Wart Removal
Warts, Moles and Skin Tags are extremely common. Most people will have a wart appear at some point during their lifetime. Although, most warts are benign most people tend to look for some kind of wart removal treatment to try and eradicate the wart quickly. The most common place for warts to form is on the hands, feet or face. They can, however, appear on any part of your body.
What are Warts?
Warts are basically a raised growth. They very often have the appearance of a very small cauliflower and feel rough to the touch. They can however also simply be flat and smooth.
Warts are caused by a virus known as Human Papillomavirus (HPV for short). There are in excess of one hundred types of HPV. Each one of these HPV’s tends to target their own specific area of the body but can none the less spread to other parts of the body.
Plantar Warts – these are more commonly known as verucas. They occur on the soles of your feet and are recognisable by the dark spot in the centre. Plantar warts should be treated to prevent them being spread to others. Plantar Wart Removal Treatments are available for home use.
Common Warts – These grow on virtually any part of the body although they are most commonly found on the hands. Common Warts are usually brownish grey in colour and dome shaped, although they can take other forms. Common Wart Removal can be accomplished by undergoing a minor surgical procedure or can, in a lot of cases, be treated in the home with wart removal cream.
Flat Warts – These are commonly found on the arms, legs or face. They are usually quite small and there are generally several grouped together in one area. Like their name suggests they have flat tops and can be light brown, yellow or even pink in colour.
Flat Warts can be spread by shaving. Flat Wart Removal is generally achieved by using one of the wart removal products that are available and does not normally require surgery.
Filiform Warts – These types of warts are easily recognisable as they consist of a number of flesh coloured finger like projections. Filiform Warts grow around the beard area and also around the nose and mouth. They can however also be found in other areas of the body where the skin tissue is relatively thin such as arm pits and certain areas of the leg.
Filiform Warts are not generally permanent and there are a number of Filiform Wart Removal treatments available.
Periungal Warts – These are one of the least common types of wart. They appear as irregular rough bumps around and under the fingernails and toenails. One of the characteristics of Periungal Warts is their rate of growth. They are able to grow to quite a large size in a relatively short space of time and can actually displace the nail completely if not treated.
Periungal Wart Removal is relatively easy and is normally achieved by applying one of the over the counter wart removal creams or gels to the affected area. Because the wart grows rapidly it is advisable to treat the infection sooner rather than later.
Genital Warts – These affect both sexes and are found in the genital and anal regions of the body. Genital warts are most common in individuals aged between seventeen and thirty three years of age. Genital Warts are extremely contagious. Genital warts, like all other forms of wart, are caused by a virus and are sexually transmitted.
Genital warts can be removed by surgery, laser or freeze treatment. There are also a number of genital wart removal creams that are manufactured specifically for treating these types of warts.
There are, however, a number of simple steps that you can take to lessen the chances of transmission.
Warts are often transmitted through open cuts and sores. Try to avoid sharing facial products and towels with other people, particularly anyone who is infected. If you suspect that you have a filiform wart destroy any old cosmetics etc that you may have to help to avoid the virus being spread to other areas of the face. Avoid using nail clippers or manicure equipment that has been used by anyone that has a Periungal nail infection.
Areas that are warm and wet will be able to sustain the virus. Public baths and changing rooms can be particularly hazardous and a good standard of personal hygiene should be observed when using these types of facility.
Will Warts Disappear By Themselves?
In many cases warts will eventually disappear by themselves without any treatment whatsoever, particularly with children. It can however take a number of years for the wart to disappear completely.
Adults are less likely to find that their wart disappears without some form of treatment.
The majority of warts are in fact benign and do not usually pose any significant health threat. Warts, moles and skin tags are however somewhat unsightly and the majority of people prefer to undergo some form of treatment to remove them.
As a result most wart removal is done purely for cosmetic reasons rather than through any medical necessity.
Wart Removal
1. Removing warts by freezing
If you go to your GP and ask him (or her) to remove your wart for you, he may suggest that you have the warts frozen off. This is done by applying liquid nitrogen to the wart. The action of freezing and then thawing the wart destroys the wart tissue. It can take up to six or eight treatments to clear the wart. It is normal to allow approx two weeks between treatments.
This method has proved to be effective but it can be painful. It is not uncommon for the nearby skin to blister following treatment. There is also a risk, albeit slight, that the adjacent skin can be scarred.
