Warts are small, rough, hard, non cancerous skin growth, usually having color similar to the color of rest of the skin and is caused when a type of Human Papilloma Virus infects the top layer of the skin through damaged skin.

Warts are contagious and can spread through direct contact.

Types Of Warts

  • Common Warts: also known as verruca vulgaris grow most often on the fingers, around the nails and on the back of hands (especially where skin breaks are common) and are rough.
  • Foot/ Plantar Warts: grow most oftenly on the soles of foot, can grow in clusters, are often flat or can grow inwards due to pressure while walking and can hurt also.Flat Warts: can occur anywhere, are small and smooth, can grow in large number.
  • Filiform Warts: looks like long threads, often grow on face (around mouth, eyes and nose) and grow quickly.Genital Warts: are sexually transmitted and are found in genital area.
  • Periungual Warts: occur in cluster (cauliflower like growth) around nails.Mosaic Warts: tightly clustered, commonly on hands and soles.

Risk Factors:

  • Common in teens and children
  • In subjects with weak immune system
  • In people who have habit of nail biting.
  • Diabete

SYMPTOMS & CAUSES

Symptoms

Fleshy, painless growth on the skin.

Causes

  • Warts are caused by invasion of the skin by Human Papilloma
  • virus which causes rapid growth of cells on the outer layer of skin.

DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT

DIAGNOSIS

  • Examination of the wart
  • Biopsy is done to rule out other types of skin growths
  • Commonly on scrapping warts appear dark with pinpoint dots.

TREATMENT

  • Cryotherapy
  • Creams are also prescribed which can remove the wart. Example- retinoid cream, cantharidin, imiquimod.
  • Electrosurgery, curettage, laser surgery can also be done to remove the wart.Chemical peels are also used to remove the warts
  • ALTHOUGH THESE PROCEDURES ARE USED TO REMOVE THE WARTS BUT ARE PAINFUL AND NOT PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR WARTS. 

HOMEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT

There are medicines like thuja, silicea, natrum mur, graphites, nitric acid etc which can remove the warts completely without recurrence. But medicines always depends on the presentation of the case.

DO’s AND DON’Ts

DO'S

  • Keep the warts dry to prevent spread.
  • Wear flip-flops or pool shoes in public showers and pool areas.                                              

DON'TS

  • Don't pick or scratch the warts.
  • Don’t touch someone’s warts.