Common warts are those that appear on almost every part of the body except the genitals. Warts themselves are caused by viruses, including many of the strains of the human papillomavirus. These infiltrate the layers of the skin through cuts, hangnails, and abrasions, like those incurred on the feet from the concrete around a pool area.
On the bright side, you can play with as many frogs and toads as you like, since their bad wart-passing rap is just an old wives tale. Nonetheless, just like most viral conditions, there are many steps that can help prevent developing warts from head to heels.
Avoid Contact With the Virus
Like all viruses, the viruses responsible for warts can be passed from person to person. This could be from skin-to-skin contact, from using a towel with the wart virus living on it, or by touching your own warts and then touching other parts of your skin.
Simply put, keep your hands off the warts. Don’t touch other people’s warts and don’t touch your own. If you do, wash your hands immediately and thoroughly. Wear at least flip flops in places where lots of people go barefoot, like the pool, and don’t share items like razors or other skin care products that break the surface of the skin.
Protect Your Hands and Feet
Avoiding biting your nails or picking at your hangnails is a good way to prevent warts. The process creates the little cuts the virus needs to get into the skin. If you already have a wart on your hand or your foot, experts recommend having a separate set of manicure and pedicure tools. Use one set for your healthy fingers and toes and the other set for the infected areas. Additionally, using disposable tools works as well.
Practice Good Hygiene
If you have a wart, you don’t have to broadcast it to the world, but you do need to take special measures to keep other people from touching it. Conversely, if you know someone has a wart, don’t go poking around at it trying to see if you can help.
Keep the area around the wart clean, and wash your hands frequently. Shared exercise equipment can be another common area to pick up the virus, so take advantage of the paper towels and sanitary spray most gyms offer before you sit down to lift weights. Rippling biceps are much less attractive when they end with a big wart on your fingers.
