Got Warts? Home Wart Removal And Treament
Warts are benign growths on the top layer of the skin that is caused by a virus called the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Causes
Warts may affect anyone and any part of the body. The HPV has more than 100 different strains. Two strains cause 90 percent of genital warts in both males and females, while other strains cause the more common type of warts.
Symptoms
Different types of warts grow in different parts of the body. Some genital warts may even be invisible because they grow inside the urethra and the rectal area. The more common type of warts varies in size. But what they have in common is that they are usually painless. A dermatologist will be able to tell if it’s a wart after examination.
Home Remedies
Since warts are caused by virus, antibiotics and antifungal wouldn’t work. The best thing to do is just wait for them to go away on their own, but for some people it may even take years. Because of this, some people go to dermatologists for wart removal. However, there are those who would prefer home wart removal because procedures in clinics and hospitals are more costly, and they usually have side effects.
Here is a list of wart treatment methods one can take in the comfort of his own home:
· Salicylic acid – it is best to apply salicylic acid while the skin is damp because this allows the acid to penetrate the skin more efficiently. It is also highly recommendable to scrape the wart off first with pumice or Emory board before applying salicylic acid.
· Duct tape – though medical evidence behind the efficiency of this method, most people advise it. The idea behind this method is to suffocate the infected part by covering it with duct tape for long periods of time.
· Over-the-counter freezing sprays – these products freezes the infected area, but application should be done with extra care and only according to package instructions.
Medical Treatment
Treatment with salicylic acid may take a long period of time. So, people may sometimes seek more radical medical treatments. These treatments produce immediate results, but more often than not, they leave scars and blisters or produce side effects.
Examples of these are: laser wart treatment, surgical excision, cryotherapy and application of stronger chemicals such as trichloroacetic acid and cantharidin.
For genital warts and warts affecting delicate parts of the body, it is better to consult a physician rather than applying home remedies.
Prevention
The best way to prevent further infection is to avoid contact with the infected area. Boosting the immune system with vitamins and minerals will also surely help.
