Warts: The Story of Your Skin & Immune System

In this episode of the Aging Mask- A Lifestyle Medicine Podcast, we talk about warts. Yes, warts. 

 Why? because they are the ugliest, and the most fascinating thing that can appear on the human body.

Warts are ALSO one of the most common skin conditions in the world, and it’s crazy because most of us know very little about them. We do know they are ugly, and bumpy. We assume they are dirty, but they are not. And the vast majority of warts are harmless, they are removed almost always for discomfort reasons and  cosmetic reasons.

We will talk about what warts are, what causes them, how they spread, and why and how your immune system & skin play such an important role.

I will talk about the three (3) most common types of warts:

*the common wart

*the Plantar wart

* and  the genital wart 

I will also share some surprising myths and myth bust along the way.

You will learn why warts don't have roots, what those tiny black dots really are, why exposure doesn't always lead to infection, and how supporting your immune system and protecting your skin can help your body do what it does best... fight this virus.

Some people are more prone to warts due to immune system differences, that’s why one person in a household gets warts and another doesn’t despite similar exposure. This is  why two people can walk barefoot  across the same pool deck, one develops a wart, and one doesn’t.

This does serve as a reminder that our bodies are so incredibly individual and different. We all share the same world, the same viruses and many of the same exposures, but our immune systems don’t all respond the same way.

With that being said…

While we can’t control our age or genetics, we can support one of the most important players in the wart story, and that is our immune system.

Healthy habits wont prevent every wart, but getting enough sleep, eating nourishing  foods, moving your body regularly, managing your stress, and taking care of your overall health all support your immune system...the very system responsible for recognizing and clearing HPV.

This podcast on warts is a reminder that even something small as a wart tells a much bigger story about the crazy partnership between your skin, your immune system and your body’s ability to heal.

Enjoy!

Joanne Demers

The Aging Mask- A Lifestyle Medicine Podcast

(949)236-1529

Follow along on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/theagingmask

