Ace the 2025 Dermatology PANCE – Shine Bright as a Certified Physician Assistant!

Warts caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) are medically termed "verrucae." This term specifically refers to the benign epithelial tumors that arise from the infection with various strains of HPV. Verrucae can present in different forms, including common warts, plantar warts, and genital warts, each associated with different HPV types.

The vulvar nature of HPV's association with the skin and mucous membranes explains why these growths are generally classified under this term. Understanding that verrucae result from viral infection and that they often have a characteristic rough texture helps in differentiating them from other skin growths.

In contrast, fibromas refer to benign tumors composed of fibrous or connective tissue, keratoses are growths that result from thickening of the outer layer of the skin, commonly due to sun exposure, and nevi are moles that represent clusters of pigmented cells. These terms denote distinctly different skin conditions, underlining the importance of precise terminology in dermatology.