Genital Warts: Information & Specialists in Genital Warts

Warts are small, benign skin growths. The spiny wart is a type of common wart, the most common kind of wart. Common warts also include

• plantar warts, which grow on the soles of the feet and cause pain,
• flat warts, also known as juvenile warts. They commonly affect children.

Spike warts are transmitted by the human papillomavirus (HPV).

Spiky warts appear as very hard, raised nodules. They are usually about the size of a pea. At first, spiky warts are skin-colored or reddish. Later, the wart begins to harden and usually turns grayish. The growth resembles a cauliflower.

Additional so-called “daughter warts” may form around the spiny wart.

This type of wart also includes the butcher’s wart. It frequently occurs on the hands of butchers. Due to frequent contact with raw meat, those affected become infected through smear infection, which leads to the development of these warts.

Spiny warts are most commonly found on the hands, such as on the fingers. They also frequently appear on the feet. In cases of immunodeficiency, spiny warts can appear in more unusual places and develop very suddenly.

A massive outbreak of spiny warts can be a sign of an immune deficiency. This should be evaluated by a dermatologist as soon as possible. 

Typically, the infection begins with a single plantar wart. It can take up to two years from the time of infection until the wart develops. The wart grows very slowly over weeks or months and does not cause pain.

However, over time, a spiny wart can spread across the entire hand or spread further through self-infection. For this reason, you should never scratch a wart—doing so can cause the pathogens to spread.

Spike warts can grow to an extreme size. This happens when several spike warts merge to form a cluster.

Calloused surface of a plantar wart © fpic | AdobeStock

Spike warts are transmitted through contact infection. Therefore, the risk of infection is very high. Spike warts are the most common type of wart, accounting for 70 percent of all cases.

Approximately 20 percent of 12-year-olds have a plantar wart. In adulthood, the rate drops to just 2 to 3 percent. However, these warts can occur in any age group.

People with weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to plantar warts. Transmission often occurs in places where many people walk barefoot, such as

• at the swimming pool,
• in saunas, or
• in hotel rooms.

Infected individuals may shed skin flakes contaminated with the virus in these settings. Without shoes or other protection, the HP viruses can come into contact with the skin of others.

HP viruses can also be transmitted through direct contact, such as shaking hands.

An experienced dermatologist can usually make a visual diagnosis. They recognize the plantar wart based on its characteristic appearance and location. 

If acetic acid is applied to the wart, it turns whitish in contrast to the surrounding skin. The doctor may also use this method. This approach can also help identify additional sites of infection with spiny warts.

In some cases, the doctor will take a tissue sample or a swab. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for further examination.

Treatment is not always necessary. Genital warts often disappear on their own after some time. Nevertheless, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist or pediatrician. For people over the age of 45, the doctor should confirm that the growth is indeed benign.

Some cases of plantar warts, however, are extremely persistent. Treatment may then take longer.

In this case, you must never try to cut off or scratch the wart. Doing so can release viruses, which in turn can cause further genital wart infections.

The following treatments are generally considered for plantar warts:

• Chemical removal using tinctures or wart patches
• Cryotherapy (freezing)
• Scraping with a wart spoon

Chemical removal or freezing is often possible as a self-treatment. The necessary products are available over the counter at pharmacies.

Chemical removal

Wart patches or wart tinctures contain active ingredients such as salicylic acid or lactic acid. These can be used to remove superficial warts layer by layer.

The patch or tincture is applied directly to the wart, where it takes effect for a period of time. A white layer forms on the surface of the wart. Remove this layer after a few hours, and repeat the treatment.

However, these treatments do not target the underlying viruses; they only address the skin growths caused by them. The treatment must therefore be repeated until the plantar wart has completely disappeared.

During treatment, be careful not to let the active ingredient come into contact with healthy skin. To protect the surrounding skin, you can apply an oily ointment around the wart. This ensures that the harsh treatment does not reach the skin.

Cryotherapy

Freezing with liquid nitrogen involves temperatures of nearly -200 °C. This causes tiny ice crystals to form in the skin cells, destroying them. After a few days, the dead wart falls off on its own. The HPV viruses also cannot survive these temperatures and are killed.

However, the treatment can be very painful.

Cryotherapy involves the use of either cold sprays or a cryoprobe. You can purchase cold sprays at a pharmacy. When using them, be sure to protect the surrounding skin and apply the spray only to the wart.

The doctor uses a precision cold probe.

Wart spoon

In some cases, the doctor scrapes out the wart with a sharp tool called a wart spoon. This may leave a scar.

It is not possible to completely avoid an HPV infection that leads to genital warts. However, you can follow certain guidelines to reduce your risk of infection.

• Do not walk barefoot in public facilities. Wear shower shoes
• Do not share your towel or clothing with other people
• Keep your skin healthy and moisturized. Dry skin has fine cracks through which pathogens can enter the body. Use moisturizers if you have dry skin.
• Support your immune system with a healthy diet and regular exercise. With a strong immune system, the body can successfully fight off invading pathogens on its own.

If you already have one or more plantar warts, you should prevent them from spreading.

• Use a separate towel to dry the affected area. This will prevent the pathogens from reaching other parts of your body. Wash your towels regularly at a temperature of at least 60 °C.
• Do not scratch the wart under any circumstances! Doing so could allow viruses to escape and multiply in the surrounding area.