Warts

THERE ARE THREE kinds of warts, all requiring different treatment. Tile), include common warts, plantar warts, and genital warts.

COMMON WARTS

The common wart, ranging from a tiny’ pinhead-sized speck to the size of a dime, can be found on the hands, feet, forearms, and face. A wart is rough, irregular tissue that can be fiat or raised, dry or moist, and usually has a rough, pitted surface. If you are uncertain about a wart, be sure to consult a doctor, as in some cases rough growths on the skin can be other types of lesions, including cancerous growths. Warts are caused by a virus and they are highly contagious. If you or someone in your household has warts, it is advisable to use separate hand towels.

The truth about common warts is that if you leave them alone, eventually they are likely to go away. But most people dislike the way they look, are embarrassed by them, and want to remove them. There are folk remedies for ridding yourself of warts that are highly effective. Here are the most popular and successful treatments:

NATURAL PRESCRIPTION FOR COMMON WARTS

• Apply vitamin E directly to the wart, cover it with a bandage, repeat twice daily and eventually, the wart will disappear. It can take from a week to several months to work.
• Put a crushed garlic clove directly on the wart and cover it with a bandage. When blisters have formed after about twenty-four hours, remove the bandage. The wart should fall off within a week.
• Use over-the-counter medications; these contain salicylic acid and are safe and effective.

PLANTAR WARTS

Plantar warts are found on the soles of the feet and, like common warts, are caused by a virus. They’re also contagious-and easy to get from walking barefoot at a common shower or health club dressing room. If you have them, it’s best not to walk around the house barefoot. Plantar warts can sometimes be painful if their location causes constant pressure from walking and running.

The most effective step to take to rid yourself of plantar warts is over-the-counter medications containing salicylic acid. These preparations are most effective if used when the warts first appear. It’s important to soak the foot in warm water to increase the penetration of the medicine, or use it after a bath or shower. I advise patients to put some petroleum jelly on the skin surrounding the wart so the medicine will not affect the surrounding tissue: Sometimes people apply the medicine carelessly and develop damaged tissue that’s as painful as the wart itself.

NATURAL PRESCRIPTION FOR PLANTAR WARTS

• Apply the medication containing salicylic acid in the amounts: specified on the package and for the recommended duration.

IN ADDITION: If you do not have any luck removing common warts or plantar warts with other methods, you can have them surgically removed by a dermatologist.

GENITAL WARTS

Genital warts, also caused by a virus, are transmitted by sexual contact. It’s important if you have genital warts to avoid having sex until the wart is treated. Genital warts appear on the vagina, the tip of the penis, and around the anus. Sometimes they can have a cauliflower shape. If you think you have genital warts, you must see a doctor because they cannot be treated at home. Whereas other warts can be ignored unless they’re irritating, genital warts should be treated even if they don’t cause any pain or discomfort.