$Unique_ID{BRK01505}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Where Do Common Warts Come From?}
$Subject{skin warts treatment subcutaneous tissue verruca papilloma virus
lesion wart flexible collodion solution salicylic acid lactic liquid nitrogen
electrocautery verrucas verrucose verrucous treatments viruses viral lesions
acids}
$Volume{L-20,A-20}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Where Do Common Warts Come From?


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QUESTION:  I have a question about an ordinary subject that I don't believe I
have ever seen addressed in your column.  It is about the common wart.  My kid
seems to get them by the bushel, and I don't know where they come from or what
to do about them.  Can you offer any words of wisdom to an anxious and worried
mother?

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ANSWER:  I understand your emotions, but I can tell you that by keeping your
cool, we can deal with the problem in many effective ways.  The common wart
(also known as "verruca") may be caused by any one of more than 35 types of
human papilloma virus, which may help you to understand how they seem to come
back time after time.  Warts of this nature are much more frequently seen in
older children and are uncommon in older people.  It would seem that there is
some type of action by our immune system at work which can clear up the
unattractive lesion without any specific care in many people, and then provide
them with a relative degree of immunity for the rest of their lives.  Almost
everyone has had a wart at one time or another, and many just disappear
spontaneously.  They may also be treated with a flexible collodion solution
containing salicylic acid and lactic acid.  If this is not successful, a
physician may use liquid nitrogen to freeze, or electrocautery to burn the
wart away, usually with little scarring.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.