What Are the Treatments for Warts on Hands?

Warts are caused by viral infections. Hand warts, also known as common warts, are elevated, rough, dry surfaces usually grayish-brown in color. Although benign, these protuberances are very unsightly resulting in unpleasantness for the carrier and others in close proximity. Very often, these types of warts may not need any type of treatment since they may disappear on their own. However, it could take months or years for the wart to recede.

Over-the-Counter

• An aggressive method to treat hand warts is with over-the-counter medication. Care should be taken when using this method of treatment since the acid can burn skin. It may take several weeks or months before results are seen, but eventually the wart will disintegrate. Compound W, a well-known wart-removal product, applied to damp skin on a daily basis will eventually remove the wart.

Herbal and Home Remedies

• There are numerous herbal and home remedies that can be used for wart removal. These include applying the juice of a sour apple; rubbing a raw garlic clove on the wart; applying a drop of oil of oregano nightly; rubbing the wart with a radish or raw potato peeling. It has also been determined that another successful treatment is placing a piece of duct tape over the wart for a period of several weeks. The human body reacts to the tape by sending large amounts of white blood cells to destroy the perceived intruder, which diminishes the wart.

Folk Treatments

• There are treatments that have been passed down through the generations on wart removal. One method includes tying a piece of thread around the wart and tightening it every day until the wart drops off. Another approach involves applying human saliva to the wart every morning until it disappears. However unconventional, it does appear that these methods have been successful.

Professional Treatment

• Professional medical treatment may be sought if a wart is painful, swollen or interferes with day-to-day activities. A doctor may apply the chemical cantharidin directly to the wart. Liquid nitrogen may also be used to freeze the wart, a method called cryotherapy. The wart may also be removed by burning using a light electrical current; cutting, which may result in scarring and the wart's return; or laser treatment.

Prevention

• Warts can be contagious, but some individuals are more naturally resistant to the virus than others. Simply touching a wart does not mean that the virus will be transmitted. However, the virus can be passed through close physical contact or using items touched by the carrier, particularly when there are small cuts or scratches on the hands. Although there is no way to completely prevent the transmission of the virus, maintaining personal hygiene can be a major deterrent.