There are many types of warts that can affect people and while most are considered harmless, often they can be painful and unsightly. They can develop on just about any part of the human body although they are most common on the hands, fingers, feet, neck, and face, and they can affect anyone regardless of age, sex, or race.
Wart Treatment: What You Need To Know!
Something doesn’t feel right…you look closer…Warts! Now before you jump at the first wart treatment that you find, take a deep breath and don’t panic, you’re not alone. In fact warts are one of the World’s most common skin conditions, and just about any part of the body can be affected. And just as important to know is that most warts are completely harmless, often disappearing by themselves over time, or if required there are many effective wart treatment solutions available that will do a good job of removing warts.
The Cause of Warts
Warts are caused by viruses. Specifically viruses belonging to the human papillomavirus family (also known as HPV). And were not just talking about a few wart viruses here…There are over 100 kinds of HPV viruses! Many of the more common types of HPV usually affect the more “accessible” areas such as the hands and fingers (various hand warts), the foot area (particularly the sole of the foot with plantar warts), and some of the other particularly contagious strains of HPV can affect the genital area.
And yes, because warts are a result of a particular viral infection (human papillomavirus), they are contagious, which is why the more common types of warts are spread more easily, because it’s those areas that more readily come into contact with other parts of your body, or even other people.
You may at times be more susceptible to developing warts. For example when you are “run down” your immunity system may be less able to fight the viral attack, and it just so happens that some people are more resistant to the HPV wart viruses, and as such they are less likely to develop warts.
Common Wart Treatment
Firstly it must be said that many types of warts will eventually go away by themselves naturally, which is why many people choose not to worry about wart treatment. However while this may be acceptable for various common warts, there are some strains of warts that can be dangerous or problematic, such as genital warts, and will require medical treatment. Also many people seek wart treatment because the warts are either painful, unsightly, or just plain bothersome!
Some wart removal solutions require a visit to the doctor, some require a visit to the pharmacist or drug store, while other wart treatment could be considered more “home based” wart removal remedies.
In any case the more common types of wart treatment are:
- Applying an agent, such as salicylic acid, to “eat away” at the wart. Usually this type of wart treatment will require daily applications over a period of weeks.
- Freezing the wart using liquid nitrogen (also known as cryotherapy). This type of wart removal can also take several treatments over a period of weeks.
- A doctor may need to cut the wart out, or use a laser to remove the wart. Because scarring can occur, usually this wart treatment is used on particularly troublesome warts.
- The application of other wart treatment topical agents and chemicals, often over-the-counter products.
- Using a series of home-based wart cures and remedies. This can include making up poultices and wraps using common household ingredients, or even using the duct tape method of wart removal.
One thing is for sure. While warts typically are not dangerous, they are almost always uncomfortable and unattractive which is why most people choose to undertake some kind of wart treatment rather than “waiting it out” and seeing if they will naturally disappear. Before going down any wart treatment path, make sure you know what type of wart you are dealing with. This may require a visit to the doctor, the local drug-store, or a good deal of research on your part.
Also it’s important to remember that warts are almost not ever as bad as they seem. There are many effective wart treatment solutions available, and usually the two biggest ingredients you’ll need are patience and persistence.
