What Causes Warts?

Doctor and patient Photo by Ali Yahya on Unsplash

A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Robert S. Baraczek has a doctor of pharmacy degree and works in the cosmetic skin care sector as a self-employed research and development consultant. Over the years, Robert S. Baraczek has been involved in the development of products for a range of dermatological conditions, including warts.

A benign skin growth, warts are small and often develop on the hands and fingers. They are usually caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a very common virus with over 150 types. Most of these types spread very easily through shared objects, such as wash cloths or casual skin contact. The specific strains responsible for causing warts are generally contracted when cut or damaged skin comes into contact with the virus. For this reason, people who bite their fingernails or cut their legs or face a lot when shaving are more prone to warts in those areas of the body.

Contracting wart-causing HPV strains does not automatically mean a person will develop warts, since each individual’s immune system responds to the virus differently. Typically, people who have weakened immune systems have a higher chance of developing warts. This is why young adults and children most commonly have warts—their bodies have not developed immunity to the virus due to their younger age. People with HIV/AIDS, who have had an organ transplant, or who have an immune system that is weakened are also more likely to develop warts.