Having a wart is such a nuisance! If you have ever had one, you probably know just how painful they can be, even causing you to miss out on social situations because the pain just isn’t worth it.

These growths, also known as verruca, are actually small tumors that form on the skin. Contrary to popular belief, they are completely harmless. There is the possibility of them becoming malignant, which is why they are important to examine by a medical professional. If you have a wart and you notice any rapid growth, bleeding or eruptions on the skin, you should see a doctor.

What are they?

They are actually small tumors, normally harmless, but if they are on the exposed skin, they can be painful and even embarrassing. They are caused by a viral infection. The hands and feet are two of the most common places for them to appear. They can also emerge when you sweat.

On the other hand, they can be on virtually any part of your body. They can appear on your fingers, hands, knees and even on your toes. Having a wart can, of course, be embarrassing, but you don’t have to live with one permanently. You can get rid of them and you can prevent more from appearing.

Are there different types of warts?

Yes. There are three basic types of them: the common wart, sub-dermal wart and genital wart. The common wart is probably the most common. They appear most often on the hands and theities, but can appear on other parts of the body too.

Sub-dermal (also known as lower) wart can be found on the skin around the area that has the virus. They can be quite painful.

If the skin is broken, the sub-dermal (lower) wart can be very painful. They may also bleed or become irritated if you cut the skin with a razor, so make sure you have something sharp in your hands when you remove them.

When genital warts appear on the genital area, they are usually caused by STDs or sexually transmitted diseases. This is because people who are sexually active can also easily get these kinds of warts.

Do I need to treat my warts?

If you have warts on your body, it is probably because you have the human papillomavirus in your body. It can be a good thing, but it can also be a bad thing. It is possible to get a wart repeatedly from one person and then to another person.

This would be like having a second red mole in your face and then a third one on your mouth and then to your feet! It is possible that a wart can spread to more than one body part and to other people. Having a wart on your face can still bother you, but it is not as if it will kill you off forever.

Since genital warts on the genitals are very common and can appear at any age, you should have them checked by a doctor. But other parts of the body should not be neglected, including the backs of the knees and the tips of the elbows. You might also wish to visit your localphrine clinic to see whether you have high blood pressure or any other conditions that might need to be addressed.

What are the treatments for Warts?

Freezing (Cryotherapy) – the agent is used to freeze the wart

Excision – the wart is cut away under a local anesthetic

Cauterization – using heat, the wart is burned away under a scorching beam of light

Electrosurgery – this includes an electric current to burn off the wart

Laser surgery – this is a thorough treatment of the wart with a laser. This treatment avoids the use of chemicals cautery.

Natural treatments

There are a number of natural treatments that have proven to be effective in treating common warts.

How do these treatments work?

Plantar warts are effectively cured at home with the aid of over-the-counter products such as Mederma or Heal Warts.

To heal Warts

If you want to know how to heal warts, you may have heard of the natural wart removal methods such as, banana peels, apple cider vinegar, aloe vera and raw potatoes. These treatments however, while being effective do take a little preparation time.

The most effective treatment for plantar warts is however, over-the-counter medication called Aloe Vera Athleta. You can purchase these over-the-counter treatments without any need for a prescription.

Using an effective method for at home

When it comes to over-the-counter medications, make sure that the product you purchase contains aloe vera and not a product that simply contains aloe vera.