Warts
Consult your healthcare professional if:
- Over-the-counter remedies don't work
- You develop genital warts
- You notice a change in a wart
Symptoms
The appearance of warts depends on where they are on the body:
- On the palms of the hands - hard, raised skin with conical projections, pink to brown in colour
- On the back of hands, on the knees or face - many in number, flat
- On the face or neck - thin and elongated
- Plantar warts occur on the soles of feet and under the toes, they are bumpy and white and often tender to touch
- Warts may be present in many parts of the body at once, as they are very contagious and can be spread by touching them.
Causes
The class of viruses known as human papilloma viruses (HPV) cause warts.
Warts occur most commonly on body parts that are exposed to friction and abrasion, as the virus enters the body through small cuts or scratches, causing skin cells to rapidly multiply. The wart actually consists of enlarged skin cells caused by this proliferation process.
Most warts will resolve without any treatment, and so it is usually best to leave them alone.
Natural Therapies
Supplements that support the body's resistance to infection may help to resolve severe or recurrent cases of warts; useful ingredients may include echinacea, vitamins C and E, zinc and betacarotene
Life Style Factors
Increase the amount of sulphur-containing foods such as eggs, garlic and onions in your diet.
Remedies
Maintain strong personal hygiene practices to avoid the warts spreading to other parts of your body.