Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most commonly transmitted sexual infections. It is usually seen in sexually active persons. While wart(s) on genital parts is the most common symptom of HPV we cannot forego the chances of having human papillomavirus warts on face.
What Is Human Papillomavirus?
HPV infection is a common viral infection transmitted due to sex and it usually leads to the mucous membrane or skin growths (warts). Apart from sexual transmission, it can also be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. Few types of infection lead to warts while few may lead to cancer and this is the reason there’s a close association between human papillomavirus and cervical cancer.
There are over 100 HPV varieties. Although most of the HPV infections don’t cause cancer few genital HPV types can lead to this deadly disease such as uterus, penis, anus, vulva, vagina, and oropharyngeal cancers besides there is also an indirect link between human papillomavirus and HIV as HPV increases the risk of HIV.
Vaccination helps to safeguard against HPV infections which normally lead to cervical cancer or genital warts and human papillomavirus bumps.
Human Papillomavirus Warts On Face
Warts on the face can be the result of many conditions and one condition could be due to HPV. Human papillomavirus warts on face belong to the family of common skin warts (kind of warts due to HPV). And the onset could be due to many reasons such as sex, skin contact, or by mere touching of a wart on the part of a body and touching the face with the same hands.
Symptoms Of HPV Warts On Face
In the majority of the cases, the body’s immune system is in a position to defeat an HPV infection prior to it causing warts. However, if you notice HPV warts on the face they could majorly be either common warts or flat warts with the below symptoms.
1. Common Warts
These look rough and seem like raised bumps and commonly occur on fingers and the hands however, the face is also prone to this type of wart. Usually, common warts are just unsightly, however, they can even be paining or vulnerable to bleeding or injury.
2. Flat Warts
As the name suggests they are flat and faintly raised lesions. They can occur anywhere. Children normally get them on the face, men supposedly get them around the beard region and in women, it could be anywhere on the face.
Besides, there are also filiform warts that are spiky or appear like a thread and usually grow near the nose, eyes, and mouth. In fact, it is difficult to define or sort out specific symptoms of these face warts as they are mostly like any other kind of face warts.
Usually face warts are sized about a pinhead or pea and may have black dots on the upper part that looks like a small seed. The color typically goes with the skin texture. They can as well grow in groups.
The common symptoms of facial warts caused due to HPV include;
- Itch
- Bleeding
- Irritation
- Soreness
- Long and narrow projections from the skin (1-2 millimeters)
Causes Of HPV Warts On Face
As said above there are more than 100 strains of HPV, however, only a few strains (1, 2, 4, 27, and 29) are the root cause of warts on the face. Notwithstanding this fact it doesn’t mean that contact with these strains will lead to HPV face warts.
Causes of HPV face warts can be due to skin-to-skin contact besides contact with clothes and objects. The chances of transmission increases if you possess;
- An abrasion or open cut on the skin
- A fragile immune system
- Moist and warm skin
- Constant exposure to the virus
This can as well happen from an infected body part to the other part of the body.
Are HPV Warts Contagious?
Yes, they are contagious. Genital warts are more contagious than other types of HPV warts. They can spread by sexual activity, skin-to-skin, and also from one part of the body to the other part.
Treatment For HPV Warts On Face
There are two ways one is medical treatment and the other is following home remedies. The common medical treatments include;
- Cantharidin, a blistering agent applied in combination with other ingredients on the wart.
- Cryotherapy or also called cryosurgery in which nitrogen liquid is either injected or applied.
- Surgical procedure.
- Electrosurgery and curettage either in combination or as the sole treatment.
- Immunotherapy, designed to increase immunity to HPV warts.
Tips To Remove HPV Warts On Face
- Apply garlic extract on it as it has sativum, an antiviral compound.
- Applying lemon juice is also one good tip as citric acid kills the virus.
- Duct tape is also one easy means.
How To Prevent HPV Warts?
- Avoid unsafe sex.
- Stop smoking as chances get increased.
- Keep yourself more hygienic when you have HPV symptoms.
- Don’t touch other parts of the body after touching the infected part.
To wind up a human papillomavirus warts on the face is a very rare condition and there’s nothing to panic but ensure you meet your doctor at the earliest.
Sudheendra is a passionate blogger for 8 years and holds a Degree in Journalism & Mass Communications. His writings particularly focus on health, medicine, diet & lifestyle. For him, everything that interlinks and relates to health & medical world entices him. His write-ups aim at educating people not by just giving facts but by infusing human touch.
