Warts
(Verruca Vulgaris) is a benign skin tumor caused by a virus.
The virus responsible for warts is called human papillomavirus
(HPV). Warts may appear as skin-colored, flat or slightly raised
lesions. These are not cancerous, but may be contagious. Warts
may be found in any age group and are most common in a younger
population.
TYPES
There
are several different types of warts and their names are primarily
determined by their location on the body.
-COMMON
WARTS: These are the kind usually seen in young children
and often occur on the hands or arms. The virus can gain entrance
to the skin through an abrasion or cut.
-PLANTAR
WARTS: Frequently seen on the bottom of the feet and have
a flattened appearance. Because of their location these warts
are sometimes painful and become irritated with walking.
-FLAT
WARTS: Smaller in size and usually less rough than common
warts. They can be very numerous and are often found in the
facial region. Areas which are shaved are more susceptible to
this type of wart.
-RECTAL
WART: May have a wet, cauliflower appearance and can be
transmitted through sexual contact.
-GENITAL
WARTS: Similar in appearance to rectal warts and often spread
through sexual contact. Men who have penile warts should use
a condom during intercourse until the warts have been successfully
treated. Genital warts in women can cause precancerous lesions
of the cervix. See Pap smear.
TREATMENT
There
are different types of treatments for warts depending in their
location, the age of the individual and how long the warts have
been present. Treatments can be time-consuming and expensive
and some warts are very difficult to eradicate.
Local
application of canthardin causes a blister to form under the
wart and then it can be removed. Application of salicylic acid
gel or solution is frequently used for common warts in children.
In
adults freezing or cryotherapy is often effective. It is not
very painful. Electrocautery (burning) and laser surgery can
also be used , but often require a small amount of a local anesthetic.
Laser is usually reserved for warts which have not responded
to other types of treatment.
In
foot warts salicylic acid plasters can be applied. The feet
should be kept as dry as possible. A warm, moist environment
is conducive to the spread of the wart virus.
An
anti-cancer drug known as bleomycin is sometimes injected into
the wart and has shown some effectiveness.
Lastly
certain types of immunotherapy have shown promise in treating
warts. Interferon can also be used to cause an immune reaction
and rejection of the wart virus.
WHY
ARE WARTS HARD TO CURE?
CoolMD
has received numerous inquiries regarding the cause and treatment
of warts. Warts, whether they are on the hands, feet, body or
face are caused by viruses. All of the common methods of wart
treatment involve irritating the warts. As the warts are irritated,
hopefully there will be an immune reaction of the body. This
will involve the body mounting an immune reaction to the wart
virus. Once the body forms a reaction and antibodies to the
wart virus, the wart will clear. Also, this is the explanation
as to why sometimes treating the largest warts will allow the
smaller warts to go away, when they are not even treated.
This
is the reason why some people have more difficulty in clearing
their warts than others do. Some people begin an immune reaction
early and easily and may be cleared in one or two treatments.
Others do not react to the treatment immediately and they need
many treatments before clearing occurs. Indeed, some people
who are on medications to suppress their immune system, such
as after a kidney transplant, may have the greatest difficulty
clearing warts.
If
you have only one to two warts, sometimes these will be cut
out or burned out. However, if any of the wart virus remains,
the wart will return and scar will remain.This is why warts
are rarely burned out since it can leave scars and does not
develop immunity. Certainly, if a person has many warts, it
is not practical to burn out all their warts.
Several
choices for wart treatment exist depending on many factors.
Often liquid nitrogen spray or one of several different surface
acids is chosen which causes redness and irritation. After there
is a reaction started, the person may be able to clear the warts
with home treatment. If Duofilm is chosen, the best treatment
is to apply the liquid, one drop daily to each wart in the evening
and cover with a Band-Aid. If Trans-Ver-Sal is chosen, it should
be applied each night for two to three nights, then stopped
for seven to ten days to allow dead skin to peel off. This can
be repeated until the wart is gone.
To
successfully clear warts, one must be stubborn, think positive
and irritate the warts until the body's immune system can mount
a successful attack.
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