Remove Warts Using Home Remedies
Edited by Nerissa Avisado, Lynn, Alma, Eng and 1 other
You don't have to live with unsightly warts on the skin. Moreover, know that these seemingly innocent HPV (human papillomavirus) can do you more harm than good. Though 60-70 percent of warts are actually harmless and will eventually go away even without treatment, know that more than 70 percent of cervical cancer is caused by HPV growing on the female genitals. The body's immune system can knock out the virus the same way it gets rid of common colds. If you like to help your system to accelerate the process a bit, why not find out about natural ways and home remedies for safe wart removal?
What's up with Warts
A wart is typically a small, benign skin growth or tumor that grows on a person's hand or feet. It is caused by a strain of virus called the HPV or human papillomavirus. The virus stimulates keratin, a hard protein layer found on the skin, to be produced at an unusually fast rate. There are myriad known types of HPV and about 30 can cause warts to grow in the genital area.
They may manifest different physical appearances, depending on which part of the body it is growing on and how thick the skin is. For instance, it may look flat and smooth, but there are warts that can also appear like a bump with a rough texture. There are blood vessels that supply it with oxygen and nutrients. Severe cases of warts can cause the deformation of skin lines and creases. A wart that grows on the sole of the foot is referred to as a verruca.
Warts are infectious, meaning that they can be transmitted from one person to another, either through direct contact or indirectly by sharing personal stuff like towels. The virus enters the skin or epidermis through cuts or openings.
The Different Types of Warts
Know the different types of warts that can cause unsightly growths. Not all are harmless and inconspicuous; some types can cause you discomforts and grow immensely in size. Among those that you need to be worried about are the genital warts. These are primarily transmitted through intimate sexual contact. Aside from genital warts, there are about five other major types.
- 1Verruca Vulgaris or Common Warts:These warts are the rough type with thickened bumps known as plaques and papules. They are gray-brown in color and dome-shaped. These grow anywhere particularly in the hands - fingers, knuckles, and elbows, as well as on knees. You may see dark dots that are actually blood vessels with clots.
- 2Verruca Plana or Plane Warts:These are flat, smooth, round warts that grow on the soles of the feet and cause pain when you walk. They appear yellowish or brownish, are quite common among young kids and grow on their face, legs and hands.
- 3Verruca Filiformis or Filiform Warts:This type is unmistakable because of the long and narrow appearance and the skin-tone, thread-like growths sticking out from these warts. This grows in the face - nose, eyelids, around the mouth or beard area - and in the armpits.
- 4Verrucas or Plantar Warts:This type mostly appear on the soles, heels, and toes of the feet. They have the tendency to grow back into the skin because one's weight can push onto the sole of the foot. The location makes walking excruciating. Verrucas typically have a black dot (blood vessel) in the middle of a white, hardened area.
- 5Periungual and Mosaic Warts:These are characteristically rough warts growing in clusters. Periungual are those that grow under and around the nails, on hands and feet. Mosaic warts grow on the palm of the hands and feet.
Natural and Safe Wart Removal Home Remedies
The growth of warts is a sign that the immune system is weak, which is why pregnant women and children make easy targets for HPV. Thus, battling warts entails prophylactic boosting of the immune system and using of botanicals to eradicate the virus and treat the wart. If the wart is not causing you undue pain or is not spreading, a strong immune system is enough to fight it off. Here are some home remedies to for safe wart removal that you can try:
- 1A strong immune system will help prevent, growth and spread of the HPV. Living a healthy lifestyle, eating a balanced diet, exercising, and sleeping well and getting plenty of rest are important in boosting the immune system.Bolster your immune system.
- Cut and spoon the sap gel of aloe Vera and apply it directly to the wart.
- Cover the wart using tape or a bandage.
- Repeat the process several times during the day until the wart falls off.
- Get the sap by breaking the dandelion stem.
- Apply this sap or extract to the wart.
Medical Treatments for Warts
Consider seeing a doctor for wart treatment if the wart is causing you pain, is changing its appearance, bleeds easily, and is spreading quite fast to the other parts of your body. If you want the wart taken off for medical or cosmetic reasons, ask your doctor about safe procedures. Generally, one or a combination treatment may be recommended:
- 1Salicylic acid.This is an OTC product that can treat warts within three months. Soak the wart in water for about five minutes before applying the acid. It can, however, destroy the healthy skin. So, protect the surrounding skin with petroleum jelly or a corn plaster before applying salicylic acid. Rub off the wart with a pumice stone or emery board. Do not use on the face.
- 2This is a medical procedure that makes use of a very cold liquid, which is sprayed onto the wart, freezing and destroying the cells in the process. This is performed exclusively by healthcare professionals and may require the use of a local anesthetic. An OTC equivalent is sold in pharmacies (dimethyl-ether/propane spray); it should not be used on the face.Cryotherapy.
- 3Laser treatment/photodynamic therapy.The wart is removed using a laser beam. This is generally recommended for hard-to-treat warts. In photodynamic therapy, a chemical is used before it is activated by light, usually laser light, to eradicate the wart cells.
- 4This is a medical procedure in which the wart is burned using an electric current.Electrocautery.
- 5Chemical treatments to avoid.You can buy these with a prescription - glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, and podophyllin. Be careful that these are just applied only on the wart, and not on the skin around it.
- 6This is an invasive procedure that is resorted to only when all else has failed. This is generally performed under local or general anesthetic. Big warts are cut out while smaller warts may be removed using a curette.Invasive surgery.
- 7Antigen shots and immunotherapy.The procedure is intended to stimulate the immune system to recognize the wart and to fend it off. It leaves no scars unlike surgery.
- 8This is a derivative of vitamin A that can disrupt the growth of warts.Retinoids.
- 9Bleomycin (Blenoxane).This is a medicine that is used to treat cancer. It can be injected directly into warts, which kill the HPV.
There are certain things to remember insofar as warts are concerned. First, you do not need to be pestered by them. Second, a healthy lifestyle and strong immune system are the best ways to prevent the growth of these skin outgrowths. Third, there are safe, inexpensive and natural ways to get rid of them. And fourth, you can also seek medical help if you want to accelerate the process and you have the budget.
If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.
