Can common warts cause genital warts?
Disease description:
I’ve developed numerous small, red, itchy rashes on my body. My doctor diagnosed them as common warts. Can common warts lead to genital warts?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Wan
Common warts generally do not lead to the development of genital warts. Although both common warts and genital warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), HPV comprises a broad group of viruses with numerous distinct types. Genital warts are primarily caused by HPV types 6, 11, and 18, whereas common warts are most frequently associated with HPV type 3. Different HPV types cannot transform into one another—for instance, HPV type 3 cannot convert into HPV type 11—thus, common warts cannot evolve into genital warts. It is worth noting, however, that common warts can appear on any skin surface throughout the body.
