Are Common Warts Contagious| Symptoms, Treatment & Home Remedies for Common Warts
Are Common Warts Contagious?
Common Wart or Verrucae Vulgaris is a contagious disease and passed from one individual to another by contact. HPV virus or human papilloma virus when comes in contact with injured skin develops wart. Common Wart spreads within body once infected from one area to different site. Warts will spread from one limb to another limb by contact. Once infected by contact lesion or wart, tumor may develop after several months. Mode of spread for common warts is touch and sex. Sexual transmitted warts are secondary to contact between sexual organ like skin of genitals and vulva or mucosa of vagina. Vaginal wart may remain undiagnosed for several years. Warts are more common from biting fingernails or picking at hangnails.
Classification or Types of Common Warts:
- This is a type of common wart seen over fingers, around the nails, and on the back of the hands.
- This type of common warts can have black dots that look like seeds.
Mosaic Warts or Foot/Plantar warts
- Mosaic wart are the type of warts that grows in cluster with black dots thus called mosaic wart. It is flat and sometime because of pressure from walking grows inward.
- Seen over soles (plantar surface) of the feet and very painful while walking on uneven surface.
- This type of common wart is mostly seen under the beard but can occur any where in skin. It is observed over face and leg. Are smaller and smoother than other warts.
- Flat wart is at time wide spread and may be found up to 90 to 100 warts.
- Filiform wart is a thin filamentous type wart spread over face, around mouth and fingers. It is shaped like long threads over surface of skin of fingers. Looks like long threads or thin fingers that stick out.
- It grows fast and multiple in numbers but not as wide spread as flat wart
Symptoms of Common Warts:
Below we will take a look on symptoms of common warts:
- Most common symptom of common warts is they are accompanied by itching in the affected area.
- Most of the common warts are rough to touch
- One more common symptoms of common warts is they are primarily seen on hands, fingers etc.
- Common warts are mostly flesh colored, pink or white, or tan.
- Common warts are also seen in toes, legs, foot, face, face, under or around the nails etc.
- Most of the common warts have rough surface with black pinpointed spots representing the small clotted capillaries.
- Usually the common warts range from 0.5 mm to more than 10 mm in diameter.
- Some common warts like the Filiform warts have single long stalk, growing mostly on the face.
- Among other common symptoms of the common warts are, they are mostly rounded or oval in shape, their surface can either be flat, raised or irregular etc.
Treatments for Common Warts:
Here let us take a look on some of the ways to treat common warts along with some effective home remedies for common warts.
Treatments for Common Warts Using Medications:
- Imiquimod or Aldara is a topical medication which aids in improving your body's capability to fight against foreign bodies. This may be beneficial in treating common warts, especially the genital warts.
- There are also some over-the-counter medications, which can be used for treating common warts.
Treatments for Common Warts Via Injections:
- A drug named Bleomycin can be injected in to the wart that would kill the virus. This is mostly used in severe cases of common warts. This can help in permanent removal of the wart.
- Candida antigen can also be injected for stimulating the immune system of the body for fighting off the common wart.
Some Other Least Painful Methods for Treating Common Warts:
Cryotherapy for Treating Common Warts:
Cryotherapy or freezing therapy is one of the least painful methods of treating common warts. This is mostly done at doctor's office and involves application of liquid nitrogen to the wart. Freezing with liquid nitrogen causes the formation of a blister under and around the wart. Then, in about a week the dead tissue sloughs off. Such a method may also be used for stimulating our immune system to fight viral warts. There may be a requirement for repeating the treatments for best results.
There may be a slight pain and discoloration of the skin on the treated area, with cyotherapy.
Sylicylic Acids for Peeling Common Warts:
Sylicylic acids are available as a patch or a liquid for removal of the common warts. You can go for a 17% salicylic acid solution or a 15% patch to use on the warts regularly, at least for a week. All it is required is to soak the common wart in warm water for about 15 to 20 minutes and then apply the medication. File away any dead skin using a disposable emery board or with a pumice stone between the treatments.
