Facts about Warts

Like prescription treatments, over-the-counter treatments usually require multiple applications and are only necessary if the warts are problematic.

Warts are caused by viruses of the human papillomavirus family of viruses.

Some sexually transmitted HPVs may cause genital warts.

The viruses causing warts are classified as part of the group of DNA-based viruses known as human papillomaviruses (HPV).

Warts are not cancerous, but some HPV strains are linked to cancer formation (Skinner and Frey 2005).

About seven to ten percent of the population has a problem with warts, particularly among children, women, and young adults (Skinner and Frey 2005).

Many times warts do not need treatment, since many disappear spontaneously (67 percent over a period of two years), particularly in the case of flat warts (Skinner and Frey 2005).

Incense is sometimes used in Asian countries to burn warts.

Warts typically disappear after a few months but can last for years and can reoccur.

The viruses causing warts are classified as part of the group of DNA-based viruses known as human papillomaviruses (HPV).