What are Flat Warts?
Flat warts are a known skin disorder, and are often called as Juvenile warts, Periungual warts, subungual warts, Verruca or Verruca plana. This condition is often reported to appear in children and in young adults. It is what dermatologist call as a benign tumor of the epidermis. It doesn’t occur in older adults since the immune system of the older adults are much equipped in dealing with the virus that is associated with this condition.
Flat warts are smooth, small, painless warts. They are small in size. It is slightly raised just above the skin, appearing as flat tops. Its color is similar to the skin, pinkish, light brown or yellowish in color which may be sometimes mistaken as a pimple. It is often grouped together in one place which can usually be found on the face, forehead, neck, hands and arms. In a group, there can be at the most, 100 flat warts located in one area.
Flat Warts in Single Appearances and Groups
Flat Warts on Face
The most reported occurrence of flat warts occur on the face. It is commonly known as filiform warts or facial warts. The warts found in the face can disappear even without treatment. Yet, there is still a need to get rid of it as safely and quickly as possible or else you will be at risk for permanent scarring. It is not recommended that you remove the warts in a surgical manner for there is a greater risk that if you won’t be able to remove the entire wart itself, including the facial warts and the root, it will end up growing back.
Facial Warts that Occur on the Cheeks and Eye Region
Flat Warts on Hands
Another common site for flat warts is in the hands. Warts of the hands can be easily passed to others. Its virus, the human papilomavirus, is contagious in nature.
Flat warts Occuring on the Hands and Fingers
Flat Warts on Legs
Leg warts are common in women, children, adolescent and other older people. It is a flat wart occurring on the legs. It may cause infection to the surrounding area thereby increasing the number of new growth.
Flat Warts on the Legs Usually Appear Clustered
Flat Warts Causes
Human Papilloma Virus
The main culprit of why people have flat warts growing on their body is the HPV or the so called Human Papilloma Virus. There are 60 types of HPV virus. It is through direct contact with someone else or in an inanimate object that the infected person has touched. It spreads easily through any areas in the body. These kinds of warts are very much contagious. The Human Papillomavirus multiplies and grows very quick in a moist, warm environment. The viral particles of the virus primarily enter into a person’s body when he or she has a break in the skin such as small cut, wound or scratch, to be able to cultivate, to invade and more likely become a wart.
Flat Warts Symptoms
It is very difficult to diagnose or identify flat warts since they are of similar color to that of the infected patient’s skin. You can only identify the warts through the small bumps. It takes up to a year to be able to notice a flat wart. Victims or people who have flat warts may have the infection for a year before the sign first erupt. It grows anywhere on the body. It is flesh colored or white and slightly elevated above the skin. It usually occurs in clusters. They are actually not dangerous to have. It will become painful once the area is continually bumped or under pressure. Here is the quick list of the symptoms associated with this skin condition:
- Abnormally dark or light skin that surrounds the lesion
- Small, flat and hard skin lesion or lump which may sometimes be raised
- Rough growths
- Numerous in number of lesions found in face, hands, or legs.
Flat Warts Treatment
The good thing about this skin disease condition is that it can be treated. Flat warts are harmless. Some are the common treatment option in treating this contagious skin disease:
The standard medication for the treatment of flat warts is the salicylic acid. It is recommended that prior to placing this medication, is that you use a pumice stone to scrub the wart after letting it be soaked in warm water. This will remove the dead skin cells and will make the medication to have direct contact with the flat warts itself. What’s nice about it is that it can be bought over the counter without prescription. Other medication that works the same as salicylic acid is silver nitrate. Both these product helps in burning the dead skin cells and allowing it to eventually fall off by itself.
Surgeries such as:
- Cryotherapy will freeze the wart with the use of the liquid nitrogen.
- Laser surgery will use laser type of technology in removing the warts.
- Electro surgery will use electricity in this kind of surgery.
- Cauterization will directly burn the wart with the use of a cautery.
No Treatment done
Even without necessary medical treatment, some warts resolve after some time making treatment unnecessary. The warts usually go away after a few months. The body’s immune system will normally and naturally attack the HPV virus until it is out of your system.
Flat Warts Removal
In removing flat warts, it involves the use of essential herbs and oils which are necessary in the application of the warts. It is repetitively applied until the warts vanish. Aside from that, it can also be removed following the electrodessication process where a cautery is used to cauterized the warts. It is a considerably painful procedure. Yet the patient is given anesthesia to numb them of the pain. It will also leave a scar, which is a disadvantage in this procedure. Other removal method may be done through laser surgery which is a bit costly or topical immunotherapy is still much preferred by some.
Home Remedies for Flat Warts
There are actually a lot of natural remedies which you can do at home some of these can be:
It is a known as an effective home treatment for common warts, planter’s warts, genital warts and the like. It helps in removing the warts.
Tea tree oil
Stimulates the immune system and attacks bacteria, fungi, and other infectious viruses. It is effectively used in the treatment of genital warts and other wart types.
A natural remedy that is used for all wart types. The gel of this plant is used in curing the conditions that are linked with this kind of skin disorder. Aside from that, it is also known in delaying the cancerous spread in the patient’s body and it stimulates the immune system as it increases the natural resistance of the body from viruses.
It is known, that even during ancient times, to be used as an ingredient in various herbal remedies. It is has been effective in the removal of warts.
Cashew nut oil
It has an antibiotic quality. It provides an effective wart-free solution. The juice coming from its bark and the nut oil is being applied to warts and corns.
It has been reported that this will dissolve the warts upon application.
It is a nutritious food and a remedy that is potent. The latex that is taken from the papaya tree trunk is used in peeling the warts and cancerous tumors. It has enzymes that do this kind of action.
It has enzymes that dissolves and digest warts safely.
Citrus fruits juices
Intake of fruits under this category, such as orange, lemon and grapefruit, are known to serve as an effective natural home remedy for warts.
It is known to be a small insect eating plant. The leaves are used as an effective natural home remedy for the removal of warts.
Are Flat Warts Contagious?
The answer is yes. Flat warts are caused by human papilloma virus which is a contagious virus. It inflicts other through direct contact and through open cuts or breaks, which is the entry port of these viruses. Once the virus is in the person’s body system, the body becomes the primary reservoir of this virus. In prevention of transferring the contagious virus to others, you must never forget to wash your hands. It is the most important intervention in preventing transmission. With this information in mind, you need to prevent this contagious virus from invading your body and when it is already inside your body, the only thing to do is to do precautionary measures or find effective remedy and treatment that is fit for you.
Flat Warts Pictures
A Close-up Look on Flat Warts in the skin
Flat Warts on the face Showing Purple Color
Flat Warts Removal on the Feet
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