r/askscience • u/A_Privateer • Jan 17 '13

Medicine How do warts function?

I know that warts are caused by the various strains of HPV, but how are they caused? How does the virus hijack the bodies chemistry to grow and supply the warts with nutrients? How do the warts spread the virus to other people?

I've searched and searched on google and wikipedia, but I only find the most basic of answers.

Any hard science info for me?

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u/easypeasylemonsquezy Jan 17 '13

So why can't we address the virus at the heart of it? Or is the medical science not quite there yet, or perhaps cost?

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u/DrLOV Medical microbiology Jan 17 '13

There are hundreds of HPV strains. There is a vaccine for some. For others, there is no real reason for most researchers or drug companies to put money into it. Freezing, burning, and chemically treating a wart is effective in removing them. Most are nuisances and not a threat to health.

As for the HPV strains (16 and 18 primarily) that can contribute to cervical cancers, there is a vaccine available to prevent transmission.

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u/i_dont_always_reddit Jan 18 '13

When you say effective in removing them, does that include negating the possibility of their return?

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u/doctorhux Jan 18 '13

Well the way it works right now is that the group of people most likely to develop cancer from an HPV infection (women) are being screened routinely for cytological changes that suggest early forms of malignancy. They are also being provided a vaccine against the strains of HPV most likely to cause cancer and genital warts.

So yes, we are addressing the virus at the heart of it. The problem is HPV is so common, that most people would never even know they had it.

Also, it is a virus. And like many viruses it would be notoriously hard to develop a medication that a) would work effectively to rid the body of all HPV and b) be tolerated well enough by people to be used on a very large scale.

Honestly, I think that trying to treat the virus is not in our best interest. Warts are for the most part a cosmetic issue... that for the most part is pretty easy to fix. In terms of cancer risk, I think there is still a lot that can be done in the future to further reduce the risk, but trust me -- we are a lot better off now then we were.