Wart Removal in London & UK

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There are many skin problems that can affect your appearance and confidence, and some of these can affect people of any age or background. While these afflictions can vary hugely, they all tend to share one thing in common: they are a nuisance, and many of us would be far happier rid of them. Of these warts are fairly common place, and while unpleasant, are fortunately rarely a serious issue. So what are warts?

What are warts?

Warts are a skin condition that can pop up on virtually any part of the body, and while they can be uncomfortable and unpleasant, are not generally something to worry about. Warts tend to be quite small growths and look and feel rough, often looking a bit like a more solid version of a blister. Warts most often appear on either feet or hands, and warts on feet are more often called verrucas. While they tend to look the same, there are in fact 10 different kinds of wart, and again it is important to note that the most common form of the affliction tends to be harmless, and at worst, an embarrassing nuisance.

What causes warts?

Warts are actually caused by an infection by type of organism called a virus. Viruses tend to be extremely simple causes of illness, and are often little more than some DNA encased in a protein shell. The particular virus responsible for warts is called the human papillomavirus (HPV for short), which exists in many different subtypes most of which actually cause warts. There are actually more than 130 types of HPV known to us at the moment, and all of these subtypes of the virus are related to skin infections.  Some forms of HPV can cause more serious conditions, the most well-known of which are cancers of the genitals, but fortunately these more villainous strains of HPV are considerably less common than their benign, but nonetheless annoying, counterparts.

HPV viruses are roughly split into ‘low risk’ and ‘high risk’ subtypes, the low risk type being the ones responsible for warts and benign growths. The high risk types are responsible for cancers, but again these are much, much less common and shouldn’t be a concern if you are looking at your standard wart.

It is important to note that while most warts occur on hands or feet, they can affect other parts of your anatomy. So there is no reason to be overly concerned if you find yourself with warts anywhere else on your person. However with this in mind, warts can affect both male and female genitals, and in the event of genital warts more careful treatment is needed, and so it is always safer to err on the side of caution and consult a doctor in the event of any wart like growths on your genitals.

How do you get warts?

Because warts are caused by a virus (the HPV – human papillomavirus mentioned above), they tend to be contagious and passed on from person to person, often through a break in the skin and then contact with someone who already has the wart bearing virus. Because of this form of transfer, public changing rooms and showers can often be a main culprit in passing warts from person to person as many people walk over the same warm and moist surfaces which are perfect for bearing and passing illnesses from one person to the next. Interestingly enough, some people are in fact immune to the effects of HPV because of an unusually strong immune resistance to the virus, but for most of us unfortunately contact with a virus bearing gym buddy can be enough to cause the pesky growths.

Indirect contact can also be a means by which HPV is passed from one individual to the next. Disease bearing organisms, referred to as ‘pathogens’, absolutely love warm and moist environments, and can lie in wait on towels, slippers, and bathroom surfaces for example. You can in fact transfer an HPV infection (warts) from one part of your body to the other by way of, for example, rubbing the infected site with a towel and then using that same surface on another part of your body.

Can I get rid of warts?

If you suffer from a wart or warts, you are undoubtedly interested in whether or not you can get rid of the irksome skin affliction. Rest assured in that you can, and for many people the condition can resolve itself over time, which can be quite a load off your mind. There are in fact so many different treatments for warts on the internet that finding some that really work for you is the challenge. Treatments can involve a topical cream with a substance called salicylic acid, these are known to be particularly are easy to obtain over the counter in low doses. Creams with a higher concentration of salicylic acid tend to be available by prescription, and can be effective where lower dose creams aren’t giving you results. Prescription medications, also mostly topical creams and ointments, can be effective, particularly as they involve seeing a doctor whose experience will both give you confidence in the treatment given and in the fact that there is nothing to worry about.

There are other procedures which can be utilised, for some people laser treatments can be a good option, although compared to the topical creams, this is a much more costly and risky procedure. Surgical treatment options, some of which involved cold or electrotherapy are sometimes practiced, as well as infrared treatments and the injection of antigens into a wart to induce a natural immune response against both the injection and the wart itself.

Ultimately warts are commonplace and aren’t markedly different to other skin afflictions like acne, and in the event of an infection you can either pursue treatment or leave the condition to resolve itself. If you have any concerns then it is always safer to consult your doctor and make sure that all is well, which has the added benefit of receiving a prescription or recommendation that in your doctor’s experience has been particularly effective in treating warts.

Different Types of Wart »