They are unsightly, can be painful and are just downright annoying: warts. Caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which thrives in warm, moist weather conditions, warts are particularly prevalent during the summer months.
While they are often more common in children and teenagers, they can continue to be a problem into your adult years…and are generally at their worst during summer, as they tend to spread in wet environments such as pools and change rooms.
What types of warts are there?
Some of the most common warts include:
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- Common warts: These often have a rough surface and are greyish-yellow or brown. They can be found on the fingers, elbows, knees, or the face.
- Filiform warts: These are small, long, narrow growths with finger-like projections that often appear on eyelids, lips, face, or neck.
- Flat warts: These are small, smooth growths that tend to form in clusters on the face, back of the hands, or legs.
- Periungual warts: These appear as thickened skin around the nails and can cause painful splits in the skin.
- Plantar and palmar warts: These are warts on the soles of the feet (plantar) or the palms of the hands (palmar). Standing or walking exerts pressure and makes the warts hurt.
- Mosaic warts: When palmer or planter warts form in clusters, these warts are called mosaic warts.
To treat warts, it is recommended to go to your doctor to have them checked and removed. Alternatively, you could also go to your local pharmacist and ask about over-the-counter treatments such as Kroko WartFix. This flexible liquid application is applied directly to the wart and forms a waterproof covering over it. The liquid can be reapplied twice a day until the wart has cleared or falls off, which usually takes up to two weeks.
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