Warts / Viral Skin

Warts (疣, verruca) are viral skin diseases where the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infects skin and mucosal epithelial cells and causes them to proliferate. HPV is divided into more than 200 types, and symptoms vary depending on the site and type.

• Common wart (verruca vulgaris) — HPV types 2 and 4; the most common rough, bumpy papules on hands, feet, and face
• Plantar wart (verruca plantaris) — HPV types 1, 2, and 4; grows at weight-bearing areas of the sole, causing pain
• Flat wart (verruca plana) — HPV types 3 and 10; flat, skin-colored papules on the face and back of the hand
• Genital wart (condyloma acuminata) — HPV types 6 and 11 (low-risk), HPV types 16 and 18 (high-risk); transmitted through sexual contact

HPV penetrates through microscopic skin abrasions, so weakened immunity, insufficient handwashing, and use of public pools or bathhouses increase infection risk. Autoinoculation from one site to others makes it appear as if many have suddenly appeared.

Oriental Medicine Clinic Perspective

In Korean medicine, warts (疣) are viewed as Wind toxin (風毒) accumulating in the skin. When external Wind pathogen (風邪) invades an area with weak Qi and Blood circulation and combines with Blood stasis (瘀血), nodules form. In Hyeongsang Medicine, warts tend to occur in people with Liver Qi stagnation (肝氣鬱結) or Blood Deficiency (血虛) constitutions, and formulas that promote Qi and Blood circulation are used alongside external treatments.