Warts are common skin abnormalities that occur in
children and adults. They are caused by a family of
common viruses that are known as the Human
Papillomavirus (HPV). Common warts typically grow
on the extremities of the body - the fingers, hands,
and feet - but they can also grow on any other part
of the body, including inside the mouth and on or
inside genitals. In these cases, common warts can
be difficult to detect.
Warts are Contagious
Sexual partners can pass genital
warts to one another. Common warts on other parts
of the body are not directly transmitted, but the
virus that causes them can be transmitted from person-to-person.
While there is no known measure that can be taken
to prevent warts completely, certain hygiene practices
reduce one's chances of getting common warts. Wash
your hands frequently to reduce the chance of receiving
the Human Papillomavirus and growing warts. Other
preventive measures to take are wearing sandals in
public places (showers, pools, etc.) and cleaning
wounds, which are sites that are prone to growing
common warts. Such preventive measures will not only
reduce the chance of getting common warts; it will
also improve your health and reduce risk overall.
If left alone, many warts will disappear on their
own and will not require wart removal procedures by
a qualified doctor. Many warts disappear after one
or two years, and doctors are not entirely sure why
this is the case. In situations where warts persist,
however, a doctor should be consulted. While common
warts are not necessarily harmful (except in the case
of genital warts), they are cosmetic blemishes that
can affect one's quality of life.
In some cases, warts can also be in locations, such
as fingertips, where they become irritated. Common
wart removal should be considered in such cases. Wart
removal should also be seriously considered for genital
warts, which, if left untreated, can lead to cancer.
It is difficult to detect genital warts sometimes,
especially for women; however, regular exams by a
doctor can catch warts before they cause more serious
medical problems.
Some Treatment Options:
Western doctors may consider several methods of common
wart removal. Salicylic acid, cantharidin, and liquid
nitrogen are all chemicals that are used for wart
removal. These are the most common types of wart treatments.
It is rare for surgical removal via excision to be
used as a form of wart
removal treatment, as it can scar or create an area that
is vulnerable to wart re-growth.
The exception is with genital warts, which may be excised. Genital warts may also be treated by CO2 laser surgery, chemical applications, or Interferon injections.
However these treatments do not guarantee that common
warts will not grow back. The best solution for permanently
eliminating warts may be through the use of alternative
therapy.
