Warts?!! If somebody finds a tiny small brown colored growth over your exposed part, he may exclaim with displeasure. Actually, they are very much embarrassing to us. Warts are nothing but infection epithelium(upper part) of the skin and mucous membrane.
The causative organism is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). They are DNA virus. More than 100 strains of HPV are discovered till date and different types give rise to infection in the different parts of body. As for example, HPV-1 causes warts in the feet and soles, HPV-6 cause anogenital warts, HPV-3 and HPV-10 give rise to flat warts like this. Some HPVs may be even oncogenic (produces cancer).
Anogenital warts (Condyloma acuminatum) are one of the most common sexually transmitted infections among homosexual men in the United States. Most of the cases of Anogenital warts spread through direct contact of infectious lesions. Close personal contact also plays an important role in spreading of cutaneous warts. In adults, orogenital sexual contact takes a major role in spreading of the disease.
Before commencing the treatment of warts, we have to consider of the fact that medicinal treatments available at present are not completely effective. Some of them are having side effects. Some warts heal spontaneously.
Therefore, before going to the doctor, we should try some age-old in-house treatment as told by our grandparents.
Apple cider vinegar: If warts are on the hands or foot, apply “apple cider vinegar” over the area. Leave it for 15 minutes. Wash it with cold water. Continue this method for at least a month. If the wart is more that 6 months old, you have to continue the procedure for longer time.
Duct tape: Get a roll of Duct Tape from the nearby hardware store. Cut a piece of it according to the size of the wart. Apply the tape over the wart for 3-4 days. Remove it. Wash the area with warm water. Rub the area with a pumice stone to get rid of the dead skin. Again, apply the tape. Continue this cycle until the wart is totally vanished. It may take 4-5 cycles for a notorious wart. This method is mentioned even in the New England Medical Journal.
Garlic: Crush some fresh garlic. Apply this paste over the wart. Wrap it with a cotton bandage. Keep it for a day. However, before applying garlic, you must cover the surrounding healthy skin with white petroleum jelly. Apply fresh garlic every day. This process usually takes a month or so.
Onion: Onion can be used in the same way.
Papaya: Make small cuts on the skin of an unripe papaya. Preserve the sap in a bowl and allow it to coagulate. Make a mixture of sap with water and apply it to your wart twice a day.
Thinner: Make an even quantity of nail polish or paint thinner, lemon juice and milk. Then apply this mixture over the wart using an ear bud after taking a shower. Leave it until next shower. After about three weeks of regular use, your wart will vanish.
Castor oil: Rub the wart with castor oil before going to shower every day.
