TL;DR:
- Warts are skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), often appearing on the hands, feet, or genitals.
- They spread through direct contact or via contaminated surfaces, with infection more likely in people with weakened immunity or skin injuries.
- Warts are skin-colored or brownish lumps with a hard, keratinized surface, ranging in size from 5 mm to 2 cm.
- They can go away on their own but may persist for up to 2 years, requiring intervention.
- Treatment options:
- Cryotherapy: Freezing the wart until it falls off (no scarring).
- Laser removal: Burns the wart but may leave a small scar.
- Surgical spooning: Removes the root but can affect dexterity.
- Home remedies include lactic/salicylic acid products, garlic, or herbal poultices, though professional consultation is recommended for persistent cases.
Warts are a common condition that appears on the skin. It is caused by a virus, and if untreated can be very bothersome and cause pain. Moreover, warts spread quickly and it is very easy to get infected with them. Therefore, it is worth knowing what a wart looks like and how to remove it effectively. So what should you do if you notice a wart?
What exactly is a wart?
A wart is otherwise known as a skin wart that appears due to infection with HPV, the human papillomavirus. It has a great many varieties, making warts that form on the skin also come in many types. The most common place where warts appear is the skin of the hands or feet. However, it can also happen that warts appear on the genitals and other parts of the body. Typically, immunocompromised people are more likely to be infected by the virus and develop a skin wart, commonly known as a wart.
What does a wart look like?
A wart is a rather characteristic lesion on the skin. It is a thickening with a keratinized surface. Typically, warts are similar in color to the skin or in shades of brown. They are uneven and can be likened to a protruding lump. The skin around the wart does not have inflammation. On the other hand, the wart itself can reach a size of 5mm to as much as 2cm. Warts can appear on the skin singly or in clusters. Their appearance is not very aesthetically pleasing, and in addition, an untreated wart can spread.
How does infection occur?
The HPV virus is transmitted during direct contact with an infected person or through contact with a surface that a person carrying the virus has come into contact with. A handshake or touching the same object is enough for infection to occur. That's why the most common place of appearance is a sore on the foot or hand. Often being at the pool, gym and hotels we go barefoot, making it very easy to get infected. To avoid this, use the following when using public places: flip-flops and your own towel. In addition, it can take up to several weeks or months before the virus with which a person is infected gives the first symptoms in the form of the appearance of warts. During this time, the carrier person infects other people. Those with weakened immune systems or epidermal damage will be infected quickly. If our immune system is strong, then it will fight the virus on its own and warts will not develop.
How to remove warts from feet and hands?
Sometimes warts disappear on their own, but in most cases they need to be helped to do so, because they can persist on the skin for up to 2 years, and during this time infect others. So what will be the best for warts? " The ways to treat warts are many, and the choice of method depends mainly on where the wart has appeared and its size and rooting in the skin. Therefore, it is advisable to consult a doctor, who will confirm whether you can remove the wart yourself at home or whether you will need appropriate treatments. Most commonly, finger warts and other easily accessible areas are removed using cryotherapy. It involves freezing warts using a special device. The removal of warts by this method causes the wart to darken after a few days, and then the cells die and a scab is formed, which falls off. Removal of warts by cryotherapy does not leave any traces and scars from the skin lesion.
Medicine also makes it possible to remove warts with a laser. The concentrated beam of light effectively burns out the wart and prevents the formation of new ones. A small scar remains after the procedure. Another method used especially when removing warts from the foot is spooning. It involves cutting out the wart along with the root. If a wart appears on the finger of the hand, the previous two methods of removal will work better, as there may be a temporary difficulty in manual dexterity after spooning. laser wart removal
Widely available medications and home remedies
There are medicines available at any pharmacy with which you can try to remove a wart yourself. These mainly include ointments and liquids containing lactic acid and salicylic acid, which soften the keratinized part of the wart and then exfoliate it. However, for home therapy to be effective, it must be used regularly over a long period of time – up to 6 weeks. In addition, in pharmacies you can also find remedies for self-exfoliation of warts. You can also try to remove the wart with home remedies. Among the most effective home methods are poultices made from the sap of the bollwort, or buttercup herb, or dandelion. In addition, poultices of crushed garlic or baths in a salt solution can be used especially if the wart appears on the feet. However, if the generally available medicines and home methods do not bring any results, it is worth consulting a dermatologist as soon as possible. Especially since the HPV virus spreads quickly and we can infect those closest to us.
Conclusion
Warts are small but troublesome skin issues caused by the HPV virus. They spread easily and can linger if ignored, making early treatment important. We explored what warts look like, how they spread, and effective removal methods like cryotherapy, laser treatment, and home remedies. Each method has pros and cons, so choose wisely and consult a doctor if needed. Don’t wait—address warts quickly to prevent spreading.
