Wars of The Warts - Q&As
Q: What’s a WART?
A: Awart is a small tumor that mostly shows up on hands and feet. Warts are cause by a virus named HPV (human papillomavirus) . Warts are highly contagious as the HPV virus can be transmitted through touch or evenmutual usage of towels, napkins or any other object in frequent use of a person carrying the HPV. Warts tend to disappear after a few months - but can sometimes last for a few years.
Q: What Types of warts are there?
A: There are many types of warts that vary in size, shape and infected location. Here are the main types:
(1) Common wart - A raised wart with roughened surface.
(2) Flat wart -Tiny, smooth flattened wart, flesh colored.
(3) Filiform or digitate wart - Finger shaped wart.
(4) Plantar wart - A firm lump with several dark specks in the core.
(5) Mosaic wart - A cluster of plantar warts.
(6) Genital wart - a wart commonly found on the genitali.
Q: What’s The Common Treatment for Warts?
Answer:
(1) Application of podophyllum resin paint.
(2) Bleomycin, (Note: still not FDA approved). 1-2 injections commonly used.
(3) Fluorouracil - DNA synthesis inhibitor. Applied directly to the wart and covered with tape.
Q: What are the common procedures used to treat Warts?
Answer:
(1) Keratolysis. The removal of dead skin cells usually using salicylic acid, blistering agents, immune system modifiers or formaldehyde.
(2) Electrodesiccation
(3) Cryosurgery. Involves freezing the wart using liquid nitrogen, creating a blister between the wart and epidermal layer, after which the wart and surrounding dead skin falls off by itself.
(4) Laser treatment - A pulse dye laser or carbon dioxide (CO2) laser.
(5) Infrared coagulator - Infra-red light in a small beam.
(6) Injections. Injections of Candida, mumps, or Trichophyton antigens at the site of the wart.
