Warts are a type of benign tumor. Located on the surface of the skin, warts are caused by exposure to the papillomavirus and can be easily transferred from person to person. There are dozens of types of warts displaying a variety of physical traits. Flat warts are the smallest in size; however, they tend to occur in clusters of 20 to 100. Often found on the face and neck, they also appear on other parts of the body. Though harmless, many people find the appearance of so many warts upsetting. Luckily, they can be easily and effectively treated at home.
Remedies
A quick search of your kitchen cupboard or medicine cabinet should give you everything you need to make your flat warts disappear. For example, you could dissolve one tablespoon of baking soda in water and then soak or wash the affected area with the solution. Allow the area to air dry, leaving the dilute soda on the skin. Baking soda is mildly caustic and the chemicals will work to gradually dissolve the wart. Apply the solution six to eight times per day for the best results. Alternatively, you can rub a clove of garlic or a slice of onion over your skin. Both of these aromatic herbs contain antimicrobial compounds that can work to kill the virus that causes skin warts. If you don't like the idea of smelling like a pizza parlor all day, you can cover the warts with aloe vera. Spread a liberal coat of juice or gel over the affected area and then cover it with a gauze pad or bandage. The slightly acidic aloe compounds reduce the wart while chemicals within the aloe plant work to promote the growth of new, healthy skin.
Containment
Once you have selected the remedy or medication which you feel most comfortable with, be sure to take the following steps when treating your warts in order to stop them from spreading. Wash your hands with antibacterial soap and hot water after treating the warts and try not to touch them when not treating them. The wart virus is passed through direct contact and is easily spread. When not being treated, warts should be covered with strong adhesive or duct tape. Use up to four layers to ensure the tape remains in place as you go about your business. This not only stops unintentional spreading, it actually speeds the recovery process be preventing water from reaching the warts.
Warning
If you're not certain 100 percent certain you are dealing with warts, or if the affected are shows no signs of improvement after two weeks of treatment, seek the advice of a health care professional. What looks like an unresponsive wart could potentially be something much more dangerous, like skin cancer.
Tags: affected area, skin warts, when treating