![]() ![]() When a wart begins to grow, HPV stimulates the skin to attract and grow its own blood supply and nerves, which makes the wart very hearty and less likely to go away on its own. This occurs only if the shed skin enters a crack, scrape or other opening of someone who has not developed immunity to HPV. If someone touches the shed skin - whether directly through skin-to-skin contact or indirectly, for example, on the floor of a swimming pool or a carpet, then the virus could spread. When it does, that skin carries the virus with it. The skin on a wart will shed over time, just as normal skin sheds. When the virus does take hold, it grows a lump of thickened skin, which is the wart. As a result, warts are widespread in children and young adults because their bodies haven’t had enough time to become immune to this common virus. But it takes a long time for that to happen. Their bodies are no longer affected by the virus, and it can’t take hold and grow. Over time, people develop immunity to most types of HPV that cause common warts. Most forms, however, are spread by casual contact or through shared objects, such as towels or washcloths. Some strains of HPV are acquired through sexual contact. The virus is quite common and has more than 100 types, which is why there also are so many types of warts. Warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). ![]() Children are more susceptible, however, because their bodies may not have built up immunity to the virus. Because of this, it’s unlikely that an adult would develop warts as a result of contact with a person who has a wart. Fortunately, most adults have developed immunity to the viruses that cause warts. DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Can an untreated wart on my hand spread to another person? Is treatment for it necessary if it’s small and doesn’t bother me?ĪNSWER: If left untreated, it is possible for warts to spread and for the virus that causes warts to be passed to another person. ![]()
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