Suddenly, without any warning signs, warts appear. When hidden, they often don’t get much attention. However, when they show up in visible areas like the face, for example, it’s hard not to be bothered by them.
What Causes Warts?
Caused by a virus1, warts can appear anywhere on the body and may hurt or itch. It’s important to know what to do when they show up. But first, let’s understand exactly what warts are.
What Are Warts?
Warts are the result of the abnormal growth of the upper layer of skin caused by the HPV – Human Papillomavirus. Warts have bothered humans for thousands of years2. They were discovered in 3,000-year-old mummies and even mentioned by Shakespeare. Although warts are generally not dangerous, they are unsightly, potentially uncomfortable, contagious, and can also be painful.
Types of Warts
There are five main types of warts. Each type appears on a different part of the body and has a distinct appearance.
Common Warts
Common warts usually grow on the fingers and toes, but can appear elsewhere. They have a rough and grainy appearance with a rounded top.
Plantar Warts
Plantar warts grow on the soles of the feet. Unlike other warts, they grow into the skin, not out of it. If you notice what appears to be a small hole on the bottom of your foot surrounded by hardened skin, it may be a plantar wart. They can cause discomfort when walking.
Flat Warts
Flat warts usually grow on the face, thighs, or arms. They are small and may not be visible at first glance. Flat warts have a flat top, as if they’ve been scraped, and may be pink, brownish, or slightly yellow.
Filiform Warts
Filiform warts grow on the mouth or nose and sometimes on the neck or chin. They are small and shaped like a tiny flap of skin. Filiform warts are the same color as the skin.
Periungual or Common Warts
Vulgar or periungual warts grow under and around the nails of the hands and feet. They can be painful and affect nail growth.
Genital Warts – Important Information
There are more than 100 types of HPV. Almost all types of HPV cause relatively harmless warts that show up on the hands or feet. However, some strains of HPV cause warts in and around the genital organs. In women, these are called genital warts and can eventually lead to cervical cancer, a potentially fatal disease. If you think you have genital warts or have been exposed to them, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
When Should You See a Doctor?
It’s important to consult a doctor when:
- There are warts on your face or another sensitive part of your body such as genital organs, mouth, or nostrils.
- There is bleeding or signs of infection, such as pus or a crust, around a wart.
- The wart is painful.
- The color of the wart changes.
- You have warts and diabetes or an immune deficiency, such as HIV.
How to Remove Warts
Some procedures may be performed by a doctor for the removal and treatment to eliminate warts, such as:3
Liquid Nitrogen
This procedure freezes warts with liquid nitrogen. It can be a little painful, but it usually works well. More than one session may be needed. The freezing causes a blister to form under and around the wart, making it fall off the skin in about a week.
Surgery
Surgery is usually only considered if warts do not respond to other treatments. The doctor can remove them with a scalpel or may burn them. The entire procedure is done with local anesthesia, and recovery can be painful and cause scarring.
Can I Treat Warts at Home?
Although warts often go away on their own, it’s possible to treat them at home. Many warts respond well to treatments available at the pharmacy. Some important things to know:
- Warts are contagious, so they can spread to other parts of your body. If a treatment says you need to file the wart with an emery board or pumice stone, do not use that item on any other part of your body and don’t let anyone else use it.
- Do not try to treat foot warts if you have diabetes. See a doctor. Diabetes can cause loss of feeling in the feet, so you could easily injure yourself without noticing.
- Don’t try to remove warts from your face or another sensitive area of the body (like your genital organs, mouth, or nostrils) with home treatments.
Home Treatments to Remove Warts
Freezing – This treatment sprays cold air (a mixture of dimethyl ether and propane) directly on the wart. This kills the skin and allows the surface of the wart to be scraped off. It’s a good choice for removing a wart quickly, but it’s not strong enough to remove all warts. Salicylic acid – These are products based on salicylic acid that should be applied to warts every day. It’s also recommended to rub off dead skin once a week with a board or pumice stone. This treatment may take several weeks. It will work best if you soak the wart in water for about 15 minutes before applying the treatment. Duct tape – Some people have found success treating warts with duct tape. The process involves covering the wart with a small piece of tape for several days, and then rubbing the wart to remove the dead skin. This approach can take several weeks of effort.
Home Remedies for Warts
Garlic – Garlic is considered one of the most effective natural remedies because of its antiseptic properties. To make this treatment, crush a garlic clove into a paste, apply it to the wart, and cover with gauze before bedtime. Leave it on overnight and remove it in the morning. Do this every day until the wart disappears. Banana Peel – The salicylic acid present in the banana peel (in its white inner part) can help remove warts. To do this, rub the banana peel on the wart daily, several times, for about two weeks. If you prefer, secure a piece of banana peel with tape and leave it to act on the wart. Aloe – Apply aloe gel on the area of the wart and let it act for a few minutes. Do this every day. Lemon – Do not apply this remedy during the day, as lemon in contact with sunlight can stain the skin. Apply three times a day by soaking a gauze in lemon juice and leaving it on for a few minutes. Do this until the wart darkens and falls off. Vitamin C tablets – Grind them and mix with enough water to make a paste. Cover the wart with this paste and a bandage or tape. As the tablets are highly acidic, they can help eliminate the wart and also fight the virus itself. Papaya – Contains an enzyme that digests dead tissue. Make shallow cuts in the surface of a papaya, collect the sap, and let it coagulate. Mix the sap with water, then apply to the wart every morning and evening. Raw Potato – A popular remedy is to rub a slice of raw potato on a wart. Fresh Basil – Crush a leaf and place it over the wart, covering it with tape. The leaves contain compounds that kill the virus. Replace daily for up to a week. Vitamin E oil – Is also said to work against warts. Once a day, pierce a vitamin E capsule and rub the contents on the wart.
Can Warts Be Prevented?
There are some ways to avoid getting warts or stop them from spreading if you already have one:
- Wash your hands regularly, especially if you’ve been in contact with someone with warts.
- Do not scratch warts.
- Cover warts with a bandage.
- Keep hands and feet dry. Wear flip-flops when in a locker room or common shower area.
See Also: The 7 Most Common Diseases in Women and How to Prevent Them Photos: Schweintechnik
