HPV: The Wart Virus

HPV is mercifully short for the human papiloma virus, which is the virus that causes all of the warts that people get. There are over 100 different strains of the wart virus, which differ in telling the body where to grow warts and if the warts should be smooth or bumpy. This is a contagious virus, but usually not a life-threatening virus. HPV is more annoying than anything else.

How To Catch HPV

The wart virus is the second most common compliant that dermatologists get (acne being number one), so that shows you just how contagious HPV is. It enters the body through any cut, scrape or scratch on the skin. This is like leaving doors open to your body, which is why you need to keep even minor wounds as clean as you can.

The wart virus likes to hang around warm, moist areas like locker rooms, swimming pools, and any food that people like to share. It's nearly impossible to avoid being exposed to the wart virus throughout your entire life. Don't let yourself be so paranoid about catching the wart virus that you never leave the house.

Anyway, someone that already had the wart virus walks around the locker room, swimming pool or shares food with you. Since you have an opening in your skin, that's how the wart virus enters your body. In a short time, you will most likely get a wart. The big question is where the wart is going to pop up.

When To See The Doctor

If your warts pop up on your genitals, rectum, eyelids, palms of the hands or soles of the feet, you need to see a doctor or dermatologist to get rid of them safely. Over the counter wart medications usually do not work well on warts on these very sensitive areas of the body.

If you get warts anywhere else, then chances are that over the counter wart medication will help you get rid of them, as long as you follow the directions carefully. Many people just ignore their warts and, after a few months, they go away all by themselves. But if your warts get painful, grow thicker or suddenly there's a lot more of them, go see your doctor. Many warts have a mild itch, but they shouldn't be painful.

The doctor or dermatologist will have several remedies available to treat the warts, but there isn't any cure for the wart virus. However, the body usually is able to keep the wart virus at bay when it is reasonably healthy. Getting a sudden crop of warts could be a sign of an immunodeficiency problem, which needs prompt medical attention.