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hi, welcome to the Aging Mass Podcast, a lifestyle medicine podcast where together we explore lifestyle, wellness, and our everyday choices that shape the way we age. I am Joanne Demurs, your weekly wellness companion. Thank you for pressing play today. I appreciate the listen. And I know you're going to enjoy today's episode because we are talking about warts. W-A-R-T-S. Yes, warts. Why warts? Because they are the ugliest and yet the most fascinating thing, I believe, that appear on the human body. And they are also one of the most common skin conditions in the world. And it's crazy because most of us know very little about them. We know they're ugly, we know they're bumpy. We do assume they are dirty, but they are not dirty. Wartz are not dirty. And the vast majority of warts are harmless and are removed almost always for discomfort reasons and cosmetic reasons. I don't know. Warts have been one of the skin conditions that I have been really fascinated by. She was probably 10 years older than me at the time. But believe it or not, it hurt for like a day. There was no scar. To this day, there's no scar and it's never come back, knock on wood. And then my son had one when he was younger. He got one on the sole of his foot. And then just about two weeks ago, my son called me and told me that he had a wart on his finger, which I got to teach him about warts, which was really fun. I get really curious about health things, those things that some of us get and some of us don't. Warts are one of those things. Some of us will get them and some of us won't get them. And warts are selective. They are common, they are harmless most of the time, and they are surrounded by more myths than almost any other skin condition that we humans can get. They're fascinating. A wort is a small growth on your skin that is caused by a virus. Did you know that warts are caused by a virus? They're caused by the human papillomavirus, aka HPV, which you may have heard of because now I believe they have a vaccine against the HPV. I could be wrong, don't quote me on that. And there are over 200 different types of HPV. And while not all of them cause visible warts, some of them do, some of the HPV cause the common wart, some cause the plantar wart, and others cause genital warts. And today I'm only going to focus on those three: the common wart, the plantar wart, and the genital warts, because they are the ones that we are most likely to encounter. And they are the most common types of wart that affect people. Now, exposure is common, infection is less common, and developing a visible wart is even less common. Okay, exposure is common, infection is less common, and developing a visible wart is even less common. The virus enters the outer layer of your skin through tiny breaks in the skin. And sometimes those little breaks are so small that you don't even know that they're there. And what happens is it gets in there through the cracks and infects your skin cells. And once inside, the virus doesn't travel through your body, it stays in the outer layer of your skin and gives those skin cells different instructions. So instead of growing at their normal pace, the skin cells begin multiplying faster than they should. Excuse me. Now imagine, picture this. One little skin cell suddenly starts making copies of itself, and those copies stack on top of one another until they form that rough, ugly bump we call a wart. Your wart is your own skin, it just grows differently because of the virus. Pretty neat, huh? Let's start with the common wort. The common wart, which I had, usually appears on your fingers, your hands, and around the fingernail. And they are rough to the touch, they're raised and they're hard. They kind of can look like a little cauliflower. And sometimes they have little tiny black dots that look like seeds, and they're creepy, but they're not seeds. Those little black dots are not seeds, they are tiny blood vessels called capillaries, and as the wart grows, it recruits these small blood vessels to bring it oxygen and nutrients. And when those vessels become damaged or they clot, they turn black, creating those tiny knot seeds that you see. And if you've ever had a wart shaved, if you've ever shaved one accidentally, thinking it was a callus, or you've filed it down and noticed tiny little pinpoint bleeding, that's because you've exposed those little capillaries. And this, these little capillaries, they help doctors and you distinguish between a wart and a callus. A callus doesn't have the seeds or the bleeding when you file it or shave it down. So that's how you tell the difference. A callus doesn't have the seeds, a wart has the seeds when you file it down. Anyway, common warts spread through direct contact with the virus. And this can happen by touching someone else's wart, sharing personal care items like nail clippers, files, razors, or just touching surfaces where the virus has been left behind. And again, the virus usually needs that tiny opening in the skin to get inside. Like it needs the hangnail, a paper cut, dryer cracked skin, can even get in there. And you can even have microscopic breaks in your skin that you can't see. And in case you're wondering, yes, it is possible to pick up the virus that causes common warts during a manicure at a salon if the tools are not properly sterilized, and if the virus gets into any tiny break in your skin around your nails. And that's just another reason to choose nail salons that follow good hygiene practices and maybe consider not having your cuticle cut, your cuticles cut if they're already irritated. Like if you are a biter or a chewer of your cuticles and your nails, yeah, don't go to a nail salon if you have bad irritated cuticles. And as far as removal goes for the common warts, this is usually harmless. And many eventually, by the way, will disappear without treatment, although it can take months or even years to leave your skin. But if you get one and it bothers you or it spreads or it catches on things, treatments