What Causes Common Skin Warts?
Blame common viruses that exist nearly everywhere.
Why do some people get a lot of warts and others don’t?
Since everyone encounters the viruses that cause warts, why do some people get skin warts while others do not? Doctors aren’t sure, but they believe that certain individuals have immune systems that are more able to fight off the viruses and prevent warts from growing.
For example, children get skin warts much more often than adults. This is probably because their immune systems have not yet built a strong defense against the numerous strains of human papillomavirus that they will encounter over their lifetimes.
Also, just as some people are more likely to get poison ivy, the genetic makeups and immune systems of certain individuals make them more susceptible to the viruses that cause skin warts.
It is also common to see warts on multiple siblings in the same family. And children of people who had skin warts as children are often quite susceptible to skin warts themselves, Brodell tells WebMD.
Still, experts have yet to determine exactly what is different in the immune systems of people who get skin warts frequently.
Is it possible to prevent skin warts?
If you are someone who frequently gets common skin warts, it is important to focus on prevention and treat your skin warts promptly when they do appear.
The first way to prevent skin warts is to avoid coming into contact with the virus:
- Be sure you wash your hands thoroughly and regularly.
- If you work out at a gym, make sure that you clean equipment before use with a clean towel.
- Protect yourself in the gym locker room and shower by wearing rubber flip-flops or sandals.
The second way to prevent skin warts is to keep your skin as cut- and nick-free as possible.
“Try to keep skin healthy and moisturized to avoid having open cuts or fissures in the skin, which would provide a portal for the virus to get into the skin,” says Sandra Johnson, MD, a dermatologist in Fort Smith, Ark.
If you suffer from skin warts on your fingers and you’re prone to biting your fingernails or pulling on hangnails, it’s in your best interest to quit the habit. Also, when shaving, be sure to use a sharp razor that won’t tear or cut your skin.