Warts

Warts are the result of an infection of the skin with viruses (human papilloma viruses). After infection with the viruses that cause warts, there is increased cell growth on the infected area of the skin weeks or months later and this is then visible as a wart. Medically, warts are therefore also considered to be benign skin tumours (the Latin word tumor means swelling, growth or proliferation).  Skin warts are not dangerous as they only penetrate into the top layers of the skin. However, there are individual virus types that are suspected of being involved in the development of skin cancer or cancer in the genital region.