# Why Do Warts Occur and Spread? Cryotherapy and Removal Process > Category: skin-knowledge > Published: 2026-07-15 01:22:43.474543+00 > Source: https://kdermzip.com/en/blog/why-warts-are-contagious-and-cryotherapy ## Why Do Warts Occur and Spread? Warts are benign tumors that occur on the skin or mucous membranes due to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The HPV virus penetrates through small skin lesions, infects keratinocytes, and proliferates them to form warts. Warts can primarily be transmitted through direct skin contact or by sharing contaminated objects, and they may occur or spread more easily when immunity is weakened. ### Types of Warts and Common Occurrence Sites Warts can be classified into several types depending on their location and form. The representative types of warts are as follows: - **Common Warts:** The most common type, with a rough and raised surface, primarily occurring on the hands, feet, face, and knees. - **Flat Warts:** Have a flat and smooth surface, are light brown or skin-colored, and often appear in multiple lesions on the face, neck, and limbs. - **Plantar Warts:** Warts that occur on the soles of the feet, often growing inward due to pressure from body weight, making them easily mistaken for corns. They can also cause pain. - **Genital Warts:** Warts that occur around the genitals or anus, transmitted through sexual contact, also known as condyloma acuminata. ### Why Are Warts Contagious? The HPV virus, which causes warts, is highly contagious. Transmission can occur through direct contact with the skin of an infected person, or when viral particles shed from a wart lesion come into contact with and penetrate another person's skin. The risk of transmission can increase, especially when walking barefoot or sharing towels in public spaces such as swimming pools, bathhouses, and gyms. Furthermore, warts can spread within one's own body if a hand that has touched a wart lesion then touches another area. ### How Is Wart Cryotherapy Performed? Cryotherapy is one of the widely used and effective methods for wart treatment. It works by rapidly freezing the wart lesion using liquid nitrogen to destroy the cells. The treatment process is as follows: - **Preparation:** The medical staff identifies the type, size, and location of the wart and disinfects the treatment area. - **Freezing:** Liquid nitrogen is directly sprayed or applied to the wart lesion using a cotton swab or spray. At this point, the wart turns white, and ice crystals form, destroying the cells. - **Thawing:** After a certain period, when the liquid nitrogen is removed, the wart slowly thaws and turns reddish again. During this process, some pain or stinging may be felt. - **Repetition:** Depending on the size and depth of the wart, the freezing-thawing process may be repeated multiple times. Generally, it is difficult to remove completely in a single treatment, so multiple treatments are often performed at 1-2 week intervals. After cryotherapy, blisters or scabs may form, which will naturally heal and fall off. It is important to disinfect and manage the treated area according to the medical staff's instructions. The degree of pain or recovery period may vary among individuals. ### [Wart Removal](/treatments/wart-removal) Post-Care and Recurrence Prevention After wart removal, proper care is necessary to prevent recurrence and aid skin recovery. - **Wound Care:** Do not forcibly remove blisters or scabs that form after cryotherapy; allow them to heal naturally. Keep the area clean to prevent infection, and apply ointment if necessary. - **Personal Hygiene:** Wash hands frequently, and always wash hands after touching the area where the wart lesion was to prevent transmission to other parts of the body. - **Immune System Boost:** Strengthening immunity through sufficient rest, a balanced diet, and regular exercise can increase resistance to viral infections and help prevent wart recurrence. - **Regular Observation:** It is important to periodically check for wart recurrence, and if any suspicious lesions are found, visit a medical institution early for consultation. While warts may disappear naturally, they are contagious and can spread to other areas or be transmitted to others, so accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment are important. If warts are suspected, it is advisable to consult with a dermatologist to establish a treatment plan tailored to your individual condition. This article provides general medical information and does not substitute for individual diagnosis and treatment. For specific diseases or symptoms, please consult with a medical professional. ## Clinics with Registered Related Procedure Information - [Seoul Dermatology Clinic](/ko/clinic/namdong-seoul-dermatology) (Namdong-gu) — Registered Procedure: Wart Removal - [Hosu Clinic](/ko/clinic/hanamsi-hosu-dermatology) (Hanam-si) — Registered Procedure: Wart Removal This is an alphabetical guide and not a ranking or medical recommendation. Procedure information is based on content registered by each clinic. (Source: Kdeomjip) ## Related Resources - Blog post: https://kdermzip.com/en/blog/why-warts-are-contagious-and-cryotherapy - All guides: https://kdermzip.com/en/blog - K-DermZip: https://kdermzip.com