Warts can be spread from one part of the body to another and this usually
happens through picking and scratching.

Although general warts are not spread very easily from person to person they
can be transmitted. It is important to know that genital warts are spread easily
from person to person, usually from direct or sexual contact. Where the wart
appears and what it looks like depends largely on the type of virus that the wart
stems from. There are several kinds of warts including:

Common Warts - There are the most frequently see and develop singly or group
in multiple warts together. There are firm to the touch and have a rough-textured
surface. They tend to be a slightly different colour than the surrounding skin,
such as yellowish, brownish or even gray in colour. This type of warts generally
appears on the fingers, around the nails, on the knees, toes, face or scalp.

Plantar Warts - These warts occur on the sole of the foot and tend to become
imbedded in the foot causing a pressure area that can be quite painful to walk
on.

Flat Warts - These are small, flat, flesh colour or brown smooth areas that
appear in groups usually on the face. They are most common in children and
young adults.

Filiform Warts - Most commonly occurring on the eyelids, face or neck, these
warts are usually long and soft, moving out in a finger-like appearance. They can
often be mistaken for something else, perhaps a rash.

Genital (or Venereal) Warts - Considered to be a sexually transmitted
disease, genital warts occur on the penis or the vulva. They can present as a
single wart or can spread into large cauliflower-like masses that can be painful.

Because warts are viral in nature, they can last from a few months to years for
some people. Most are not painful, but most are irritating and frustrating. It is
important to see a dermatologist and have the suspected wart diagnosed
properly before beginning treatment. This may save time and costly home
treatments that may be ineffective in treating the problem. OHIP has taken the
view that warts are a limited infection of the skin and treatment of many of these
is of cosmetic concern only. At the present time they will cover treatment of
warts concerning the bottom of the feet, in the genital area or in people who are
immunosuppressed, such as those with AIDS or HIV, or are taking medications
that suppress the immune system.
There are several different methods of treating warts. Some of these include:

Naturopathic or Folk Remedies - Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic agent
which is readily available in most health food stores. Continued use may result in
clearing of the warts. However it is possible to develop an allergy to the oil and
this can result in a blistering reaction at the site of treatment.

Topical Agents - Topical agents that contain salicylic acid, lactic acid or
trichloroacetic acid are readily available over the counter and go by such trade
names as Tiacid, Duoplant, Sol-U-Ver and Compound W. Depending on the size
and depth of the wart, continued use over the course of days or weeks may
result in clearing of the warts. The Dermatologist may use a stronger topical
agent called Cantharone that is used under medical supervision to treat the wart.
Another possibility may be to inject the wart with an antibiotic called Bleomycin,
which is also performed by the Dermatologist.

Liquid Nitrogen - This is sprayed on the wart and is a very cold sensation that
burns the wart by way of a frostbite reaction. The intent is to kill the wart and
cause it to fall off the skin. This can be painful and following treatment the
formation of a blister at the site is common. It can often take 2-4 treatments with
Liquid Nitrogen to clear common warts.

Laser Treatment - The more successful of wart treatments, there are two
different laser systems that can be used with most warts:

Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) emits a powerful beam of light into the wart. This results
in damage to the blood vessels that supply the warts, heat damage to the wart
and hopefully stimulation of the immune system that is battling the wart virus.
Pulsed Dye Laser is very successful in treating warts that occur on the fingers,
toes, feet and other areas of the body or face. Immediately after the treatment,
bruising at the site is common and expected. This generally fades in 5-10 days.
Multiple treatments are required and are spanned 3-4 weeks apart.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) laser is useful for single planter warts. It is also used for
persistent warts on the fingers. This laser allows well-controlled, surgical
destruction of the wart and is performed only by the Dermatologist. There is a
wound at the site that will require daily dressing changes for 10-14 days and
approximately 8-12 weeks to heal well and form a scar. Because it is similar to a
surgical procedure, steps to reduce the chance of infection must be taken.
These include proper cleansing, antibiotic cream and post-operative follow-up
with the Dermatologist. Any pain following the procedure is generally well
controlled with Tylenol or a similar over the counter analgesic. It is possible that
PDL treatments following this procedure may be necessary to optimize the
chance of eradicating the warts.

As warts are a viral infection of the skin, time is often needed for the virus to run
its course. Unfortunately, NO GUARANTEE can be given for complete,
successful eradication of warts. The response rate for all treatments is
approximately 80%. As a note, some treatments, including laser treatments are
generally not performed on genital warts.










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