Flat warts

I am 22 and I have flat warts on my face. I used several different treatments, including aldera and retina micro and a couple others. Nothing has worked so far, although retina really made them a lot less noticeable.  I had common warts about 15 on one part of my knee, then they went away. But soon enough the showed up on my face, only flat warts tho.  I was wondering if there was something wrong with my immune system because this has been going on for 5 years now and its quite frustrating. I have read a couple places that my immunity could be low and that is causing the cell to replicate because nothing can stop it. Also, I don't think that flat warts can cause cancer but I am just making sure that you have to have type 18 or 16 to get cervical cancer  down the road? The HPV type that causes flat warts is just a virus that is benign right? And one last thing, I am a swimmer... is this at all effecting the spread of these guys?

Thank you,
C

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Warts are tumors or growths of the skin caused by infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV).They are contagious when in contact with the skin of an infected person. It is also possible to get warts from using towels or other objects used by an infected person.

The strain causing skin warts is different from the strain of virus causing cervical cancer and warts are not transmitted by swimming because the virus does not survive for long in water. For small warts, several medications(like podophyllum resin, Podofilox (Condylox), Trichloroacetic and bichloroacetic acids, Imiquimod 5% cream and interferons) are available, which can be applied directly to the surface of the warts.Other treatment options include electrical cautery, surgical removal, Carbon dioxide laser treatment and electrodesiccation.

In my opinion you should talk to a cosmetologist/dermatologist about this and get these warts evaluated. It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.