Warts on Hands: Causes and Treatment

Gareth — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:22:14 +0000

Warts are small skin tumors that look like cauliflowers, or blisters. They are caused by a virus infection, most often the human papillomavirus (HPV), and can be found anywhere on the body, although usually on the feet and hands. Although fairly common, warts viewed by society with disdain, and they conjure up images of uncleanliness, poor hygiene and grossness. This is because they are undesirable skin blemishes, and warts on hands are particularly singled out for scrutiny, as they are contagious to the touch. Touching objects and using towels after a person infected with HPV can pass the virus on, and are well known as warts on hands causes.

There are different types of warts. Genital warts, for example, are found only in genital regions, and are a STD, as they are only passed on through sexual intercourse. The Common wart is the most common, and manifests as small warts on hands and knees. Other types of warts include plantar, filiform and mosaic warts.

Treatment

A Bad Case of Warts on Hand

There are many options available for treatment for warts on hands. These include prescription medication, over-the-counter drugs, and surgical and other procedures. Which option for warts treatment a person takes is entirely up to them, depending on monetary costs, desires and preferences.

Drugstore bought treatments include medications containing salicylic acid. Using these drugs, removing a wart on hand can take up to 3 months and involves a routine of applying acid and scraping away dead skin. Cryosurgery devices can also be bought to freeze off the warts, as a home treatment for warts; this method is not as effective as freezing with liquid nitrogen, however. Also the over-the-counter cryosurgical devices are considered to be too big to treat small warts.

Prescription medication, prescribed by a doctor, used to treat warts include imiquimod (an immune system booster), salicylic acid (in greater concentration than drugstore bought mixes), and podophyllum (that works by eroding away the wart). Surgical procedures to treat warts can involve the injection of antigens into the affected areas to boost the immune system, more advanced cryosurgery than can be done at home (using liquid nitrogen), laser treatment, and surgically scraping the warts off.

Conclusion

The most common area to get warts is on the hands and feet. This is from touching objects, or walking over floors, that have been infected with the HPV virus. Fortuneatly, there are many treatments available for warts. Whichever method of treatment a person chooses is up to them. If they want to be rid of warts quickly, a surgical option might be the way to go, although they are expensive. If a person wants to save money, or doesn’t mind a lengthy treatment for their warts, prescribed medication or over-the-counter creams can also be effective.

Vaginal Warts: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Vaginal Warts: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Gareth — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:18:25 +0000

What Are Vaginal Warts?

Vaginal warts are the female version of genital warts. It is a disease caused by a type of human papillomavirus (HPV). The strain of HPV that causes warts is transmitted sexual, and hence vaginal genital warts are classified as an STD (sexually transmitted disease). HPV is extremely common and it is estimated that by the age of 50, 80% of American women will have contracted the disease, be it a strain that causes warts, other symptoms or is symptomless.

Symptoms

Generally, of the many of strains of the HPV virus that is circulating, most don’t have symptoms. However, one obvious symptom of genital warts is the appearance of warts on the penis, scrotum or anus for men, and inside or outside the vagina, cervix, or anus on women. Although, unlike other strains of HPV that don’t have symptoms at all, it could still take years of having the virus before so much as a minuscule vaginal wart appears, which effectively makes even genital warts HPV symptomless; unless the warts are large and numerous due to a severe infestation. Other forms of HPV can cause cancer, but the strain that causes genital warts fortunately doesn’t lead onto cancer.

Treatment

There is no known cure for vaginal warts, or HPV. Once you have the virus it’s a case of learning to live with it and waiting for the immune system to naturally clear the virus from the body; eventually, often after many years, the immune system does rid the body of HPV. Although the virus will still be present, and the warts can’t be completely cured, there is still vaginal warts treatment available. A gel or cream containing prodofilox (reduces warts infection) or imiquimod (an immune system booster) can be applied to the affected areas that relieve vaginal warts symptoms.

Or for more specialised treatment for genital warts, a doctor can freeze-burn the warts off (cryosurgery). Again, this doesn’t cure genital warts, it simply destroys the ones that have grown; the virus HPV will still be present in the body and warts reoccur after cryosurgery 55% of the time, within six months after surgery. Surgical excision would be used for large warts, but chances of scarring and reoccurance are high.

Prevention

There is a vaccine for genital warts, but this can only be used as a preventative measure; once it’s contracted HVP, your immune system wont benefit from a vaccine at all. Because HVP is such a prevailing virus, abstinence is the best form of prevention. However, if you want an active sex life make sure you know and trust that your sexual partner is free of all STIs, including genital warts. Condoms can provide protection, as long as they cover all of the affected areas, including the base of your partner’s penis, where men can get genital warts.