Freezing to remove warts is not suitable for anyone who has poor circulation or for young children.
2. Surgery and laser treatment for warts
Warts can be removed surgically but it is not generally considered to be the best or most effective treatment. The wart (or verruca) is scraped away, under local anaesthetic, with a surgical instrument called a curette.
Although, surgery will remove the wart it is not guaranteed that the HPV infection that caused the wart will also be removed. This can lead to the wart returning again at a later date. Surgical removal of warts can leave the treated area feeling raw and painful and it can also result in scarring.
Occasionally, if other treatments have failed your gp may suggest laser treatment. The laser destroys the wart and also the blood vessels supplying it. There is some debate about the effectiveness of laser wart removal treatments. Like surgical removal of warts it can also be painful and result in scarring.
3. Removing Warts at Home
If you are unfortunate enough to have an unwanted wart there are a number of home remedies for wart removal that you can try. Wart removal at home is normally a case of applying a natural wart removal cream or a wart removal gel to the affected area. Home treatment is, in fact, possibly the best wart removal solution in many cases.
Over the Counter Treatment for Warts
Over the Counter (OTC) treatments are medicines that you can purchase without a prescription, for example some pain killers, laxatives, anti fungal creams, and the likes. These drugs are often considered safe, as long as someone is using them as directed. However, these medicines pose some risks and their might be a side effect just like any other drug.
Since our blog is about warts and other similar problems, let’s discuss some over the counter treatment for warts. But first, we need to remember that different types of warts or similar types of warts on different people will respond differently to all treatments or home remedies.
For some, using duct tape or rubbing garlic clove will result in complete removal, for others a clinically approved solution might fail to bring satisfactory results. In addition to that, almost all wart treatment methods can take weeks, even months, before you see some results, and many people get impatient and move to another solution after some days.
Same is the case with over the counter treatments. They can be quite effective for some, and for others they might produce little or no results. But they are worth giving a try if you are annoyed because of warts.
Salicylic Acid Preparations:
One of the most commonly used and inexpensive over the counter treatment for wart is salicylic acid. Salicylic acid has been used as a remedy for pain, aches, or fever for quite some time. It is basically an anti-inflammatory drug. But another very common use of Salicylic Acid is in skin care products including but not limited to acne, corns, psoriasis, and of course warts.
Salicylic acid happens to be one of the most commonly used ingredients in over the counter wart treatments. Applying it on your skin might cause a little burning, but generally it is considered safe (except for people suffering with diabetes). However, if you are suffering from some medical problem, or your skin is getting increasingly irritated after using Salicylic Acid, you should of course consult with a dermatologist.
Salicylic acid can make the excess skin softer so you can rub it off while using pumice stone. And it also irritates the affected area, and as a result immune response can set off (something similar to duct tape therapy).
It’s better to soak and rub off the external layer of wart before applying Salicylic acid preparations for maximum results. Don’t apply it to the skin around wart and make sure you are not applying too much drug or it will make your skin a little too tender.
Cryotherapy (Freezing Kits):
Another over the counter treatment for warts is the freezing kits. This method, referred to as Cryotherapy, works by applying or spraying liquid nitrogen on affected area.
Liquid nitrogen can freeze and break up the skin cells in warts. This method can produce results much quicker than the Salicylic Acid preparations but it can be a little more painful, and the pain will be there for a couple of days. While there are some DIY kits available in the market, cryotherapy should better be carried out by doctors.
Preventing Warts – How Can I Ensure That I Do Not Get Warts?
There is no guaranteed way of preventing warts. Warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV for short). There are reported to be well in excess of one hundred variations of the virus. The type (or strain) of virus you come in contact with will determine what type of wart you will get. It will also determine (to a degree) where the wart will appear.
Warts will generally disappear without treatment but this can take a long time. Although, there are treatments for the actual warts themselves there is no actual cure for the HPV virus therefore no way of actually preventing warts.
The virus is spread by coming into contact with someone who already has warts, or is carrying the HPV virus. The virus can remain dormant for some considerable time so the person infecting you may in fact not have any visible signs that they are in fact carrying the virus.
The virus can be spread by direct skin to skin contact. The virus can also be spread by simply coming into contact with an object or surface that has been touched by the carrier.
Preventing Warts from Spreading
One of the best ways of preventing warts from spreading is to cover them so that they have less chance of coming in direct contact with anyone else.