like silicic acid freezing or burning them off can be effective. Yeah, I'm not gonna say don't burn them, just obviously be careful. Okay, but that salicylic acid is um very popular in freezing them off too. But uh yeah, now planter warts, these are cool. Planter warts develop on the soles of your feet, and these are thick and they're firm and they're hard, and unlike common warts, they don't stick out as much because your body weight when you walk constantly pushes them back inside your heel, making it feel like you're walking on pebbles. That's what people say that get them. It feels like you're walking on a rock, and these can be painful. I actually remember being shocked when I learned that planter warts do not have roots, just like the common wart doesn't have seeds. I thought plantar warts had roots because I'm gonna tell you this story. My son had a planter wart on his foot when he was like 11, and I swear it had a root, but no roots. It's called a core, and what I thought was a root is actually the wart's central core of affected skin, and because you are walking on it every day, it gets pushed deeper into the skin on the bottom of your foot, so it's kind of going inwards. But what I wanted to share with you here is my son got this wart, and this is when I was going to skincare class umpteen years ago, but I heard that duct tape removes planter warts. So I'm like, cool, you don't need to go to the doctor, I'm going to handle it. So I put duct tape every night, so I put it on his foot, and then every night after his shower, I would replace the duct tape. I would take it off before the shower, then replace it, and for like two weeks, it was excitement every time we pulled that duct tape off at night because it was coming further and further out. The duct tape was sucking the planter wart out of the heel of his foot. And then I want to say it was like it was kind of a longer process, but it was the coolest process. It looked like a root came out at the end, it just the whole head, everything just lifted up off the duct tape. It was cool. But with that being said, the wart itself never grows below the outer layer of your skin. And here I thought that it was like way deep in his foot, but it's not, it just grows on the outer layer of your skin, the epidermis. It doesn't go fart, and the wart doesn't send roots down into your muscle or your tendons or your bone, which I also thought. Um, this is why you can get a wart removed without digging a huge hole in your foot. And when my son's planter wart finally came out, there was no hole, it was just foot. Ah, it was so fun. So if you guys have kids or you get a planter wart, just try the duct tape. It's a great science project. Planter warts, the ones on your feet, are spread the same way as the common warts through the HPV, entering tiny breaks in your skin. You can get them from walking around barefoot around public pools, in locker rooms, communal showers may increase your exposure. Although, even if you come in contact with the virus, you're not guaranteed to develop a wart. Your friend could, but you may not. And one of the simplest and easy ways to support your skin's natural defenses is to take care of your feet. And I'm not gonna say that the virus is attracted to dry, cracked heels, but cracks in the skin provide easier access. So if your heels are dry and cracked, consider using one of those puma stones to gently remove that thick, dead skin and moisturize regularly because healthy, intact skin is one of your body's best barriers against planter warts. I'm not gonna say all, but a majority of heels are dry and cracked. My sons were disgusting. Sorry. He was a kid. I didn't, yeah. Anywho, planner warts aren't dangerous, but because again, they're on the bottom of your foot, you will want to get them removed. Again, salicyc acid, freezing, or the duct tape. Yes, duct tape, the silver duct tape. It works. They it works. I don't know how, but it works. Now we have the genital warts, and this is the third time, or excuse me, the third type that I wanted to mention. These are really different from the common implantar warts. Genital warts, they're also caused by the HPV, but by different strains of the virus. And unlike the rough, hard warts of the common implantar, uh, genital warts are usually soft, flush-colored, or maybe a little pink. They may they may be flat, they may be raised, and sometimes they appear one at a time or in clusters, and they grow obviously in your genital and anal area. And both men and women can develop genital warts and they spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, and again, not because someone is dirty or has poor hygiene. In fact, HPV is one of the most common viruses in the world, and from what I understand, a lot of sexually active adults are exposed to it at some point in their lives, exposed to it. And an interesting difference between genital warts and the common or plantar wart is how the virus enters the body, and the tissues in the genital area are so much more delicate, so the virus can spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact without having any noticeable cuts or breaks in your skin. Now, you can protect yourself, but there's no method method that is perfect. I can't talk today. There is no method that is perfect. A condom helps, but please note that the virus can live on the skin that isn't covered by the condom. I know. Now, if you notice any new growth in your genital area, it is important to see your health care provider as soon as possible because supposedly several skin conditions can look similar. So proper diagnosis is very important. And removable removal for genital warts is obviously very different. They too are usually not life-threatening. I say usually not, but always have them looked at because these are usually treated with prescription medication or procedures done in a doctor's office. So treat those warts very differently than the common and the plantar warts. Are warts contagious? Yes. All three types that I have talked about today are