The spreading of warts is actually a common problem and it happens because warts are caused by the human papillomavirus, which can be transmitted to other areas of your body through contact. This is called autoinoculation. When you have an active wart, touching it and then touching another part of your skin can potentially transfer the virus, especially if there are any small cuts or breaks in the skin. The constant hand washing you mentioned, while important for hygiene, might be creating small breaks in your skin barrier that make it easier for the virus to establish new infections. To stop the spread, it's crucial not only to treat the existing warts but also to take precautions to prevent transmission to new areas. This means avoiding touching the warts, keeping them covered when possible, not sharing towels or personal items, and being careful during activities that might spread the virus. However, treating just the visible warts with over-the-counter products often isn't enough when you're dealing with multiple warts that are actively spreading.