Warts

Warts are caused by a virus, namely the human papillomavirus, which is present in millions of people around the world many of whom will live out their lives unaware that they carry this virus. Many others will develop warts. Most consider warts to be unsightly and they will anxious to find a warts treatment for their wart removal.

There several different types of warts:

• Common warts – these warts occur all over the body, except the feet and genitals. They are often seen in older children and adults. They are tall cylindrical protrusions of skin which if big enough are noticeable. Common warts cannot be spread unless through wounds and then the wart has to physically touch the wound.
• Flat warts – these mostly appear on the face, neck, legs and knees as well as other areas. They usually affect the faces of men and the legs and armpits of young women. They are common in young children where they often appear on the face. They are as small as pinheads and can occur in their hundreds.
• Digitate warts – usually appear on the scalp or near the hair line. They are rough and finger shaped.
• Perlungual warts – commonly occur around the fingernails. They are also rough but irregular and elevated. They can extend under the nails causing pain and discomfort and can also occur in clusters.
• Filiform warts – these are long and narrow and usually seen on the eyelids, face, neck or lips.

All the above warts are not sexually transmitted and there is only a slim chance that people can contract such warts through unsanitary conditions. Warts are a very common dermatological complaint affecting 75% of people during their lives. When HPV invades the skin, it causes the skin cells to grow rapidly thus forming the wart. In children, the areas on the body prone to minor injury such as hands, elbows and knees provide a break in the skin where it is easy for the virus to enter.

This virus usually only invades those that have limited immunity against the virus so those susceptible to warts are children, teenagers, the elderly and anyone who is run down or suffering from an immune deficiency. The wart virus is found everywhere and is infectious so early treatment is recommended.

As warts are so infectious, it is always advisable to avoid direct skin contact with a wart on someone else and to educate your children to wash their hands and skin regularly and well. If your child cuts or scratches his skin, be careful to use soap and water to thoroughly cleanse the area. Scratching or picking flat warts can spread them through the blood stream. Shaving the face or body where flat warts occur can also spread them through the blood stream. Those who shave may notice small lines or groups of flat warts where they have shaved. Warts on the skin can be transmitted from person to person by direct physical contact. It is also possible to transmit warts by using towels or other objects that have been used by a person with warts. Remember too that people tend to get warts when they are under a lot of stress.

Most of these warts grow slowly and in 25% of cases, they will disappear within six months. The rest will go away in two to three years. However, if they are treated (a) they will disappear much sooner and (b) they will not spread.

Here are some of the treatment options for warts:

• Duct tape. This is cut to the size of the wart, applied and left on for 6 days. Then the area is soaked in water and gently rubbed with an emery board or pumice stone. The tape is re-applied the next morning. The exercise is repeated for about 2 months until the wart disappears.
• Over-the-counter remedies. These can take several weeks or months and because they contain strong chemicals, they need to be used with care to avoid damaging areas of healthy skin. Never use on the face.
• Cryotherapy is an efficient but sometimes painful treatment for warts. Liquid nitrogen is applied to freeze the wart and kill it. It is subsequently replaced by healthy skin and peels away. Stubborn warts may require frequent applications.
• Warts can be treated with laser. Although this can be very efficient, it can also be very expensive.
• Warts can be excised under local anesthetic. Scarring can be a major disadvantage and warts can also recur at the wound edge.
• Treatment using a natural medication such as Warts Dx is very effective for eliminating all strains of warts with no skin irritation, burning or scarring.

Warts can be hard to treat because the thick layers of skin make it difficult for medicine to reach the virus that causes them but with the right medication for your warts treatment, warts removal is very successful.

More Warts Articles

Warts on Hands
Vaginal Warts
Plantar Warts
Flat Warts
Anal Warts
Pictures of Genital Warts
Genitle Warts Facts
Wart Removal