How to Get Rid of Warts Caused by HPV

Contrary to childhood myth, you don't get warts from playing with toads. You get warts from direct contact with one of the more than 100 varieties of the human papillomavirus (HPV). The HPV virus produces rapid cell growth on the skin, resulting in non-cancerous, but unsightly, warts. Although usually harmless, warts can be a nuisance and in some cases painful. They can appear in a variety of forms and on any part of the body including the face, back, hands, on the bottoms of the feet and even on the genitals. Treatment can range from doing nothing to surgical removal.

Instructions

• 1

  Identify the wart. Although all warts are caused by HPV, not all warts look the same or respond to the same treatments. Unless you can positively identify the skin growth as a wart, it is a good idea to get a professional medical opinion.

• 2

  Consider the type and location of the wart, whether the wart is causing social embarrassment or physical pain, and the age of the patient. Warts frequently disappear on their own in children but are more persistent in adults. If the wart is not causing any particular physical or emotional problems, you may choose to simply observe it for a few weeks and see it it goes away.

• 3

  Purchase an over-the-counter wart removal solution or patch that contains 17 percent salicylic acid. Soak the wart in warm water for several minutes. Dry the area completely. File away the top layer of dead skin with a nail file. Apply the solution or patch to the wart as directed by the manufacturer. Repeat this process daily for as long as recommended by the manufacturer, usually two to three weeks.

• 4

  Seek professional medical help. Your dermatologist is best qualified to recommend an appropriate course of treatment. Depending on the location of the wart procedures may include freezing, blistering, minor surgery or laser surgery.

• 5

  Seek professional medical help if you have genital warts. Do not try to remove genital warts by any home remedy. Your physician may recommend removal by cryotherapy, laser therapy, chemical therapy or loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). But home care products are not designed to treat genital warts and should not be used.