by Marie M. Daniels

Created on: April 29, 2009

First of all what is a wart? Definition of Wart: A wart is a small benign tumor on the skin, resembling a blister or callous, it can be raised up or flat. Warts are most commonly found on the lips, hands, face, neck, wrists, knees, eyelids, and on the soles of feet. Warts that are on the soles of feet are commonly called plantar warts. Warts are caused by a viral infection named the human papillomavirus virus better known as HPV. Warts are contagious and can be passed from contact with the infected skin. You could even get a wart from a public shower, locker rooms or pool changing areas. Which is why wearing flip flops in those public areas is a smart idea.

Does a wart really need to be removed? Warts are not typically dangerous, so why bother removing them at all? If you or a loved one has ever had a wart you will know why they need removal. Warts can be painful, unsightly, embarrassing and sometimes they bleed when they are bumped or touched. It would be better to have a wart removed so that you will not get more warts or clusters of warts. Warts are usually removed for cosmetic reasons or to relieve pain. Most people don't want to walk around with warts showing.

It is possible for a wart to go away by itself but it may take months or even years. Treatment methods are usually faster than waiting for a wart to disappear on its own. There are many different ways to get rid of warts. You could visit your doctor and they might use salicylic acid (Keratolysis) or freeze the wart off (Cryosurgery) with liquid nitrogen. Both of the previous methods now have over the counter versions that you can also try at home. The doctor may also use injections, chemicals, surgical removal, and removal by a laser. Although a few of these treatments can be painful or cause some scarring.

Now here are some of the interesting at home treatments. You can remove a wart with salicylic acid but it could take up to 12 weeks. Duct Tape Occlusion Therapy (DTOT) is another at home method that can be used. With DTOT you must cover the wart with duct tape for six days then one day off to soak and pumice then repeat the process until the wart is gone. There is also a silver nitrate "pencil" (stains the skin for up to 2 weeks) that is available at your local pharmacy. Or you could buy a kit at the drug store to freeze the wart off. Unfortunately sometimes even after successful removal the wart comes back.

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