How To Treat Warts

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How To Treat Warts

Think witches and warts would probably be the first thing that would come to mind. Unfortunately, warts are about as non-fictitious as wands and spells are fictitious. The human papillomavirus (HPV) can infect just about anyone and is responsible for this embarrassing and sometimes painful condition. There is a variety of ways to answer the question, “How to treat warts?”

Before treating them, you need to be sure that what you are looking at are definitely warts. Most warts are recognizable to the adult eye but unlike those you would envision on a witch’s face, they may appear in different forms – as rough lumps or even smooth, flat lesions – just about anywhere (hands, feet, genitals, in or around fingernails or toenails, just to name a few).

As the saying goes, prevention is always better than the cure. Warts are contagious, but the chances of them being transmitted from person to person – aside from genital warts – are low. Just to be safe, avoiding direct skin contact with an infected person is advisable. Practicing good hygiene methods and having a balanced diet are also other basic methods of prevention.

How To Treat Warts

To minimize the spread of warts, should you be “thwarted,” avoid touching uninfected areas before washing your hands as the virus can collect under your fingernails and transfer to other parts of your body.

Warts are not deadly but they might take a long time to disappear. Treating them might require some trial and error as results from the same type of treatment might differ from person to person.

Just remember that warts definitely do not signify the end of the world! The following three approaches might prove to be useful in Mission: How to Treat Warts.

Firstly, warts will go away with time. It just depends on how long you are willing to wait it out. Some warts disappear within a few weeks, but some might take a few years to bid adieu. So if you have the patience of steel, ignore these warts.

Secondly, if your warts can be counted with one hand and are as visibly small as seeds then a trip to the doctor for an electrical zap or a quick freeze should do the trick. Scarring is also not an issue and the pain factor is minimal.

Lastly, tough cases: You may actually treat tough warts that come aplenty on your own. One popular over the counter treatment is Salicylic acid. This powerful medication is available is numerous forms (drops, plasters, pads, etc.) and can be applied to all kinds of warts from the small and smooth to the big, rough and lumpy. The acid contains keratolytic agents that act by dissolving the protein that both the warts and thick layer of dead skin that often tops these warts.

If all else fails or if your patience starts wearing thin, consult your doctor. Common clinical methods include freezing with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy), or burning with an electric needle (electrocautery) and if need be, laser treatments. Be prepared to make a couple of return trips though as warts are after all viral infections and may recur.