Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Prevention of Warts

To reduce your risk of getting a wart or verruca:

• don’t touch other people’s warts;
• don't share towels with a person who has warts;
• don't share shoes or socks with someone who has a verucca;
• don't scratch or pick at a wart as this may encourage it to spread; and
• wear flip-flops in communal showers and in swimming pool changing areas.

If you have a verruca, cover it with a plaster when you go swimming. People with hand warts should wear gloves if they are using communal equipment (for example, in a gym).

To avoid catching genital warts, you should practice safe sex. The best way to do this is to use condoms. However, condoms don’t cover the entire genital area, and are usually put on after sexual contact has begun, so the virus can still be passed on.

Use a condom (as well as your normal form of protection) for 3-6 months following treatment for warts. This helps to stop you and your partner getting re-infected.

 Remember, the more sexual partners you have, the higher your chance of getting genital warts and other STIs.

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