Although, there is no foolproof way of preventing warts there are a number of simple steps that you can take to reduce the chances of being infected.
The virus very often enters the body through small cuts or scratches. Adopting a strict personal hygiene regime can be extremely helpful in preventing warts from being spread.
Washing your hands for example following any physical contact with others will help to prevent the likelihood of being infected by HPV. Bear in mind that everyone who carries the virus may not actually have any visible signs that they are carrying the virus.
It is also possible for warts to spread from one part of your own body to another. Again simply following basic hygiene procedures, such as washing your hands regularly, can play a big part in preventing warts from being spread in this way.
Plantar warts (verrucas) generally appear on the feet and can be extremely painful. The virus that causes them flourishes on warm damp surfaces. You can prevent warts being spread in areas such as swimming pool surrounds and locker rooms by making sure you wears flip flops or sandals rather than walking barefoot.
Avoid sharing towels or wearing other peoples’ socks or shoes as this will also help in preventing warts from being spread.
Genital warts are usually spread via sexual activity (not necessarily penetrative) and are usually found around the genital and anal areas of the body. If you have warts on your hands they will not spread to your genital as the viruses that cause these two types of wart are of a completely different type.
Can Warts be Cured?
There are a number of treatments that you can use at home that are effective in removing warts. Home treatment is the best course of action as it is generally easier and less painful than having them removed surgically. Early treatment will also reduce the likelihood of you spreading the virus to anyone else.
All of the available treatments are only designed to treat the existing warts. They are not necessarily going to help in preventing warts to appear again at a later stage.
You Can Now Remove Plantar Warts in Just 2 Weeks Time!
You can get rid of planter warts in two weeks, and that too in natural ways. There is no risk, no pain and even no extra expenses. You can remove plantar warts just by using your kitchen ingredients!
Kitchen ingredients like apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, castor oil, lemon juice, cashew nut oil, garlic, raw potatoes are great for removing any type of warts. So, you can apply these products to remove plantar warts in a convenient manner.
As for herbs, there are milkweed, aloe Vera, marigold and a lot more. These herbs are great remedies for plantar wart removal.
In this article we are going to discuss about planter removal treatment using Apple Cider Vinegar. This product is effective not only for planter warts, but also for other types of warts. You have to apply apple cider vinegar with a cotton ball and cover it up with a bandage. You can do it once each day. This application will remove plantar warts in 2 weeks.
If you have difficulty to continue this process everyday then, there is another method of applying apple cider vinegar. Go through the following steps to remove plantar warts easily.
Steps to remove plantar warts:
Step 1: You need foot basin, warm water, apple cider vinegar
Take warm water in a foot basin. Soak your feet into the warm water. You have to stay for 5 minutes. Then replace the water of foot basin with apple cider vinegar lukewarm solution. Soak your planter wart in to this solution for 14 minutes. Then let the affected area to dry.
Step 2: You need petroleum jelly
Before the final treatment, you need to protect the surrounding skin from harsh effect of apple cider vinegar. To do such, apply petroleum jelly on the surrounding skin. But keep in mind, not to apply the jelly on the wart. Else apply cider vinegar won’t be of much use to remove plantar warts.
Step 3: You need a nail file Rub the wart affected portion with a nail file. Do it for just 30 seconds and no more than that. This will help toughen up the wart surface and make pores in the wart. As such, it will allow the apple cider vinegar to soak intensely.
Step 4: You need cotton all, apple cider vinegar and a bandage
Take a sterilized cotton piece and soak it with apple cider vinegar. Then place the cotton piece on your wart directly. Cover it with an adhesive bandage and leave it for the entire day. Repeat the process for two weeks and you will find amazing result.
For best result apply apple cider vinegar in the evening and leave it overnight. Try to repeat the process two times in a day, if possible. It will work to remove plantar warts more quickly.
Everything You Need To Know About Common Warts
Common wart is a type of skin infection caused by a virus that is contagious. When someone comes in contact with HPV (the virus that causes wart), simply by person to person contact like handshake, or sharing personal hygiene products, or simply by walking barefoot at public places.
The virus will get through your skin via some break, cracks, cuts, or wound in the skin. It messes up with the skin cells and results in excess skin cell growth which appears as a wart on your skin.
