Question about flat warts

[cts1979]

I am a 26 year-old male who has had flat warts on my face since I was about 21 (at least that's when I was first diagnosed with them).  A couple of years ago I would go periodically and have them zapped off with a 1 volt electrical pulse by my dermatologist.  They never got bad, at least you can only see a couple on my face, and only then, if you stare and know exactly where to look.  After the third treatment I decided to just forget it and leave them alone.  For the most part they have never grown out of control.  Sometimes they would appear more numerous but then, gradually go almost completely away (at least visably.)  Really, there are only two that I can see all the time, one on my forehead and one, just below the left corner of my mouth.

At any rate, I have been mostly able to ignore them but they have caused me anxiety from time to time.  For example, I have mostly avoided giving oral sex like the plague because I was terrified of giving them to my girlfriend whom I care deeply about.  However, a few times I have gone down on her and afterward I about have an anxiety attack about the whole thing.  I don't want her to catch them in that area if you know what I mean, and I would absolutely die if she ever got cervical cancer because of me.  I have read up on the topic and most literature seems to state that genital warts and those that are linked to cancer are entirely different, and thus, flat warts can't spread that way.  However, I have also read wildly varying accounts about their level of contagion and where they might pop up.  Thus, I would really appreciate it if you could clarify for me if I have anything to worry about.

Sorry this is so long, but I don't want to worry about this anymore. It makes me sick to my stomach. Thanks much.

Chris

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

First of all, I'm not sure that the small bumps you see from time to time are even warts.  Flat warts tend to come in clusters in one region, and when they go away, they stay away.  As for contagion, if flat warts were spreadable, the people I see with warts in one region (face, arm, whatever) would have it everywhere else, just from washing up.  Also, their friends and family would have them too.  Yet neither happens.  Also, genital warts are indeed generally different strains than the ones that cause flat warts.  So on all grounds, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[cts1979]

Thank you for your comments.  I am positive however they are warts as two different dermetologists confirmed.  At one point there was a cluster by my mouth but I guess it never returned all the way after the first treatment.  Maybe because I'm an adult and we are generally immune to them?  Not sure but thanks again.

C

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I'm not saying they never were warts, only that two bumps not near each other are now necessarily warts.

Dr. Rockoff