A wart is a lesion of the skin caused by the HPV (human papillomavirus.) Currently there are over 120 known types of HPV, and it’s usually types 1 and 2 HPV that cause all the different types of warts.
Types of warts
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Genital warts (Condyloma) – treatment with topical creams like Podophyllin and Podofilox, but these will absorb through the skin and can cause birth defects if pregnant while using them. Also used to treat genital warts is Imiquimod (Aldara), which is a more proactive method of treating genital warts by helping to boost your immune system, however it may reduce the effectiveness of condoms or diaphragms. Female genital warts (vaginal warts) really have no over the counter remedy and medical treatment should be sought. The doctor may use Cervarix or Gardasil to treat them. Gardisil is also used for male genital warts
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Plantar warts – painful, flat warts that occur on the soles of the feet, plantar warts may be treated with salicylic acid solution.
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Oral warts – more dangerous than other types of arts as they may lead to cancer, oral warts are typically small, discreet lumps either white or the same color as surrounding tissue. Because of their malignant potential it is wise to seek medical attention if you discover this type of wart. The physician may opt for laser or cryogenic removal rather than topical creams due to the oral nature.
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Flat warts – most common in children and adolescents, these are very small, pinpoint sized warts so there may be hundreds in one location. Often these will disappear within a few months, but if not they can be treated with moist patches or salicylic acid, glycolic or retinoin solutions.
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Filiform warts – long, narrow, flesh colored warts occurring on the face and neck, should be treated by a doctor with topical solutions such as salicylic acid, trichloroacetic acid, and 5-fluorouracil as you should not risk using chemical in close proximity to your eyes.
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Common warts – the most common, hence the name, these benign growths occur most often around the fingers and back of the hands, may be treated with salicylic acid solutions, glycolic or retinoin solutions, or duct tape. Yes, duct tape. Keep the wart covered with duct tape for 6 days at a time and scrub it with an emery board, then recover with duct tape. This will remove 85% of common warts within a month.
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Vaginal warts – the same as genital warts but may be inside on the vaginal walls as well as around the vaginal opening or it may affect regions near the vulva, inside the vagina, on the cervix and perineal area, or may be deep inside. Vaginal warts are classified as an STD and there is a risk of cancer. No over the counter remedy, see a doctor. The doctor may use Cervarix or Gardasil to treat them. Gardisil is also used for male genital warts.
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Periungual warts – these occur under and around fingernails and toenails. These are treated with salicylic acid.
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Seed warts – common warts usually found on fingers, the skin surrounding the nails and on the back of hands, these may be treated with salicylic acid or frozen with an over the counter product containing dimethyl ether, propane, isobutane.
Different types of warts require different treatments for wart removal but most of the may be treated similarly. Medical treatment may be sought to treat warts using laser and cryogenic freezing as well as surgery to cut the warts off if over the counter treatments are proving unsuccessful.
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