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What are warts — and how do you get rid of them? - Cella Wright

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Throughout history, people have attributed warts to contact with things like sea foam, boiled egg water, and, of course, toads. Fortunately, we now know that warts are not caused by toads, but are actually caused by human papillomaviruses, or HPVs. So, how exactly do HPVs lead to warts? And what should you do if you get one? Cella Wright explores the science of these bumpy skin growths.

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Warts, sometimes called verruca, are benign lesions on the skin, and can take a variety of forms. These lesions are quite common in children and the elderly, when skin is at its most fragile. The skin is functionally the first and largest immune organ in the human body, protecting the internal systems from pathogens and viruses. Within the skin, there is a complex system of signaling that allows the body to respond to potentially harmful intruders, like HPV. In infancy and again as humans age, cutaneous structural integrity is vulnerable, causing more incidence of warts in those stages of life.

Scientists have also found that differences in sex correlate to different outcomes when it comes to HPV or human papilloma viruses. In some cases, women have greater anti-inflammatory responses, but in others that women have more severe symptoms compared to male counterparts. It is important to note that when studying these outcomes in humans, differences in behaviors and environments must also be considered. Some HPVs have been linked with cervical cancers in women, and they can be found with a routine pap smear, and protected against with the vaccine mentioned in the video.

Papilloma viruses exist in many different species- humans, bovines, canines, equines, lagomorphs, and birds all have their own versions of the virus. Those viruses are species specific and do not appear able to cross-infect.

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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Script Writer Cella Wright
  • Director Anton Bogaty
  • Narrator Christina Greer
  • Sound Designer Weston Fonger
  • Music Jarrett Farkas
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Produced by Abdallah Ewis
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Editorial Producer Cella Wright

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