This article was previously published on June 15, 2019 and has been updated with new information.
Warts are benign growths on the skin that occur when the virus infects the top layer of the skin. The virus that causes the growth of warts is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Although warts are contagious, most people who are exposed to the HPV virus will not develop them.first
Common warts appear as a small, raised nodule on the skin, usually on the fingers or hands.2 It can take up to six months to develop a wart after you are exposed to the virus. Common warts are usually harmless and eventually go away without treatment. It is more likely that warts will go away in children than in adults.3
Of the 200 currently known strains of HPV,4 Only 10 activate warts on the skin. Others have been implicated in the development of anal warts and genital warts. Although some types of sexually transmitted HPV can cause cervical or other genital cancers, most strains that cause skin warts are not associated with cancer.5
Warts appear more often when the top layer of skin has broken down. Common warts are usually skin-colored and feel rough but may have small black dots in the center, sometimes called “grains”.6 Other types of warts can be flat and smooth or they can be large and disfiguring.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology,7 Although most warts are harmless, dermatologists can choose to treat them. Although there is no cure for the wart virus, there are methods of wart removal available today. However, because the virus is still in your body, it can come back at the same location or appear in a new location.
Try duct tape to remove warts
There are several population-based studies that reliably assess the incidence of genital warts. It is possible that the incidence of the disease differs between different age groups and populations. Two previous studies showed rates of 0.84% in the US and 12.9% in Russia.
Highest prevalence in children and two school-age population studies8 showed warts in 12% of 4 to 6 year olds in the UK and 24% of 16 to 18 year olds in Australia. Cryotherapy, or applying liquid nitrogen to freeze warts and destroy cells, is a common way to get rid of warts quickly. However, it often requires multiple treatments and leaves blisters.
Research9 was performed in 2002 comparing the effectiveness of duct tape in removing warts compared with cryotherapy. The researchers used a prospective, randomized controlled trial at a general pediatric and adolescent clinic on a military base.
They enrolled 61 patients aged 3 to 22 years, of whom 51 completed the study. The primary outcome measurement is the complete resolution of the wart being studied. The group is divided into two groups; 26 people were treated with duct tape and 25 people received cryotherapy.
The results showed that simple application of duct tape was more effective than cryotherapy in treating common warts. They also found that warts that react to duct tape often demonstrate partial resolution after two to three weeks of treatment, and warts that have not changed for three weeks are unlikely to respond.ten
Benefits of Duct Tape Over Cryotherapy
As a result of this study, there is a cure rate of 85% using duct tape,11 compared with 60% in the cryotherapy group, much higher than a systematic review of the literature published in the British Journal of Dermatology.twelfth in which the researchers concluded:
“The results of the meta-analysis showed a cure rate of 23% (5-73%) in the placebo trials, 52% (0-87%) in the SA (salicylic acid) trials, 49% (0-69%) in cryotherapy trials, 54% (45-75%) in active cryotherapy trials and 58% (38-78%) in combined cryotherapy and SA trials .
Apart from the use of SA and aggressive cryotherapy, there is insufficient evidence from RCTs to support the use of other therapies. Higher quality evidence is needed to evaluate other therapies. “
Additionally, there are other potential benefits to using duct tape instead of cryotherapy as it is more practical for parents and patients to use at home, requires less clinical examination, is less painful, and saves money. more cost.
In the striking JAMA study, researchers found that although many children tolerate cryotherapy, children under the age of 6 often remember previous applications as painful and one child vomited. for fear of pain before each application. The only adverse effect in the duct tape group was minimal local irritation.
Some patients find it difficult to keep the tape in place and it can be cosmetically inconvenient to use the tape on the face. The researchers found that although there are many therapies for wart removal, duct tape appeared to be safer, less dangerous, and more effective than cryotherapy with fewer adverse side effects.13
Common types of warts
There are three common types of skin warts that appear on the hands, feet, or anywhere outside the genital area. Common warts have a raised, rough surface that can be pale to gray-brown in color and shape.14 They are found mainly on the hands, around fingernails or toenails. However, they can also appear on the face or anywhere else on the body.
Plantar warts are found on the soles of the feet and grow in clusters, sometimes called mosaic warts.15 They are rough and spongy on the outside and stay flat as you walk on them. They can be gray or brown. Black dots are sometimes seen called granules but are actually coagulated blood vessels. They often cause pain or tenderness when you walk or stand on them.16
Flat warts are found mainly on the face, hands, and shins and are much less common than others.17 However, when they do appear, they usually appear in large numbers, sometimes in clusters of 20 to 200.18
Although they are known as flat warts, they can sometimes be slightly raised and are usually smooth and pink in color, smaller in size than other types of warts. They are usually hard to see and cause no pain. More often than not, they occur in children and are sometimes called juvenile warts.19
Five activities that increase the risk of warts
Skin warts are not highly contagious, although they can be spread from person to person by direct contact, mainly when there is a wound on the skin. According to Harvard Health Publishing,20 You could theoretically pick up warts from the floor of a changing room or shower, but there’s no way to gauge how often they happen.
