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.

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Warts on Hands: Causes and Treatment