Why is that some people are affected by warts and others not; and are all warts the same? Well warts are caused by a virus called Human Papilloma virus, more usually referred to as HPV. Normally, antibodies in the blood destroy HPV, but in some cases, it takes refuge in the skin and creates the wart. The virus can be spread from person to person depending on the individuals immune system, often at places like public changing rooms and showers, where the surfaces have been contaminated. These DNA viruses takes hold more readily when the skin has been damaged in some way. It's estimated that warts are a concern for somewhere between 7% and 10% of the population. About 25% of warts are gone in about 6 months without treatment, but most go away in 2 to 3 years.

There are dozens of differing types of warts often given a number to represent its category; for example common warts (verruca vulgaris) are often referred to as types 2, 4, and 7. These warts are dome shaped, firm and greyish-brown in colour, with a rough surface that may look like the head of a cauliflower, with black dots inside. The black dot is a capillary vessel that carries blood to the warts. You would normally expect to find these on either the hands/fingers, knees or elbows. Finger warts can cause a child excruciating pain especially when they grow under the nail. Children will pick at the finger warts until they bleed, thus causing the warts to spread and become inflamed. Facial warts are probably the one's that cause the most anxiety, simply by their location. Their existence can lead to deep depression, particularly in a youngster, subjected to constant teasing. Plantar warts are thickened and are seen on the under-surface of the feet (plantar is the medical term for the sole of the foot) and tend to grow into the skin, rather than coming outwards, as most other warts do. If left without treatment, they can grow to an inch or more in circumference and spread into clusters of several warts.

In the main, there are two common wart removal procedures which are undertaken. These being electrocautery (burning the wart away) and cryotherapy (killing the wart with frost). In electrocautery, a tool with a thin, needle-like, hot tip will be touched on to the wart. A scab will develop and then drop off by itself. Cryotherapy involves an extremely cold fluid such as liquid nitrogen will be applied to the wart. This causes in some cases, a mild stinging sensation and the area may turn white. A blister will form, which will break by itself in around a fortnight. Several home remedies have been successful, including: raw garlic, raw onion or fresh pineapple. There are other methods which are popular and have some credibility. Things like banana peel, radishes and bacon grease may seem a little far fetched, but none are likely to inflame the wart, so no harm can come of giving them a try.