Living With Warts and How They Are Caused.

Published : June 24, 2010 :: 16:06:18 [ 5,932 views ]

Warts are caused by a skin disorder which in return is caused by a virus of the human paillomavirus (HPV) family, a DNA virus. Warts can be recognized by the small round growths on various parts of the body.

They tend to be found in the warm moist areas of the body and whilst some are quite harmless, others that are found on the soles of the foot or where the parts are being touched all the time, can be itchy and painful.

Verruca Vulgaris, (a flat wart), genital warts, filiform warts, (finger like warts around the nose and mouth), plantar warts (soles of feet), and the subungual and priungual warts (found on fingers and toes) are just some of the long list of the hundreds of varieties. There are many varieties of warts caused by HPV, (human papilloma virus) whereby some will cause common warts, some will cause genital wart, while some will develop other types of warts. The virus can spreads by contact like handshakes, while other types are spread through unprotected sex.

Developing warts through kissing toads is not true, (at least not the pond types), though the virus can spread from person to person by physical contact or touching a surface that has been touched by an infected person. A wet floor as in a bathroom or a swimming pool, or a wet bathmat is a good place to catch the infection, as is any part of the body that has cuts or scratches. Picking at the wart until it bleeds can lead to the spread of the virus. Once you have caught the virus and the warts begin to develop, it is quite a difficult and long process in ridding yourself of them.

The spread of warts is quick and easy, so if you find you have one, be careful not to pick at it or touch it except in the process of applying treatment. If at any time you have touched a wart, then wash your hands thoroughly and carefully. The sooner the wart is treated, the sooner it will start to disappear and the less chance it will have of spreading.

Genital warts can be prevented from spreading, though not many people are happy with idea of abstinence as this is the only way of not passing on the virus. Common warts are easily treated and removed with a number of different treatments available such as over the counter topical medications that contain ‘salicylic acid’, oral cimetidine to stimulate the immune system in order to fight the wart causing virus. Cryosurgery is a freezing process where the wart is blasted with liquid nitrogen. Laser treatment is also used in the dispersion of warts that prove to be unresponsive to treatment. The last available form of treatment is burning of the wart using a light electrical current. After treatment the warts generally fall off though the need for further treatment may be required due to the stubbornness of some. The mentioned treatments may not be suitable for genitals warts.

In addition to the previously mentioned home remedies for the removal of warts, there is the duct tape removal which seems quite popular. This entails covering the wart with a piece of duct tape and leaving it on for five to six days after which the tape is removed and the wart is soaked in water. Using an emery board or pumice stone, gently rub over the wart. This as with the other treatments will take a couple of months to remove. Unfortunately, even after the removal of the warts, as they are contagious, they can return. To ensure they do no reoccur, you would need to boost your immune system to fight off the virus.

Finger warts are common and caused by HPV. These can be found on the feet as well as the hands and are small, fleshy bumps which are sometimes rough to the touch. These small tumors are flesh, white or tan in color, grow fairly quickly and are usually non cancerous. They are extremely itchy from the start of growth and can bleed when scratched.

As with the other warts, finger warts are contagious, though not as much as genital warts and not every one who comes into contact will go on to develop them. It all boils down to how high your immune system is. If you have stubborn warts that won’t respond to treatments, then you need to seek medical advice as minor surgery may be required.

Myfanawy Evans