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Warts are growths on your skin caused by an infection with humanpapilloma virus, or HPV. Types of warts include :

• Common warts, which often appear on your fingers
• Plantar warts, which show up on the soles of your feet
• Genital warts, which are a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
• Flat warts, which appear in places you shave frequently

In children, warts often go away on their own. In adults, they tend to stay. If they hurt or bother you, or if they multiply, you can remove them. Chemical skin treatments usually work. If not, various freezing, surgical and laser treatments can remove warts.

Genital warts are a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are many types of HPV. Some types of HPV can cause genital warts. Other types of HPV can cause cancer.

There is no treatment for HPV, but your health care provider can treat genital warts. HPV vaccines may help prevent some of the HPV infections that cause genital warts.

If you are sexually active, you can get genital warts during oral, vaginal, or anal sex with an infected partner. You can still get genital warts even if they are so small that you can't see them.

It doesn't happen often, but genital warts can also be spread from a woman to her baby during childbirth.

Genital warts are often painless and may not cause any symptoms. You might not even know that you have them. Sometimes, they can also cause itching, burning, bleeding, or discomfort.

The warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area. They are flesh-colored and can be flat or look bumpy like cauliflower.

Your provider can usually find out if you have genital warts by seeing them during a physical exam or pelvic exam. In women, the warts usually occur in or around the vagina, on the cervix, or around the anus. Men may have warts on the tip of the penis, around the anus, or on the scrotum, thigh, or groin.

The warts might disappear on their own, stay the same, or grow bigger or increase in number. A few ways that your provider can treat them include:

• Use medicines, cream, or ointment
• Remove them by burning, freezing, or cutting out the warts

HPV stays in your body even after treatment. This means that warts can come back, and you can still spread HPV to others after genital warts are removed.

Getting an HPV vaccine may help prevent genital warts. HPV vaccines provide the most protection if you get them before exposure to the virus. This means that it's best to get vaccinated before becoming sexually active. If you're over age 26 and haven't been vaccinated, talk with your provider about the possible benefits of vaccination.

Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading HPV. If you or your partner is allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms. The best way to avoid infection is not to have anal, vaginal, or oral sex.

Dept. of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of more than 200 related viruses. Some of them are spread through sexual contact. Most people have been exposed to HPV. Usually, your immune system controls HPV infections, and they go away on their own and don't cause any health problems, but some need treatment.

There are two categories of sexually transmitted HPV. They are called low-risk HPV and high-risk HPV. Sometimes high-risk HPV infections can stay at the cervix (the lower part of a woman's uterus) for many years. This can lead to cell changes. If these changes are not screened for and treated, they may get worse over time and become cancer.

Low-risk HPVM can cause warts on or around your genitals, anus, mouth, or throat.

High-risk HPV can cause various cancers:

• Cervical cancer
• Anal cancer
• Oropharyngeal cancer, a type of head and neck cancer, also called throat cancer
• Vulvar cancer
• Vaginal cancer
• Penile cancer

HPV infections are very common. Nearly all sexually active people are infected with HPV soon after they become sexually active.

Some people get warts from certain low-risk HPV infections, but the other types (including the high-risk types) have no symptoms.

If a high-risk HPV infection lasts for many years and causes cell changes, you may have symptoms. You may also have symptoms if those cell changes develop into cancer. Which symptoms you have depends on which part of your body is affected.

Health care providers can usually find out if you have warts by looking at them.

Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by a long-lasting infection with a high-risk type of HPV. Screening can prevent cancer by finding out if you need treatment for changes that might happen before cancer, called precancer.

Screening tests for HPV can include:

• For women, there are cervical cancer screening tests that can find changes in the cervix that might lead to cancer. As part of the screening, women may have Pap tests (sometimes called a Pap smear), HPV tests, or both. HPV tests use a sample of cervical cells.
• Your provider may also suggest a colposcopy to check for abnormal cells.

An HPV infection itself cannot be treated. Because HPV causes cancer at other places in the body, testing for the HPV virus can be helpful to make other treatment decisions.

• HPV infection. Talk to your provider about whether you need other tests and how often you should be checked to prevent cervical cancer.
• Warts. There are medicines that you can apply to a wart. If they don't work, your provider could freeze, burn, or surgically remove them.
• Cell changes caused by infection with high-risk HPV. Treatments may include medicines you apply to the affected area or various surgical procedures.