Apart from sylicylic acid, other acids like Bichloroacetic acid or Trichloroacetic acid can be used. Here, you may require your doctor first shave the surface of the wart and then apply the acid using a wooden toothpick. It might require repeated treatments every week. There may be side effects like stinging or burning at the treated area.
Using Duct tape for treating common warts:
One more, least painful method for treating common warts can be with the use of silver duct tape. You need to cover the wart with the duct tape for about 6 days at first. Then after soaking it in water gentle you have to remove the dead tissue with the help of a pumice stone or a disposable emery board. After this much, you have to leave the wart exposed for about 12 hours and then repeat the treatment procedure until it is gone.
Treatments for Common Warts Using Laser Therapy:
Laser therapy is one more treatment procedure used for treating common warts. Here, the pulsed-dye laser treatment cauterizes or burns the tiny blood vessels. The infected tissue gradually dies and the common wart falls off. However, there are not much evidence on the effectiveness of this method and it can be painful and scarring too.
Home Remedies for Common Warts:
Below are some of the most effective home remedies for treating common warts.
Garlic: Garlic being loaded with antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties, is an effective home remedy that helps in fighting viral infections that causes the common warts. To get rid of common warts using garlic as a home remedy, just follow the instructions below.
- Crush a garlic clove and apply the sane on the wart area.
- Cover it with a bandage and leave it for about 20 minutes.
- Then wash the area thoroughly.
- Repeat the process two times regularly for at least a week.
Baking soda: Baking soda is an antiseptic and has strong anti-inflammatory properties which can help combat viruses causing the common warts. So, below we will talk about the instructions for using baking soda as an effective home remedy for common warts.
- Mix one teaspoon of white vinegar along with baking soda for making a thick paste.
- Dab the prepared paste on your warts two times a day.
- Castor oil can also be used to mix with baking soda for preparing the paste.
- After applying the paste, cover it with a bandage and leave it on overnight. Continue this for some days till the wart leaves you.
Apple cider vinegar: This is also one of the most effective home remedies for common warts. It has antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties, which helps it fight against the infection. Follow the instructions below to use the home remedy for treating common warts.
- Take the apple cider vinegar and dilute two parts of it with one part of water.
- Next, apply this prepared solution on the affected area or the region of your wart with the help of a cotton ball.
- Cover the area with a bandage and leave it.
- Repeat this home remedy for some weeks. You will see, within few days of the treatment the warts start turning black in color and then they fall off gradually.
Banana Peel: Banana peels are also wonderful home remedies for common warts because of their antioxidant properties. The chemicals and oils found in the peel dissolve the wart and aid your immune system to fight off the virus causing the warts. Look below to know how to use banana peel as an effective home remedy for common warts.
- Tape a piece of banana peel over your wart.
- Leave it overnight.
- Do it several times for best results and continue it for 2 weeks.
- Apart from this, you can also rub the affected portion gently with a fresh slice of banana.
Aloe vera: This is yet another effective home remedy to help get rid of common warts because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Follow the below instructions while using aloe vera for warts.
- Take one aloe vera leaf for extracting the gel out of it.
- Apply the gel on your wart with the help of a clean cotton ball.
- Then use a bandage and cover it.
- Repeat this two times daily for about 2 weeks for best results.
Tree tea oil: The antiviral properties of tea tree oil make it a wonderful natural ingredient for treating common warts. Follow the instructions below to use tea tree oil in treating your warts at home.
- As tea tree oil is very strong, you need to dilute it with water or aloe vera gel before using it on the affected portion.
- Apply the diluted tea tree oil on your warts many times in a day, especially at night before bed.
- The oil quickly absorbs in the skin and fights the virus causing warts.
Castor oil: Castor oil is known to be used in treating various skin disorders. It is also a good home remedy for common warts. Ricinoleic acid, or the main component of castor oil is known to be having anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties which can fight against the virus causing warts. Look below to know how to use castor oil for treating common warts at home.
- Castor oil is to be used at the affected area several times a day.
