Are common warts and genital warts the same?

Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
Updated on September 09, 2024
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Common warts and genital warts are different. Although both common warts and genital warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, they belong to different subtypes of the virus, and their routes of infection also vary. Common contact or touching objects contaminated with the virus that causes common warts can lead to infection, and the affected areas can be located throughout various parts of the body, including the external genitalia, genitals, and perianal area. Genital warts are primarily transmitted through sexual contact and are a sexually transmitted disease. This disease is generally spread through sexual intercourse, leading to cross-infection between partners. The most common locations for genital warts are the external genitalia, perianal area, and the mouth. Genital warts generally do not grow on normal skin. Once genital warts appear, the treatment period is longer, and the recurrence rate is higher. Common warts usually can be treated successfully with one or two conventional treatments.

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