People who have HPV-related cancers usually get the same types of treatment as people who have cancers that HPV does not cause. An exception to this is for people who have certain oral and throat cancers. They may have different treatment options.

Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not completely eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading HPV. If you or your partner is allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms. The most reliable way to avoid infection is to not have anal, vaginal, or oral sex.

Vaccines can protect against several types of HPV, including genital warts and some that can cause cancer. The vaccines provide the most protection when people get them before exposure to the virus. This means that it is best for people to get them before they become sexually active.

Ask your child's provider about when to vaccinate your child against HPV. If you're over age 26 and haven't been vaccinated, talk with your provider about the possible benefits of vaccination.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Each of your feet has 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments. No wonder a lot of things can go wrong. Here are a few common problems:

• Bunions - hard, painful bumps on the big toe joint
• Corns and calluses - thickened skin from friction or pressure
• Plantar warts - warts on the soles of your feet
• Fallen arches - also called flat feet

Ill-fitting shoes often cause these problems. Aging and being overweight also increase your chances of having foot problems.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. If not treated, a STI can develop into a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

STIs are usually spread during vaginal, oral, or anal sex. But sometimes they can spread through other sexual contact involving the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus. This is because some STIs, like herpes and HPV, are spread by skin-to-skin contact.

Some STIs can be passed to the fetus during pregnancy or childbirth. Other ways that some STIs may spread include while breastfeeding, through blood transfusions, or by sharing needles.

There are more than 20 types of STIs, including:

• Chlamydia
• Genital herpes
• Genital warts
• Gonorrhea
• HIV
• HPV
• Pubic lice
• Syphilis
• Trichomoniasis

STIs can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

Most STIs affect both men and women, but in many cases the health problems they cause can be more severe for women. If an STI is passed to a fetus during pregnancy or childbirth, it can cause serious health problems.

STIs don't always cause symptoms or may only cause mild symptoms. So, it is possible to have an infection and not know it. And even without symptoms, STIs can still be harmful and may be passed on during sex.

If you do have symptoms, they could include:

• Unusual discharge from the penis or vagina
• Sores or warts on the genital area
• Painful or frequent urination (peeing)
• Itching and redness in the genital area
• Blisters or sores in or around the mouth
• Abnormal vaginal odor
• Anal itching, soreness, or bleeding
• Abdominal (belly) pain
• Fever

If you are sexually active, you should talk to your health care provider about your risk for STIs and whether you need to be tested. This is especially important since many STIs do not usually cause symptoms.

Some STIs may be diagnosed during a physical exam or through STI testing. Some tests involve a microscopic examination of a sore or fluid swabbed from the vagina, penis, or anus. Blood tests can diagnose other types of STIs.

Antibiotics can treat STIs that are caused by bacteria or parasites. There is no cure for STIs caused by viruses, but antiviral medicines can often help with the symptoms and lower your risk of spreading the infection.

It's important to get treatment if you have an STI. Some types of STIs can cause serious health problems if they are not treated. Talk to your provider about how long to not have sex after treatment to avoid passing the infection back and forth with your partner.

The surest way to protect yourself against STIs is to not have sex.

If you do decide to have sex, you can lower your risk of getting an STI by:

• Having you and your partner tested for STIs before having sex.
• Using a condom every time you have sex. Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading STIs. If your or your partner is allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms.
• Reducing your number of sex partners. You might even consider "mutual monogamy" with just one partner. This means that you agree to be sexually active only with them, and they agree to be sexually active only with you. But first you should both get tested to make sure that you don't already have an STI.
• Getting vaccinated against HPV and hepatitis B.

Vulvar cancer is a rare type of cancer. It forms in a woman's external genitals, called the vulva. The cancer usually grows slowly over several years. First, precancerous cells grow on vulvar skin. This is called vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN), or dysplasia. Not all VIN cases turn into cancer, but it is best to treat it early.