Although most people are exposed to HPV repeatedly, each person’s immune system reacts differently, so not everyone develops warts.21 However, there are some activities that can increase your risk:
• Age – Children and adolescents are at higher risk for warts, especially common warts, plantar warts, and flat warts.22 HPV is more easily acquired when there is a cut in the skin, which may explain why children and adolescents are at higher risk because they often get more cuts than adults.23
• Bite nails – Nail biting or fingernail pulling increases the risk of periungual warts located at the base of the nail and spreading those warts to the mouth or other areas of skin.24 These types of warts can elevate the nail, cause abnormal nail growth, and be a cause of pain, deformity, and embarrassment.
• Shave pubic hair – Men and women have an increased risk of developing warts from an HPV infection when they shave their pubic hair.25 Researchers who examined individuals at a private skin clinic found that 93% of those with Molluscum contagiosum, a mild sexually transmitted disease, also had their pubic hair removed by waxing, shave or cut.26
Warts are also found and can be easily spread to this area during sex or by scratching open and irritated skin, transmitting the HPV virus.
• Weak immune system – The immune system can be weakened by poor nutrition, lack of sleep, certain medications, or illness.
• Sexual activity – The more sex partners you have, the higher your risk of getting genital warts. If you have sex with a partner with multiple sex partners, this also increases your risk of contracting genital warts in general.27
Other effective home remedies for warts
Common warts can go away on their own, especially in children. However, if you want to get rid of them quickly, there are several other strategies you can try, depending on your condition or the advice of your healthcare provider.
It’s important to remember that these treatments only apply to common warts, not those on your face or genitals. In these cases, see your doctor to avoid complications.
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Salicylic Acid – This product comes in the form of patches, ointments, and pads to help remove layers of warts.28 Before applying, dip the wart in warm water and use an emery board or pumice stone to scrub away the dead skin. However, it may not get rid of the virus that causes the warts and can lead to recurrent warts. |
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Cantharidin – This is a topical blister or blister agent that can effectively remove warts.29 A meta-analysis30 showed it to be effective for plantar warts when combined with salicylic acid and podophyllotixin, a plant-based product used to help remove venereal warts. |
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Garlic – The antiviral properties in garlic can help fight viruses and support your immune system. Apply garlic to the wart but do not let the garlic come into contact with the skin overnight as it can cause burns.thirty first |
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Banana peel – The inside of the banana peel can come into direct contact with the wart and stick it in place for several days. Remove it and replace with a new banana peel until the wart disappears, which can take up to three weeks.32 |
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Pineapple juice – Use a cotton ball to soak the juice directly on the pimple or place a small slice of pineapple on the pimple and cover it for 3-5 minutes. Repeat two to three times a day.33 |
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Vera – Dab a cotton ball with aloe vera gel and place it on the wart contact, bandage the spot to keep it in place for a few days. Reapply aloe every few hours.34 |
Genital warts are different
Although genital warts are also caused by the HPV virus, they are often sexually transmitted and are not treated like common warts or flat warts. Genital warts should never be treated at home and require medical attention.35
Genital warts will appear as a small flesh-colored nodule or a group of genital warts and may look like cauliflower. Some are so small you can’t see them. Symptoms may include itching, burning, and discomfort. Although there is no cure, they can be eliminated using prescription-only treatments.36
As with other types of warts, they are spread by contact with an infected person. There are more than 40 strains of HPV that specifically affect the genital area. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly all sexually active individuals will be infected with one type or another of HPV at some point in their lives.37
Your risk of HPV of any type is increased by having unprotected sex with multiple partners, having another sexually transmitted infection, or having sex with a partner you don’t know about. history.38 Genital warts can also cause problems during pregnancy because they change the ability of vaginal tissue to stretch during delivery and can bleed during delivery.
Reduces risk of warts by supporting optimal immune health
You can reduce your risk of getting warts and improve your ability to fight infection by supporting your immune function. People with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for warts because the body may not be able to clear the virus.
Your immune system depends on a number of factors including your nutrition, sleep quality, vitamins, and gut health. Each of these strategies will help support your immune system against not only warts but other diseases as well.