According to statistics, almost 20 million people are infected by this virus in US. Good news is that virus doesn’t cause any other harm or pain in most cases, and that most of these warts will go away in some weeks, months (or maybe years) but it’s not always easy to leave it on its own. Mainly because a wart on your face, lips, or hands doesn’t look good.
Prevention: They say that prevention is better than the cure. So, while there are many different types of wart removal treatments available in the market, it’s important to focus on the prevention before talking about the cures.
- Take care of your skin, especially if there are some cracks or cuts• Avoid sharing personal hygiene items like razors, towel, or soaps with others, especially at public places.
- Don’t walk barefoot at places like locker rooms or public pools. If the floor is contaminated, you might catch the virus through those cracks in your sole.
- Don’t touch the wart if you have any, the virus might spread to others or on other parts of your body.
- Genital warts are a sexually transmitted infection so take proper preventive measures while having sex.
- Eat healthy, wash your hands every now and then, and maintain a healthy lifestyle to boost your immune system and it will deal with the virus itself.
Treatments:
Taking all those preventive steps will significantly decrease your chances of catching that virus, but there’s always some chance that you might contract the virus at some stage of your life. But there’s no need to panic, because there are a number of wart removal treatments available in the market.
It’s difficult to single out the best wart removal method, and you should choose one according to your own needs and requirements. It’s better to start from a simple home remedy, or over the counter treatment before going for the surgery or laser treatment (your doctor or dermatologist will be able to guide you better in this regard). Following are some commonly used treatments.
1. Home Remedies
Home remedies include the food items like garlic clove, banana peel, carrot, or apple cider vinegar. But instead of eating, you will have to apply them to affected skin. You can also try Basil or Vitamin C.
2. Over the Counter Treatments
Next are over the counter treatments like using Salicylic Acid preparations or freezing kits. Covering the warts with duct tape for 6 days is another commonly used method that often results in wart removal.
3. Surgery
You can also go for surgical removal, laser surgery, or electric needle, but these are extreme measures and must be employed after consulting with a doctor or skin specialist.
How Does Salicylic Acid Work To Remove Warts?
There are many different types of warts but you can always rely on methods to get rid of them such as cryosurgery, laser treatment, and the use of salicylic acid warts topical creams or pads.
Cryosurgery and laser treatment are pretty much self-explanatory and they work by cutting off or burning the wart until its root is removed and the infection is dead. Removing warts is not easy and these infections can stay on the hands or feet for months, and sometimes even years.
They can be painful when they grow on areas that see a lot of pressure and contact such as the sides of the fingers or the soles of the foot. One of the most common home remedies for warts, whether they are planter’s warts or others, is by applying salicylic acid.
What is Salicylic Acid?
Salicylic acid is a natural by-product of the bark of a willow tree. The substance has already been in medical use for thousands of years and is actually a precursor to modern aspirin.
The substance itself is generally used as a pain reliever for headaches and stress but today there are so many ways of applying its characteristics for other purposes, such as removing warts. There are some specific products like salicylic acid plantar wart removal cream and salicylic acid flat warts removal cream.
How Does It Work?
When the salicylic acid is applied over the infected area, it breaks down the upper layers of the wart. Warts are generally made of a special kind of protein called keratin and the acid has the property that can soften keratin and eventually break it down.
When the area has dried after an application, the person can gently file the dead top layers off and expose the new, tender layers. The next application of salicylic acid will then get to work to break it down further and slough it off until the entire wart has been removed.
The acid also alerts the body’s immune system. Warts are caused by an infection of the human papillomavirus or HPV and it is this infection that needs to be eradicated. When the acid is applied, the body is alerted and will immediately get to work to cutting it down and killing the virus.
You can find salicylic acid pads, which you just need to apply on the infected area as if you were just putting on a band-aid. There are also the more concentrated products like those with liquid salicylic acid found in bottles. These you need to be careful with since they can easily cause problems if you accidentally apply the acid to uninfected skin areas.
Are There Side Effects?
The only side effect that could occur when using salicylic acid for removing warts is that the substance could also cause a burning sensation on the skin. You may notice that the applied area reddens and could slightly swell.
This is actually a good thing; however, because it shows that the body’s immune system has recognized the problem and is working on removing the wart by killing the infection. To sum it up, one of the safest home remedies to get rid of a wart is a generic salicylic acid warts removal cream.