Mr. Onur Gilleard
Qualifications & Experience
Mr Onur Gilleard is a distinguished consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC specialist register. He previously held an NHS consultant post at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, specialising in skin cancer and microsurgical reconstruction. In 2021, Mr Gilleard transitioned from the NHS to dedicate himself fully to private practice, allowing him to focus exclusively on providing personalised, high-quality care to his patients. He is recognised as an expert in laser treatments, having conducted research and developed advanced treatment protocols using cutting-edge laser technology to optimise both clinical outcomes and cosmetic results.
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All warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) — but HPV is a family of over 100 types,
and the important thing to understand is that they’re not all the same. The common warts on hands
and feet come from low-risk skin (cutaneous) HPV types that have nothing to do with
cancer. The high-risk types linked to cervical and other cancers are a separate group, and the
types that cause genital warts are different again. So a wart on your finger is not a sign of the
cancer-causing virus. This guide clears up the HPV–warts link in plain terms.
HPV Is a Big Family
There are more than 100 HPV types, grouped roughly into: cutaneous types (causing common, plantar
and flat skin warts), the types that cause genital warts, and high-risk mucosal types
linked to certain cancers. They infect different sites and behave very differently.
Skin Warts vs the Cancer Types
The everyday warts most people get — on hands, fingers and feet — are caused by low-risk cutaneous HPV (types such
as 1, 2, 4, 27 and 57). These are not the high-risk types (such as 16 and 18) associated with
cervical and other cancers. In other words, a common skin wart carries no cancer risk and is not the same virus
as the one behind cervical screening. Genital warts are caused by yet another set of (mostly low-risk) types and
are managed separately.
What About the HPV Vaccine?
The HPV vaccine protects against the high-risk cancer-causing types and the main genital-wart types — it is not
designed to prevent the common skin warts on hands and feet. So vaccination won’t stop you getting a verruca, but
that’s fine, because those warts are harmless. If you’re unsure what a growth is, a clinician can confirm it — see
how warts are treated.
Book an assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does having a wart mean I have the cancer-causing HPV?
- No. Common skin warts on hands and feet are caused by low-risk cutaneous HPV types that have nothing to do with cancer. The high-risk types linked to cervical and other cancers are a separate group that doesn’t cause everyday skin warts.
- Are skin warts and genital warts the same?
- No — they’re caused by different HPV types and affect different areas. Common skin warts come from cutaneous types; genital warts from specific (mostly low-risk) mucosal types. A genital lump should always be assessed properly to confirm what it is.
- Does the HPV vaccine prevent skin warts?
- No. The vaccine targets the high-risk cancer types and the main genital-wart types, not the cutaneous types behind common hand and foot warts. It won’t prevent a verruca, but those warts are harmless anyway.
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