Warts on the Body
Why Do They Occur? How Are They Treated?

Where Do Warts on the Body Appear?

Warts on the body are most commonly seen on the back of the hands, on the fingers, at the nail edges and in areas where the skin is damaged. The reason for this is that the virus can enter more easily through areas where the skin integrity is broken.

They can also be seen in areas such as the back of the hand, the elbow, the knee, the face and the neck. They are caused by different HPV types from genital warts, and most are not transmitted sexually.

Are Warts on the Body Contagious?

Yes. All warts are contagious. They can pass from one person to another through everyday contact routes such as shaking hands, sharing common items and sharing towels. They can also spread within the same person's own body (autoinoculation).

For this reason, pulling off, making bleed or cutting the warts with a razor increases the risk of spread.

Are Warts Dangerous?

Warts are benign lesions. However, in very rare cases, transformation into a slow-progressing cancer called verrucous carcinoma has been reported. This is quite rare, but in long-lasting, atypical-looking or rapidly growing lesions, a dermatological/gynaecological assessment is important.

How Is Wart Treatment on the Body Done?

Different methods can be used in the treatment of warts on the body. Treatment is planned according to the number, location and size of the wart.

In single and a limited number of warts, the wart can be destroyed with the laser by numbing only that area with local anaesthesia. In numerous and widespread warts, different anaesthesia options can be considered for the patient's comfort.

Wart Treatment with Laser

Laser treatment destroys the wart tissue by vaporizing it in a controlled way. Because it causes minimal damage to the surrounding healthy tissue, it is one of the preferred methods. The procedure usually takes a short time and one can return to normal life the same day.

As with all other wart treatments, there is a possibility of recurrence after laser too. When recurrence occurs, intervening early shortens the treatment process.

How Do We Prevent Warts from Recurring?

To reduce recurrences:

• The warts should not be pulled off or cut.
• Smoking should be avoided.
• The immune system should be kept strong.
• Follow-up examinations should not be missed.

Warts seen on the body are mostly benign; however, treating them at an early stage is recommended to prevent their spread and to reduce cosmetic problems.