Contagious Warts | An In-Depth Exploration Into the Virus

Many people worry when they see flesh-colored bumps with a dimple in the center of their skin. These bumps may start small but quickly grow into a collection of growths. This condition is often caused by a common virus known as Water Warts. Although the nodes may not be painful or cause any irritation, their prominent presence is often a cause for concern.

These clear bubble nodes are a relatively common skin disease affecting any body part. It is caused by a virus related to the poxvirus family. Still, unlike smallpox, it does not cause serious harm to those it infects. There is no vaccine to prevent its infection, and the virus seems immune to the smallpox vaccine.

Contagious Warts affect the epidermal keratinocytes, the predominant cell type in the outermost layer of skin. Roughly 95 percent of skin cells within the epidermis consist of keratinocytes, making them highly vulnerable to the virus. Although this virus is relatively harmless, it can be a cause for concern due to its noticeable presence on the skin.

The Water warts virus was long considered a condition that affected only children, with up to 5% of children in America suffering from the virus. However, research has revealed that this virus can affect individuals of all ages. Although healthy adults can also contract the virus, those with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk. For instance, HIV-positive individuals are at a greater risk of contracting the virus and developing widespread lesions throughout their bodies. According to AETC National Resource Center, about 5% to 18% of HIV-infected individuals will eventually suffer from a contagious wart infection.

The virus spreads through skin-to-skin contact or objects contaminated by the virus. Sexual activity, contact sports, and casual touching are the most common transmission methods. The virus can also spread through contaminated objects such as towels, clothing, sponges, and shaving utensils. Additionally, it's possible to self-infect other parts of your body, known as self-inoculation.

Contagious Warts | The Physical Manifestation

Contagious warts can have slight variations in physical appearance from person to person, but the overall presentation is strikingly similar. It usually appears as multiple flesh-colored growths in small clusters. The lesions typically have a shiny, smooth surface that is firm and dome-shaped, with a small dimple in the center of each.

In individuals with a healthy immune system, the size of each growth is generally between 2 and 5 millimeters, which is relatively small. However, those with compromised immune systems often have larger lesions, greater than 1 centimeter in diameter, or feature collections of hundreds of smaller growths. These growths can appear anywhere on the body except for the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. The most common areas for development to occur are the head, face, neck, and genital region.

Water warts are a viral skin infection that is usually harmless but can be treated for cosmetic reasons. Although the virus does not negatively affect the body's health or functionality, it's essential to treat it to reduce the risk of transmission and shorten its duration. This is especially true if the lesions are in visible areas, such as the arms.

To determine the best course of treatment, your physician will confirm the disease through physical inspection and laboratory testing. Lesions are typically removed by cutting or freezing, and antiviral ointments and immune system-enhancing medications may also be used. While synthetic treatments are effective, natural remedies can be just as powerful.

One such natural treatment is our Naturasil Warts Treatment. This oil uses natural antiviral and antibacterial essential oils to eliminate lesions and kill the virus. Because the virus is non-threatening, many health and skin experts recommend using natural remedies to avoid introducing potentially harmful chemicals and ingredients to sensitive skin.