Warts

Viruses that cause warts can be found all over the world. The rate of incidences is around 13%. Up to now, more than 100 different human papilloma viruses have been identified. Some of them result in warts on the skin, others result in warts on mucous membranes, e.g. in the mouth or genital region.

You can infect yourself both by direct body contact e,g. when shaking hands and indirectly via skin scales, e.g. by walking barefoot in swimming pools, saunas or sports halls. Mere contact with the viruses is normally not sufficient for an infection. Healthy skin usually offers natural protection against disease pathogens. Only if the skin barrier is damaged, e.g. through micro injuries, tears or swollen skin when sweating can the viruses penetrate the skin. They penetrate into the growth zone of the top layer of skin (epidermis) via wounds and affect the new growing cells. They modify the genetic information there and result in faster regrowth of the infected cells, leading to typical wart formation. However, it can take weeks, months or even years between infection and the formation of warts.

The warts often contain large quantities of newly produced viruses on their surface. If the skin is damaged, e.g. through scratching, the viruses can spread further. Children tend to nibble at their warts, for example. They often then develop warts in the mouth area as well.

The risk factors for warts are

• a weakened immune status (e.g. HIV patients or patients who are receiving drugs after an organ transplant that weaken the body's own defence mechanisms in order to prevent rejection of the transplant)
• Circulatory disorders (cold hands)
• Working in wet areas (water and sweat soften up the skin and damage the skin's natural barrier function).
• Skin diseases that are accompanied by a damaged skin barrier, e.g. neurodermatitis (atopic dermatitis).
• Butchers/slaughterhouse personnel can also infect themselves from slaughter animals,e.g. beef cattle.