Often, vulvar cancer doesn't cause symptoms at first. However, see your doctor for testing if you notice:

• A lump in the vulva
• Vulvar itching or tenderness
• Bleeding that is not your period
• Changes in the vulvar skin, such as color changes or growths that look like a wart or ulcer

You are at greater risk if you've had a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection or have a history of genital warts. Your health care provider diagnoses vulvar cancer with a physical exam and a biopsy. Treatment varies, depending on your overall health and how advanced the cancer is. It might include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or biologic therapy. Biologic therapy boosts your body's own ability to fight cancer.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Your anus is the opening at the end of your large intestine. It is where stool (poop) leaves your body. The anus is formed partly from your outer layers of skin and partly from your intestine. Anal cancer is a type of cancer that forms in the tissues of your anus.

Anyone can get anal cancer, but you are more likely to develop it if you:

• You have an infection with high-risk HPV, especially if you have certain types. Most anal cancers are related to HPV infection.
• Have a weakened immune system, from conditions such as HIV or because of medicines you need to take after an organ transplant.
• Have had vulvar, vaginal, or cervical cancer.
• Have many sexual partners.
• Have anal sex.
• Smoke cigarettes.

The signs and symptoms of anal cancer may include:

• Bleeding from the anus or rectum
• A lump near the anus
• Pain or pressure in the area around the anus
• Itching or discharge from the anus
• A change in bowel habits, such as narrower stools, having to go more often, or bowel incontinence

To find out if you have anal cancer, your provider:

• Will take your medical history, which includes asking about your symptoms.
• Will ask about your family health history.
• May do a digital rectal examination (DRE). A DRE is an exam of the anus and rectum. For the exam, your provider will insert a lubricated, gloved finger into the lower part of your rectum to feel for lumps or anything else that seems unusual.
• May order tests that examine the anus and rectum, such as:
  • An anoscopy, an exam of the anus and lower rectum using a short, lighted tube called an anoscope. There is also a type of anoscopy called a high-resolution anoscopy. It uses a special magnifying device called a colposcope along with the anoscope to view these areas.
  • A proctoscopy, a procedure to look inside the rectum and anus using a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens.
  • An endo-anal or endorectal ultrasound, a procedure in which an ultrasound probe is inserted into the rectum.
• May do a biopsy during an anoscopy or proctoscopy.

The treatments for anal cancer include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. Which treatment you get will depend on how advanced the cancer is, your overall health, and your preferences.

You may be able to lower your risk of getting anal cancer by getting an HPV vaccine and not smoking. Contact your provider if you need help quitting smoking.

It is currently not known if using condoms can prevent anal HPV infections. But using latex condoms every time you have sex can help prevent HIV, a risk factor for anal cancer. And they also help prevent other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If your or your partner is allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms.

If you are an adult with HIV, it's important to get an anal cancer screening every year. The screening checks for anything that seems unusual, such as lumps, burning, and precancer cells (cells that could turn into cancer). The screening will include a digital rectal exam. If anything unusual is found, you will have an anoscopy or high resolution anoscopy.

Arsenic is a natural element found in soil and minerals. Arsenic compounds are used to preserve wood, as pesticides, and in some industries. Arsenic can get into air, water, and the ground from wind-blown dust. It may also get into water from runoff.

You may be exposed to arsenic by:

• Taking in small amounts in food, drinking water, or air
• Breathing sawdust or burning smoke from arsenic-treated wood
• Living in an area with high levels of arsenic in rock
• Working in a job where arsenic is made or used

Exposure to arsenic can cause many health problems. Being exposed to low levels for a long time can change the color of your skin. It can cause corns and small warts. Exposure to high levels of arsenic can cause death.

Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry

Breast diseases include various conditions and changes in your breast. Most women experience breast changes at some time. Your age, hormone levels, and medicines you take may cause lumps, bumps, and discharges of fluids that are not breast milk.

Although many women fear cancer, most breast changes are benign, meaning they are not cancer. These breast changes are known as benign breast disease. See your health care provider if you have a breast lump, pain, discharge, or skin irritation. Minor and serious breast problems often have similar symptoms and may need treatment.

Common breast changes and conditions can include:

• Fibrocystic breast changes can include lumpiness, thickening, and swelling, often just before your period. Your breasts may feel painful, swollen, or tender.
• Cysts are fluid-filled lumps that may be tender.
• Fibroadenomas are solid, round, rubbery lumps that easily move when pushed, occurring most in younger women.
• Intraductal papillomas are wart-like benign tumors that grow in the milk duct of the breast.
• Blocked milk ducts.
• Milk production when you're not breastfeeding.

