Warts are common skin abnormalities that occur in
children and adults. Warts are caused by a family
of common viruses that are known as the Human
Papillomavirus (HPV). 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, such warts can be
difficult to detect.
What About Genital Warts
Genital warts are also contagious. Sexual partners can pass genital warts to one another. 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 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 warts. Such preventive measures will not only reduce the chance of getting warts; it will also improve your health and reduce risk overall.
Will Warts dissapear on Their Own?
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 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. 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.
What About Treatment?
Western doctors may consider several methods of 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, 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 warts will not grow back. The best solution for
permanently eliminating warts may be through the use
of alternative therapy.
