Although warts, benign skin growths caused by human papillomavirus, are usually harmless, some people prefer to get rid of them. For that, there are several possible warts removers available nowadays.
The decision to remove warts can be because they are painful or just because people consider them ugly.
One of the common methods used is waiting for them to go away on their own. In children, they usually do. Of course, this is not the only option. A specialized health professional can tell better what the best approach should be.
A wart treatment needs to eliminate all the cells infected by the virus to be effective. If it does not happen, the wart may grow back again. The good news is that there are more aggressive treatments for recurring warts since they have probably reached deeper layers of skin.
A lot has changed since the times that warts were a medical mystery. Today, there are several different warts removal products and methods. If you want to know more about them, keep reading and check the following topics:
- What are wart removers?
- Wart removers warnings
- Do wart removers have side effects?
What are wart removers?
Other than just leaving it alone, possible methods for removing warts consist of attempts to provoke the immune system and peel off the infected skin. Ideally, the treatment should start from the least painful options.
Wart removers are products that usually work by the application of salicylic acid to the wart. Depending on the specific product, they also hide the wart during the application.
These medications take a few weeks to work. However, the expected effect will depend on the correct and regular administration and the acid concentration in the product.
These treatments are usually efficient. Still, warts can be persistent, since all it takes is just a few surviving cells to make it grow again. For more enduring warts, more aggressive possibilities exist.
Wart removers warnings
Although generally safe, you should have in mind some precautions. Wart removers can cause allergic reactions and irritation.
A person with kidney or liver problems, or diabetes, should ask a doctor before using the product. If you are breastfeeding or pregnant, the doctor’s advice is also essential.
For children with the flu or chickenpox, the use of wart removers can cause a severe worsening of the symptoms and a disease known as Reye’s syndrome.
If you feel any of the following adverse reactions after applying wart removers products, look for medical attention right away:
- Shortness of breath;
- Severe stomach pain;
- Vomiting; or,
- Diarrhea.
Moreover, it is wise to avoid using wart removers in parts of the skin that are somehow damaged, like sunburned or with open wounds.
Avoiding contact with the eyes and the mouth is also essential. You should also keep wart remover products out of reach of children.
Remember not to use the product near the fire since it can be flammable, and wash your hands after getting in touch with the medicine to avoid accidents.
Do wart removers have side effects?
For most people, wart removers present no side effects other than the possible burning sensation, peeling, and redness on the skin.
These side effects are common, and you should not fear them since any other acid application on the skin would cause similar responses.
However, more problematic reactions can happen if the wart remover is used by someone who has a pre-existing condition. For example, peripheral vascular disease, anemia from pyruvate kinase and G6PD deficiencies, and aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease.
Just like with any other medication application, you should always consult a doctor before using wart removers.
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