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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Another Genital Wart Question
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Dermatology issues, such as: skin rashes, acne, birthmarks, skin infections, rosacea, and general skin care.
Another Genital Wart Question
by SlightlyPeeved, Jan 19, 2004 12:00AM
Thanks for hearing me out,
Basically here's my problem. Almost exactly a year ago I looked down at my hands only to notice approximately 20 warts (spread out on all fingers and on both hands). I promptly went to the dermatologist and had the growths frozen with liquid nitrogen. These warts proved to be particularly persistant and aggressive, I went back for multiple treatments (again having approximately 20 warts frozen each time, all located in different spots but all on the back of my hands and fingers). These warts still persist today, but a few weeks after they appear the skin appears to peel and flake and the growths soon dissappear (and have reduced in number to maybe three or four at a time). The dermatologist told me that eventually with the freezing your immune system will kick in and begin to take care of the problem, I assume this is what is happening.
Now the bigger problem. I have just recently noticed two very small warts on the shaft of my penis. These warts look exactly like the beginning stages of the ones that appear on my hand. I am not promiscuous and have not had sex in over a year, but have been masturbating regularly (with oil) and fear that I may have spread these to my genitals especially given how aggressive they appeared to spread on my hands. I have read some of your past responses and understand this is not a common occurance, but the fact that these look exactly like the ones that occur on my hand and that its been about a year since they first showed up makes me suspect.
My questions:
1) If these are the same strain of HPV as my hand should my immune system "kick in" as it is on my hands and resolve them without seeking treatment, or is that typically more of a local reaction
2) Should I in your opinion seek a biopsy of both a wart on my hand and one of these to confirm my fears or...
3) Is it a safe to deduce that a wart is a wart on your hand or elsewhere, and altough theoretically I will have HPV on my gentals for life (and on my hand for that matter), once my immune system suppresses the warts for good that I will be free to live a normal sex life without having to worry (of course given that I pay attention and have regular checkups to ensure no reccurrance has occurred). It would be a shame to have to worry about rejection from future partners especially if I received my condition due to masturbation in the first place.
Thank you for any advice you may have on this matter. I appreciate it!
Basically here's my problem. Almost exactly a year ago I looked down at my hands only to notice approximately 20 warts (spread out on all fingers and on both hands). I promptly went to the dermatologist and had the growths frozen with liquid nitrogen. These warts proved to be particularly persistant and aggressive, I went back for multiple treatments (again having approximately 20 warts frozen each time, all located in different spots but all on the back of my hands and fingers). These warts still persist today, but a few weeks after they appear the skin appears to peel and flake and the growths soon dissappear (and have reduced in number to maybe three or four at a time). The dermatologist told me that eventually with the freezing your immune system will kick in and begin to take care of the problem, I assume this is what is happening.
Now the bigger problem. I have just recently noticed two very small warts on the shaft of my penis. These warts look exactly like the beginning stages of the ones that appear on my hand. I am not promiscuous and have not had sex in over a year, but have been masturbating regularly (with oil) and fear that I may have spread these to my genitals especially given how aggressive they appeared to spread on my hands. I have read some of your past responses and understand this is not a common occurance, but the fact that these look exactly like the ones that occur on my hand and that its been about a year since they first showed up makes me suspect.
My questions:
1) If these are the same strain of HPV as my hand should my immune system "kick in" as it is on my hands and resolve them without seeking treatment, or is that typically more of a local reaction
2) Should I in your opinion seek a biopsy of both a wart on my hand and one of these to confirm my fears or...
3) Is it a safe to deduce that a wart is a wart on your hand or elsewhere, and altough theoretically I will have HPV on my gentals for life (and on my hand for that matter), once my immune system suppresses the warts for good that I will be free to live a normal sex life without having to worry (of course given that I pay attention and have regular checkups to ensure no reccurrance has occurred). It would be a shame to have to worry about rejection from future partners especially if I received my condition due to masturbation in the first place.
Thank you for any advice you may have on this matter. I appreciate it!
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Jan 19, 2004 12:00AM
, Jan 19, 2004 12:00AM
If people could spread warts from their hands to their genitalia (or anywhere else), every wart patient would be covered with warts. This does not happen. You do not need to assume that you spread the warts from hand to penis. I am in fact skeptical that the bumps on the penis are warts at all, even if they look the same to you. I strongly urge you to get them examined and treated if needed. But even if they are warts, there is, I repeat, no reason to think you spread them by masturbation. Either you were exposed a long time ago, or else they were not even sexually transmitted. Practically speaking, to doesn't matter much. But I repeat--don't assume they're warts. Find out for sure.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Dr. Rockoff
Also on my way out she told me "don't worry, EVERYONE has HPV, they just don't know they have it...welcome to life".
I'll update one more time after visiting my dermatologits.
Dr. Rockoff