Understanding Warts: Causes, Home Treatments, and Prevention Tips
Doctor explains everything you need to know about warts, including causes, treatments, and prevention tips. Find out when to seek medical advice and explore home remedies to combat these common skin growths.
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Topic Breakdown
In this video, we delve into the world of warts, exploring what they are, what causes them, and a variety of treatment options you can try at home. We'll also discuss preventive measures and when it might be necessary to consult a doctor.
So, what exactly are warts? Warts are localized thickenings of the skin, and when they occur on the soles of the feet, they're known as plantar warts. However, they can appear anywhere on the body, including the hands, and are also referred to as verrucas.
Warts are caused by an infection in the outer layer of the skin, known as the epidermis. The culprit here is the human papilloma virus (HPV), of which there are over 150 strains. Common warts are typically due to just a few of these strains. The infection causes the skin to overgrow and thicken, resulting in a benign (non-cancerous) skin growth that we recognize as a wart.
You can catch warts through direct contact with infected skin, which is why places like public changing rooms, shower cubicles, and swimming pool areas are common hotspots for transmission. Warts can also spread through auto-inoculation, which is a fancy term for infecting yourself. This occurs when warts are transferred to surrounding skin through scratching and rubbing—so try to avoid doing this!
If you decide to go ahead with treatment, what options are available? First off, it's important to note that not treating a wart is a reasonable option. Up to 65% of warts resolve on their own within two years. If the wart isn't causing any symptoms or pain, you could simply leave it alone.
However, if you do decide to treat it, most warts can be managed with advice from your pharmacist and over-the-counter medications. Here are some common treatments:
1. **Salicylic Acid**: Available in paints and gels of various strengths, salicylic acid works by removing the outer dead layers of skin and triggering the immune system to clear the virus. Before applying, soak your feet in warm water and file away the thickened skin with a pumice stone or emery board. Apply the lacquer once a day for at least 12 weeks, ideally at bedtime. Avoid the surrounding normal skin and cover the lesion with a dressing for effective treatment. If the wart becomes too sore, stop applying the paint for a few days before resuming.
2. **Cryotherapy**: This involves freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen, a very cold gas. Over-the-counter options are available, or you might find this service at your doctor's surgery or podiatrist. Thick warts need to be shaved before freezing to allow the cold to penetrate the skin. Cryotherapy should be repeated every three to four weeks and can be painful, potentially causing blisters and burns. Because of this, it's not usually recommended for children. Several freezes might be needed to clear the wart, and using a salicylic acid preparation in between freezes may improve effectiveness.
3. **Duct Tape**: There's conflicting evidence about the effectiveness of duct tape, but it seems most effective in children. Cover the wart with duct tape for six days, and if the tape falls off, replace it with a fresh piece. After six days, remove the tape, soak the area in lukewarm water, and file down the wart to remove dead skin cells. Leave the wart uncovered overnight and reapply the duct tape in the morning. Continue this for up to two months.
Other options include silver nitrate caustic pencils, fluorouracil, and bleomycin injections, but these are more specialist treatments requiring a doctor's consultation. Surgical removal is a rare option if topical treatments don't work.
Preventing warts involves several steps:
- Wear comfortable shoes and avoid sharing shoes or socks.
- Keep your feet clean and dry, changing shoes and socks daily.
- Don't go barefoot in public places; if you have a wart on your foot, cover it with special swimming socks or wear sandals.
- Dispose of any skin filings hygienically and avoid using hard skin removal tools on other body parts to prevent auto-inoculation.
- Apply topical treatments regularly for the best chance of cure.
When should you see a doctor about a wart? Consult a doctor if the lesion is bleeding, painful, changes in appearance, or interferes with your daily activities. Also, seek medical advice if you're unsure about the diagnosis, if the wart persists and starts spreading, or if you have diabetes, poor sensation in your feet, or a weakened immune system due to medication, AIDS, or an immune deficiency disorder.
This brings us to the end of the video. Check out the links in the description box for more useful information on this topic. If you learned something new or want to share your experiences, please do so in the comments section. If you enjoyed the video, consider liking it and subscribing to the channel for weekly medical education videos.
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