WHAT ARE WARTS?

The wart virus infects skin and makes it grow faster than normal and become toughened. Warts are most common on the hands, feet and face but they can grow almost anywhere in the body. They are infectious and some people, especially children, are more susceptible than others. A verrucca is a wart that grows on the sole of the foot. It grows into the skin rather than out because it is pressed on when you walk. Your body will build up resistance over a period of time and eventually the warts will disappear. This may take months or sometimes years but is the natural way the body deals with warts. If you allow them to disappear in this way you may escape any further ones as you will then be immune to that virus.

HOW CAN YOU GET RID OF WARTS?

These are two simple methods for getting rid of warts either using a wart paint or gel as described below or by your doctor freezing warts with liquid nitrogen. Both methods can be effective.

WART PAINTS AND GELS

You will need

• A bottle of wart paint. 'Salactol' or 'Compound W' are as good as any and are available without prescription from chemists.
• A roll of surgical tape ('Micropore' or 'Blenderm' are good). either 1 cm or 5 cm wide depending on the size of wart(s) to be treated.
• A pumice stone or emery board for use only on warts (Remember, warts are infections)
• Patience. It takes up to 12 weeks to get rid of warts and perseverance is the key.

and EVERY NIGHT after washing, to soften the affected area you should

• Rub away at the white, dead warty skin with the pumice stone or skin scaper, so that you get the top layer of the wart off before each treatment.
• Apply the wart paint to the warts, getting as little as possible onto the surrounding skin
• Put a piece of tape over the wart big enough to stop the paint getting rubbed off on the bedclothes overnight

REMEMBER

You will need to keep going until you get down just below the level of the surrounding skin to eradicate a wart completely. Stop when the base of the wart looks exactly like normal skin (i.e. no black dots or 'graininess). If they become sore or bleed a little just leave off the treatment and carry on the following night.
You do not need to take special precautions if you go swimming or walk barefoot to avoid infecting other people. The risk to others is very little.
If verruccas are painful to walk on try covering them with a corn plaster - the type with a hole in the middle - to make them more comfortable until you have chance to get rid of them.

LIQUID NITROGEN (CRYOTHERAPY)

Liquid nitrogen is usually used by doctors to cure warts. This method can cause pain, soreness and blistering. and usually cures 50% of warts after one or more treatments. Frequent applications of liquid nitrogen produces a quicker cure rate but not a greater rate of cure

If you would like to recommend a suitable Internet link please e-mail the details to us.