<P>Warts ? Knowing what they are and telling them goodbye

Warts that are found on the skin are called “common warts” and they are local growths in the skin that are caused by the human papillomavirus, which is the same virus that causes cervical cancer in women. There have been over 100 types of HPVs that have been associated with warts that are found on the skin.

It is usually warned that warts are contagious, but it is very possible for just one family member to have them. They may also just affect one part of the body, such as the feet, the hands, or various other areas without spreading to other areas of the body at any time.

Warts can also come in very unique shapes. For instance, an individual may develop warts on the face that are in a horseshoe shape. They can also develop on the lips and in the corner of the mouth. Warts to affect anyone, but they are most common in children ages 12 to 16. It is believed that 10% of the general population has warts, with 20% of those with the condition being schoolchildren. Those who have HIV, chemotherapy, or organ transplants may also be more susceptible to warts. This is because their immune system has been weakened.

The different types of warts and what they look like

There are five different types of warts. Those types include:

• The dome shaped warts that you may find on the backs of fingers, on the toes, and on the knees. These are the most common form of warts and they are generally painless. These are the warts that are easy to ignore if they are not in a place where they can easily be seen.

• Plantar warts, which can be found on the bottom of the foot. They are different than the other types of warts in that they are flat and they cause a callous to build up. The callous has to be peeled back before the actual wart can be seen. It is believed that these warts attack blood vessels that are deep within the skin and they can be very painful.

• Flat warts may show up on the face, the legs, and other areas of the body. They also tend to appear in large numbers. You will not find just one in a particular area. These like to have friends, so you will find them in clusters, which can make them even more noticeable and that much more irritating.

• Periungual warts are those warts that you’ll find under or around fingernails and toenails. These can become irritating and be easily cut or nipped, making them painful.

• Filliform warts look like a single long stalk. It usually shows up on the face. This is one of the types of warts that are hard to hide. This can make a person shy away from others in a social environment. This can be especially hard on schoolchildren who must be visible to other children.

Facts and symptoms of warts

The symptoms of common warts are quite obvious. The bumps are small, fleshy, and grainy. They may also be pink, white, or tan and rough to the touch. You may notice a single wart or you may notice that the warts appear in clusters. If they are cut or picked, small black dots may show up. These are commonly referred to as “wart seeds.” Wart seeds are actually very small blood vessels that are clotted. They really shouldn’t be picked at or cut for the fact that common warts are most usually painless and they do inflict children and young adults the most.

An interesting fact about warts is the fact that they spread, but they spread because the HPV spreads when the wart is compromised. That is why more warts tend to sprout up around the original wart. It is ideal to do what is necessary to prevent the spread of HPV by taking very special care of the areas that are affected by warts. This is discussed a little bit later in this article.

How to treat warts

There are different ways to treat common warts. It is good to have them treated because they can be annoying to anyone. Now these treatments do not work on genital warts. They only work on common warts. The treatment methods include:

• Salicylic-acid – These treatments are available in gels, pads, drops, and in plasters. These can take care of tiny warts or take care of large warts. Salicylic-acid will dissolve the protein that makes the wart what it is. The proteins also make up the thick layer of dead skin that covers it.

• Freezing methods – There are aerosol wart treatments that are due over the counter. The warts are frozen at a temperature of minus 70 degrees. This compares to the liquid hydrogen that is used by most dermatologists, which can be as cold as minus 320 degrees.

• Duct tape is an at home method that many individuals use. It is believed that warts can actually be suffocated if the oxygen is cut off from the wart. Electrical tape is also an option that people use. This is a hard method because it is hard to keep the tape in place. It has to stay in place all of the time and only be removed a few hours each week. The problem with this is that the tape almost always falls off.

Wart treatments are safe, but they do require patience. This is because they can take a while to go away. Warts can also appear and disappear as they please without any sort of explanation. Sometimes the warts will sprout offshoots from the original site. Then there are those that don’t do that at all. Any time these treatments are administered, it is important to soak the affected area in warm water so that any loose skin can be removed. This should be done every few days with a mild abrasive. The best abrasive tool to use is the pumice stone.

There is also the fact that some warts will respond to treatment and some won’t. That is why some individuals just ignore their warts. They do this because they will eventually go away. If a case is not very severe, it is a good idea to see a doctor for a quick freeze to get rid of them.

It is a good idea to seek medical advice when the warts become bothersome. Most individuals don’t have to seek medical treatment because the warts will disappear on their own. But seeking medical treatment does help in preventing warts from spreading to other parts of the body and to other people. If home treatments are not successful, then it is important to see a doctor if they are bothersome or they are multiplying rapidly. It is especially important to seek treatment for warts when they are bleeding or they become painful. Diabetics should also be especially vigilant if they have warts on their feet because this can lead to a much more severe condition.

How to prevent warts

Warts can be prevented. Furthermore, the spread of warts can also be prevented. Here are some things that you want to do to prevent warts and prevent the spread:

• It is important to not shave, brush, clip, or cut areas that have warts in order to prevent the spread of HPV.

• If you have used a file or clipper on your warts, don’t use the same file or clipper on your unaffected nails.

• If you have warts around your fingers, do not bite your nails. This is another way to spread HPV to other areas of the body.

• Don’t pick at your warts because picking causes the virus to spread. It is a good idea to cover warts with adhesive bandages in order to prevent the spread.

• It is also important to keep hands as dry as possible. Warts are harder to keep at bay in moist environments.

• Make sure your hands are washed after touching warts to keep the spread from happening.

• Family members should not use the same towels as someone who has warts. The towels can help in the spread.

Since they can be spread from person-to-person, prevent the spread to someone else by being mindful of these things. And if you already have warts, make sure you follow these rules to ensure you don’t spread them to other areas of your body. Spreading them to other areas of the body can be miserable and can increase the chances of spreading to others. Prevention can be quite easy as long as common sense is exercised. Sometimes it can be difficult, but it is very possible. Taking care means not spreading warts to those places that others may find to be obvious, which can save a lot of social embarrassment. Actually, keeping warts under control will solve a lot of problems in an individual’s life, which is why it is important to get them under control as soon as possible

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