Symptoms depend on the type of breast disease. Benign breast diseases may not have any symptoms, or they could include:

• A lump or firm feeling in your breast or under your arm
• A change in the size or shape of your breast
• Nipple discharge
• Skin changes such as itching, redness or darkening, dimples, scaling, or puckering on your breast or nipple
• Painful, swollen, or tender breasts

See your provider if you're noticing any of these symptoms or other unusual changes. Some symptoms may be warning signs or symptoms of breast cancer.

Some breast changes may be felt or seen. You may notice a change in your breast, or your provider may notice it during a clinical breast exam. Other breast changes may only be found during a screening mammogram or other imaging tests such as an MRI or ultrasound. Your provider may also recommend a breast biopsy to check a suspicious change in your breast.

Some benign breast changes may increase your risk of breast cancer in the future and may need treatment now. Treatment depends on the type of breast disease that you have. Some breast changes may go away without treatment, while others may require monitoring, biopsy, or surgery.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high. Glucose comes from foods you eat. The cells of your body need glucose for energy. A hormone called insulin helps the glucose get into your cells.

With type 1 diabetes, your body doesn't make insulin. With type 2 diabetes, your body doesn't make or use insulin well. Without enough insulin, glucose can't get into your cells as quickly as usual. The glucose builds up in your blood and causes high blood sugar levels.

Foot problems are common in people with diabetes. They can happen over time when high blood sugar damages the nerves and blood vessels in the feet. The nerve damage, called diabetic neuropathy, can cause numbness, tingling, pain, or a loss of feeling in your feet.

If you can't feel pain, you may not know when you have a cut, blister, or ulcer (open sore) on your foot. A wound like that could get infected. The infection may not heal well because the damaged blood vessels can cause poor blood flow in your feet.

Having an infection and poor blood flow can lead to gangrene. That means the muscle, skin, and other tissues start to die. If you have gangrene or a foot ulcer that does not get better with treatment, you may need an amputation. This is a surgery to cut off your damaged toe, foot, or part of your leg. It may prevent a bad infection from spreading and could save your life.

But there's a lot you can do to prevent a foot wound from becoming a major health problem.

The best way to protect your feet is by controlling your blood sugar levels every day. This will help keep nerve and blood vessel damage from getting worse. The next step is to keep the skin of your feet healthy.

Good foot care for people with diabetes includes:

• Checking your feet every day. Look for cuts, redness, and other changes in the skin and toenails, including warts or other spots that your shoes could rub. Make sure to check the bottoms of your feet too.
• Washing your feet every day. Use warm water and soap. Don't soak your feet because that can dry out your skin. After you dry your feet, you can use talcum powder or cornstarch between your toes. They soak up moisture that can cause infection. If you use lotion, don't apply it between your toes.
• Asking your doctor how to remove corns and calluses safely. Thick skin on your feet can rub and lead to sores. But removing it the wrong way could damage your skin. So you don't want to cut the skin or use medicated pads or liquid removers.
• Trimming your toenails straight across with a clipper. If it's hard for you to trim your own toenails, or if they're thick or curve into the skin, have a podiatrist (foot doctor) do it for you.
• Always wearing well-fitting shoes and socks or slippers to protect your feet when walking. You don't want to walk barefoot, even indoors. And be sure your shoes are smooth inside. A seam or pebble could rub your skin raw.
• Protecting your feet from heat and cold. Use sunscreen on exposed skin and don't walk barefoot at the beach. In cold weather, wear warm socks instead of warming your feet near a heater or fireplace.
• Keeping the blood flowing in your feet. Put your feet up when you're sitting. Wiggle your toes and circle your feet throughout the day. Don't wear tight socks. And get plenty of activity that's not too hard on the feet, such as walking.
• Getting your feet checked at your health care visits. Even if you haven't noticed a problem, it's good to have your health care provider look at your feet.

Serious foot problems can develop quickly. See your health care provider right away if you notice:

• A cut, blister, or bruise on your feet that doesn't start to heal in a few days
• Red, warm, or painful skin on your feet
• A callus with dried blood inside
• A foot infection that becomes black and smells bad that could be gangrene

Remember, controlling your blood sugar and caring for your feet every day are the best steps you can take to prevent serious diabetic foot problems.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases