by Currie Jean

Created on: August 19, 2008

Warts are unsightly, embarassing, and can get uncomfortable. For merely being a matter pf bumpy skin, warts sure are stigmatized (what with all that old lore about witches). Anyone who has them, especially in a typically uncovered area of the body like hands, feet or face, is bound to want to get rid of them as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Unfortunately, there's no magical cure. Warts are caused by the very common human papilloma virus (HPV), and are made up of a buildup of skin on the infected area - so it can take a while to get rid of the buildup without using drastic measures, and it's even harder to prevent future breakouts.

Several wart cures are available, and the best way to ensure that they're work as quickly as possible is: be diligent! Don't slack off in the treatment, and if you use a storebought product or speak to a doctor, follow directions exactly. Here are a few of the quickest, and most common, wart removal measures.

In General

Keep your warts clean and covered whenever they aren't being directly treated. This prevents the infection from spreading to other people and to other parts of your body. Wash them at least three times a day with hot, soapy water, and scrub or file with an emery board to remove as much of the sking buildup as possible without drawing blood. Always make sure your warts are completely dry before covering them, since trapped moisture will help the HPV thrive.

The Duct Tape Trick

This treatment helps suffocate the HPV, as well as prevent spreading.

Cover your wart with a piece of duct tape that is the same size of the wart. If you have multiple warts, cover all of them to prevent the HPV from spreading to other areas of the body. Leave the duct tape on the wart for as long as it will stick: up to six days, continually for as long as a month. If the tape falls off, wash, file, and dry, and then add a new piece of tape.

If you have trouble getting the tape to stick to you, carefully warm it over a lit match to melt the glue before sticking it on - as long as you don't burn yourself, it will help. To protect the tape, you could cover over top with a band aid or some medical tape.

Application of Heat

Hot water can kill the HPV, so this is a treatment that could be used in addition to the duct tape treatment. Between tapings, soak the infected area in very hot water - as hot as you can stand without burning yourself - for fifteen to twenty minutes. This treatment is not a guaranteed cure, but it will likely help kill the HPV lingering

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