1. Warts have roots
NO THEY DON'T. Warts never grow into the dermis, they only grow in the top layer of skin (the epidermis) and if they do grow deeper, they simply displace the second layer of skin with their smooth bottoms. .
2. Warts aren't contagious
YES THEY ARE. Even a tiny skin abrasion can make an area of skin on your body susceptible to contagion, and you can also transmit the infection to others. Genital warts are particularly contagious. Please see out bonus article on Top 10 Wart Facts. .
3. You can cure warts
NO YOU CAN'T. The warts virus (HPV) resides in your DNA. You can however treat and remove them. See our bonus article on warts facts (bottom of point 2 above). .
4. Toads can give you warts
NO THEY CAN'T. Toads have warts, but they can't give you warts. HPV - the warts virus - is the HPV virus, as in the HUMAN pappiloma virus and has nothing to do with toads or their warts. .
5. You can always tell if someone has genital warts.
NO YOU CAN'T. Only 10% of all genital warts are visible. They can be hidden in skin folds, or internal. They are not usually painful, don't bleed and you are uhlikely to feel them yourself. .
6. Warts don't cause cancer
YES GENITAL WARTS CAN. Two types of genital warts HPV (of more than 150 types of HPV) cause 70 % of all cases of cervical cancer. Sexually active women must get regular pap smears. .
7. You can transmit warts from your hands to your genitals and vice versa
NO YOU CAN'T. The types of HPV causing genital warts are different strains to those causing warts on your body elsewhere. If your child has genital warts, he or she has been sexually abused and needs to receive medical attention and counselling immediately. .
8. You can't do anything to prevent wart growths
YES YOU CAN. Boost your immune system, stop smoking, cut back on alcohol, take exercise, drink water and eat healthy foods.
9. Warts will always keep on growing
NO THEY WON'T. In fact in many cases they will disappear naturally after around 6 months. In some cases they may grow and multiply, and in that case seek immediate treatment if you have not already done so. .
10. Warts treatment is painful
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE. While surgery, electrocautery (burning), acid prescriptions, and freezing (cryosuregery) are painful and have varying levels of success (note the only way to get rid of internal genital warts for a woman is surgery), for external warts there are a range of natural products that offer pain free treatments.
*BONUS MYTH *
11. Warts can't grow back
YES THEY CAN. Check with your treatment provider if the warts are likely to grow back or not before embarking on a costly, tedious and disappointing method of treatment.
See our Bonus Article on 10 Top Wart Facts
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