contagious, and they are contagious because they are caused by a virus. But here's the thing: exposure alone isn't really enough. The virus has to reach the right type of skin, and your body has to allow it to establish itself. For a common or planter wort to develop, two things usually have to happen. First, you have to be exposed to the virus, and second, the virus usually needs that small opening in your skin, like the tiny cut, scrape, a hangnail, or cracked skin to get in. Even then, even if these things, these two things happen, your immune system may recognize the virus and destroy it before a wart ever forms. And this is why two people can be exposed to the exact same virus and one develops a wart while the one other one never does. And back to my son with his planter wart on his foot. He thought it was so funny, so funny to touch and rub his wart foot on the other kids. And it was so gross, but I knew they wouldn't catch the virus like that. Thankfully, it doesn't work that easily. Yes, the virus can spread through direct contact, but simply touching someone usually isn't enough. The virus still has to find that right type of skin, and then it has to get past the person's immune system. So it's not like your kids are gonna catch it from touching it or getting rubbed on with it. Because they will do that. Now, this brings me back to why do some people get them and some don't. Nobody really knows, and scientists don't think it's because some of us are wart people, they just don't know. The only thing that they do know is that age and the health of your skin and your immune system and genetics all play a role, and it usually comes down to a combination of factors. Is your skin the that's the factor number one? Your skin is the first line of defense, healthy skin is a strong barrier against these viruses. And the second one is your immune system. For reasons that are not understood, some immune systems recognize HPV and kill it off before a wart develops. Okay, so those are the combination of factors that play a role in if you get or don't get a wart. And kids tend to get warts more often because their immune systems are still learning to recognize the Those many viruses. Stress, poor sleep, certain illnesses or medication that suppress the immune system can also make it harder for their body to clear HPV. So, and exposure, like I said, really isn't a deciding factor. The difference is whether the virus finds that opening in your skin and whether your immune system recognizes it. And some people are more prone to warts due to their immune system differences. And that's why one person in a household gets a wart and the other doesn't, despite similar exposure. It's why two people can walk barefoot across the same pool deck and one develops a wart and one doesn't. It's weird, huh? And this this stir, this wart episode, it serves as a reminder that our bodies are so incredibly individual and different. We all share the same world, the same viruses, and many of the same exposures, but our immune systems don't all respond the same way. It's our immune systems. They don't respond the same way. Now, with that being said, while we can't control our age or genetics, we can support one of the most important players in the wart story, and that is our immune system. Healthy habits won't prevent every wart, but getting enough sleep, eating nourishing foods, moving your body regularly, managing your stress, and taking care of your overall health, all of these support your immune system, the very system responsible for recognizing and clearing HPV. Your immune system. First, try not to pick and scratch at your wart. This can spread the virus to other parts of your skin. So try not to pick and scratch at your wart. I know it's hard because they're so fun to pick at. And if you are a cuticle biter, remember you may want to consider giving your cuticles a chance to heal before your next manicure. And if your wart is likely to rub against others or any shared surface, like gym equipment, please cover it. Please cover your wart. And always wear flip-flops in public showers, in locker rooms, and around pool decks. Try not to walk barefoot in any of those places. And again, avoid sharing personal grooming items like your nail clippers, your razors, your pumice stones, and your foot files. Just have everyone have their own personal grooming items. Wash your hands after treating the wart. And most importantly, keep your skin healthy and moisturized to reduce the cracks where the virus can enter. Protect your skin. Protect your skin. Remember, skin is not just a covering, it's one of our body's most important protective organs. Exposure doesn't always lead to infection. Your skin and your immune system are working together every minute of every day to protect you from things you will never even know were there. And most of the time you don't notice anything until something pops up on your skin. And then that makes you curious. What is it? What is that? Is that a wart? Now, this podcast down warts is a reminder that even something as small as a wart tells a much bigger story about the crazy partnership between your skin, your immune system, and your body's ability to heal. And it's a good story. That's all I have for today. I hope you learned something fun about warts. Thank you again for listening. I really, really do appreciate it. I'll talk to you next week. And until next week, live in gratitude, keep on moving, and go live your best day yet. Enjoy. If you enjoyed this episode and just can't wait to hear and learn more, don't forget to subscribe to the Aging Mask, a lifestyle medicine podcast, wherever you listen to podcasts. And I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. So please leave a review on the Aging Mask Instagram. Or if you don't have socials or you're taking a break, feel free to text me at the Aging Mask 949 236 1529. We could talk about this episode or any of my prior episodes. Let's have a conversation. I am here and I'm ready to listen and I want to help where I can. Talk to you next week.