Warts: Prevention and Treatment
Generally, warts are pale, skin-colored growths, the surface of which is rough, with blackened suface capillaries. The growths are shallow without "roots" or "runners" going down to the bone.
Simply put, warts are benign skin tumors, occurring singly on any part of the body, caused by strains of papilloma virus. Make sure that you have a wart , and not a corn, callus, mole, or a cancerous lesion. According to Alvin Zelickson, M.D., if you are under the impression that you may not have a wart but something else other than a wart, it is best to see a doctor, in order to allay your concern. In the words of Robert Garry, PhD., associate professor of microbiology and immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, about 10 percent of the population has a wart. Approximately 125 million dollars annually are spent on wart treatments. Second to acne, warts are common dermatological complaint.
There are forms of technique employed to treat warts, such as burning, scraping, cutting, freezing, injecting, or zapping with a laser. Such techniques may or may not be effective. Such methods can be painful and may leave scars. Even with such methods, warts can reappear. Under such circumstances, you may want to try some home remedies prior to seeing a doctor. According to Memphis dermatologist Thomas Goodman, Jr., M.D., an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences, it is advisable to begin with measures that are simple, before you decide to proceed with other methods.
The following tips may be helpful as far as common warts are concerned, as well plantar warts (those found on the foot):
l) Leave them alone: Bear in mind 40 to 50 percent of all warts disappear on their own, within two years. Children lose warts spontaneously much sooner. Doctors generally caution those with warts that if such growths are left untreated, they may get larger or spread to other areas, considering they are infectious. If your warts multiply, it is advisable to take action.
2) Apply vitamin A directly to warts. Break open a capsule, squeeze some of the liquid onto the wart, and rub it in. Do this once a day. Bear in mind, the vitamin should be applied to the skin only. Also take it orally. Juvenile warts can disappear within a month. Plantar warts take two or five months, or longer.
How to prevent a wart: Warts are caused by a virus. It is in the air. Just as you pick up any viral infection, you can also pick up the virus infection of a wart. Here are some helpful tips that may help:
Keep your shoes on: The virus of a wart thrives in moist environments. If you happen to be around a swimming pool, plastic thong sandals are appropriate to wear. Do not walk barefoot; by doing so, you can safely sidestep cracks in which wart virus thrive.
Clean up: Household bleach works to kill viruses and bacteria.
Do not touch warts constantly. They can spread easily. For instance, if you have a wart on the bottom of your foot, you are advised not to touch it with your hand. If you have a small cut on your finger you may get a wart there.
Periungual warts: A wart virus can enter a cut or opening around your cuticle. This is known as a periungual wart. It is difficult to treat. The best advice is to apply a topical antibiotic cream, such as Bacitracin and cover it with a bandage until it heals.
Be calm: Stress can aggravate the growth of warts.
Eat vegetables and fruits: Eating sensibly may also help prevent wart virus from spreading.
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fishfry aka Elizabeth Figueroa | Oct 4, 2009 | Reply
Very interesting article I enjoyed it very much, I tell my children to keep their hands to themselves and away from their face.
We all carry Hand sanitizer but things happen, thanx for the info
and awesome article
novelist | Oct 9, 2009 | Reply
Thank you for your favorable comment. I am glad that you’ve enjoyed reading this article.