Historically, warts were associated with witches, but the majority of us have suffered from’cauliflower’ nasties sooner or later. These small skin growths, often with a rough surface, can really hurt. What exactly gives warts their cauliflower-like look? This is a result of an excess of the keratin in the skin, caused by the wart virus, which leads to the growth’s rough increased appearance.

Genital warts

These nevertheless are often flat and smooth and can be more difficult to spot. Both warts and their foot equivalents verrucas are caused by the Human Papilloma virus (HPV). The good thing is that there are over 100 HPV strains, each causing several kinds of wart. Children are more likely to receive them as their bodies have had no prior exposure to the HPV Virus and for that reason don’t have any to it.

Individuals with a diminished immune system eg transplant patients taking immune-suppressant medications are also more vulnerable to developing warts. How do you catch them? Warts are often transferred through skin contact. pools and other areas where you go barefoot are simple places to pick up warts and verrucas.

Remember

It is also possible to transfer warts to different regions of your body through broken skin, so take additional care. Aside from being an eyesore and causing minor distress, most warts are completely benign. Genital warts, nevertheless can have serious consequences. These are caused by a different strain of the HPV virus into the common wart, and are sexually transmitted.

Women who have suffered from genital warts are more likely to develop cervical cancer in later life. Genital warts also have been linked with an increased probability of a kind of skin cancer called Squamous cell carinoma, but this is quite rare. The only way to prevent catching genital warts is by using condoms.

How can I eliminate them?

20 percent of warts disappear without treatment within 6 weeks, and 65 percent over 2 decades, so wait a while before taking action. For more persistent and debilitating offenders, there are many different treatments available. Conventional medical treatments include Cryotherapy, which entails a physician’freezing off’ the wart by spraying it with carbon dioxide. Alternatively you may paint the wart with salycic acid established .