- You need to soak a cotton ball in castor oil and tape it over the wart. Do this before going to bed and leave it overnight.
- Clean the area in the morning and soak it in warm water for some time.
- Then with the help of a pumice stone, rub off the dead skin.
- Do this for few days and you can see the wart falls of gradually.
Vitamin C: Because of high acidic nature, Vitamin C can act as a wonderful home remedy for treating common warts. Follow the instructions below to use Vitamin C for treating common warts.
- Crush 2 to 3 tablets of Vitamin C tablets at first.
- Add a little water and mix it get a fine paste.
- Rub the paste on your warts and cover the affected area with a bandage. Though it might initially cause burning sensation, but it gradually leaves off and gets the effective result in treating the wart.
Papaya: Another useful home remedies for common warts is Papaya. There is a presence of an enzyme in Papaya which makes it useful in digesting dead tissue. To know how to use it for treating your wart, follow the instructions below.
- Make shallow cuts on the surface of an unripe papaya and collect the sap that runs out of it and then allow it to coagulate.
- Then, mix the thickened sap with water and apply it two times in a day over the wart.
Honey as a home remedy for common warts: Honey can be used to treat common warts because of its antibacterial, antiviral properties. Follow the below instructions.
- At first file away the wart if possible and then cover it with a thick layer of honey.
- Then wrap a piece of cloth around it and leave it for a day.
- Go for the remedy several days.
Birch Bark: The birch bark is also used for treating common warts at home as it contains salicylates which help in fighting against the virus causing warts.
- Dampen a piece of birch bark with water and tape it over the area affected by the wart and leave it for some time. Repeat it several times.
- Powdered birch bark can also be used to prepare tea first.
- Then, dip a piece of clean cloth in the cup of the tea and press it on the wart for effective results.
Pineapple Juice: Pineapple juice softens the wart because of the presence of a special enzyme that dissolves the wart and also because of high level of acidity. So, to use this as a home remedy for common warts, look below for the instructions.
- Just take the pineapple juice and soak your wart in it for 5 minutes.
- Then completely pat the area dry.
- Do this for about 3 times in a day.
Hot Water Soaks: Soaking the common warts in hot water can be a real effective home remedy for treating them. A hot water soak aids in fighting the virus causing warts and also prevents the infection. However, it is essential for you to note that before following this home remedy, you slough the affected skin portion with a pumice stone for the best results. You can add Epsom salt to the hot water to make it more effective.
Raw potato: Raw potato can also work as a home remedy for treating common warts. All you need is take a cut piece of raw potato and rub over the wart several times a day.
Other effective home remedies for common warts: Among other effective home remedies for common warts include the fresh basil leaves, bee propilis, dandelions, etc.
Prevention Against Common Warts:
Common warts can be prevented by following some preventive measures. Below we will list down some of the ways for preventing common warts.
- Avoiding direct contacts with warts: One of the most important point to remember for preventing common warts is, avoid direct contacts with warts which also includes your own warts
- Do not pick at warts: One more important measure to keep noted for reducing the risk of getting common warts is not to pick at the common warts which may spread the virus.
- Stop biting your nails: Are you aware that most of the common warts growing in or around the nails occur mostly when the skin around the nail is broken? So, in order to prevent common warts make sure you are not biting your nails which have a greater chance of growing common warts. By this, you are giving rooms for the virus.
- Precautions while using emery board, nail clipper, etc: If you have common warts at any area and want to groom it, make sure you are not using the same one as you use on your healthy nails or skin without the warts. It is essential for you to groom with care. It is good for you to use a disposable emery board and use an electric razor for shaving the areas with common warts. This would help you in reducing the risk of getting common warts in the healthy skin or nails.
- Among other preventing measures for preventing common warts include, washing hands carefully after touch the warts or surfaces such as shared exercise equipments, avoid the sweating at the skin of common wart area, keeping away from contacts with individuals suffering from common warts, etc.
Common warts mostly can be treated at home with effective home remedies. However, in severe cases or in cases where you do not find the home remedies pretty effective in treating your warts, seek for medical help and get rid of them.