezing warts with a very cold solution, that destroys the virus.
Self-treatment for warts using an over-the-counter preparation is not recommended.
Juliet Cohen writes articles on diseases and conditions and skin disorders. She also writes articles on herbal home remedies