Okay y'all, important question: If I kiss a frog do I get a princess or do I get warts?
Asking for a friend.
This week's Viewer Question comes from Caitlin Willix-Payne who wants to know: How / Why
do warts form?
Chances are, you've heard people says "I love my friend, warts and all!"
A wart on the chin is the devil within!
Warts get a bad rap.
They're associated with frogs and witches and thought to be begat from having a mean
disposition, washing hands in water where eggs were boiled, slaughtering a frog, or
being a solitary young woman (victorian-speak for a lady who masturbates).
Regardless, warts have been viewed as an affliction throughout history, writings in ancient Greek,
Roman and Egyptian texts all make references to warts and their varying types; possible
causes and cures…
But early 19th century scientists were the first to explore their contagious nature,
and possible medical cures.
Warts are the second most common skin problem humans face.
Acne is number one.
Warts can occur anywhere on the skin, but commonly show up on hands, feet and faces;
and if you think about what's causing them, that's by design!
Warts are caused by the human papilloma virus -- that's right HPV.
HPV is usually the name given to the sexually transmitted infection; because they're the
same TYPE of virus, but you're not getting genital warts on your face, trust me.
The human papilloma virus has over 100 different strains, and only some of them cause warts
on the genitals; the strain can determine which warts you'll have, but since everyone's
immune system is different some people won't get warts at all; it's more common in kids
and old people.
There are six different wart types.
Common warts -- verruca vulgaris -- are roundish, firm, and might look like a cauliflower; they're
usually on fingers or knees.
Verrucas -- plantar warts -- are white, flat and form on the soles of the feet.
I had one of these, that was the day I learned doctors can "burn" things off you with dry
ice.
Ouch.
Filiform warts -- verruca filiformis -- are slender and show up on the neck, face, eyelids
and armpits.
Periungual -- show up under the fingernails or toenails and are shaped like the nail;
and Mosaic warts and Plane warts (verruca plana) will form in clusters that are either
flat or look like mosaic tiles on the face, hands, foot soles and legs,.
Normally warts will come and go; they're the result of the HPV virus trying to spread,
because it spreads by skin-to-skin contact.
Generally, you can't just "catch" warts casually, but it's possible.
Wet or scraped skin will increase the chances of spreading the virus; but you CAN get it
from touching someone's towel, exercise equipment, or walking barefoot where someone with the
virus has walked.
If you HAVE a wart, scratching, biting, shaving, or sucking on it can spread the virus around,
so don't do that.
Because it's a virus, there's no cure, so once you have it, you just… have it; but
let's not fearmonger here… it's mostly nothing.
Plus, though the virus isn't curable, the warts are.
Remedies are available at most pharmacies, but if you're feeling ambitious, you can use
dry ice or duct tape -- look online for how.
No joke, wrapping a wart in duct tape for six days and then pumicing will remove a wart.
It's weird, but it works.
In the end, the HPV virus that causes warts probably already exists inside of you.
6.2 million new HPV cases are reported every year according to the CDC, and by age 50 -- 80
percent of women will have it.
It's real common.
Vaccines exist to stop the dangerous strains; so go get that if you ARE worried and you'll
be all safe and stuff.