Wart Removal

There are many effective methods of wart removal for people who have warts. Most warts can be removed at home in complete privacy. Warts are typically non-cancerous, harmless growths that appear on the skin as a result of contacting a virus known as, the human papillomavirus, (HPV). There are thought to be between 60 to 80 different strains of the human papillomavirus. Different strains are responsible for the different types of warts people get.

Warts, (HPV) are known to be contagious. People become infected with warts by coming into contact with someone else who has warts. You might also become infected by using the same towel, or walking on the same bathmat. Children typically become infected with warts more often than adults. Most likely this is a result of not having built up their immune systems to defend against the different types of human papillomavirus. Children with warts should never share towels with other children or adults, to avoid passing on the virus. Warts most commonly appear due to the virus entering through cuts or scratches in the skin.

When choosing a method to remove warts, the type of wart, and location of the wart on your skin will determine the best method to use. Some methods are more likely than others to cause scarring. In the case of a wart on your face a scar might be just as unacceptable as the wart was. Treating your warts at home but generally as effective as treatment in a doctors office by a dermatologist. However, home treatment usually cost much less, but may take longer to completely remove the wart.

The most common home treatment involves the use of nonprescription salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is the active ingredient in many over-the-counter treatments sold for wart removal. Furthermore there is typically no pain involved with the use of salicylic acid treatments.

Another effective method to remove warts at home is nonprescription cryotherapy treatment. Cryotherapy works by freezing the wart. Over the counter cryotherapy products work by combining two substances and then topically applying that substance to the wart for a few moments. It is usually a small amount of pain involved the use of cryotherapy treatments, making it unsuitable for treating warts on children. Cryotherapy performed in a doctors office is slightly different in that liquid nitrogen is generally used to freeze the wart.

Another very effective method of home wart removal is known as, tape occlusion. With this method you use either waterproof adhesive tape, or duct tape. Start by placing several layers of the tape over top of the wart, leave the tape in place for 6 to 7 days, then remove the tape leaving the area open to the air for 12 hours. Reapply the tape over the wart for another 6 to 7 days then repeat this process as many times as necessary to completely remove the wart. This method works by creating an airtight environment that the wart cannot continue to grow in.

If home treatment to remove your warts have proved to be unsuccessful trip to your doctor’s office might become necessary. Most skin condition problems are treated by Dr. known as a dermatologist. Dermatologists specialize in the treatment of skin diseases and conditions. Many times though, your personal physician will be able to successfully remove a wart for you.

Surgical procedures for wart removal are almost always successful, however warts have been known to grow back, making repeated visits to the doctor’s office necessary. Most wart removal procedures are considered to be cosmetic procedures. Two of the more common surgical procedures used to remove warts are electrosurgery and laser surgery. Electrosurtery works by burning the wart with an electrical current, quite often used in combination with curettage, which is cutting the wart off with a small spoon shaped tool. Laser surgery works by burning the wart off with an intense beam of laser light. Generally a local anesthetic is used before either of these procedures are performed.

Regardless of the method you choose to remove your warts you can rest assured that many effective methods exist for wart removal.