Don't Be Fooled: 3 Viral Wart Removal Myths Debunked

Don’t Be Fooled: 3 Viral Wart Removal Myths Debunked

Just about every common human ailment is associated with at least one myth or rumour on how to fix or heal it, and warts are no different. These benign growths that stem from the human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause much concern regarding one’s appearance, especially if they pop up in highly visible areas like the face, hands, and legs. If you are looking for answers on removing these unsightly blemishes, take care not to believe the following myths you may encounter during your search.

Myth #1: Certain household treatments are effective at removing warts

No matter what anyone might say, self-treating warts using household items will never work and may even do more harm than good, such as scarring your skin. Removing a wart effectively requires understanding what type you are currently dealing with, and getting them checked at a dermatology clinic is the only way to verify whether you have common or plantar warts, genital warts, or some other kind of wart.

Instead of using unsubstantiated home treatments, it is better to go for non-prescription medications with salicylic acid as an active ingredient if you have common or plantar warts. These come in many forms, including collodion-based liquids, patches, and gels, and are very easy to apply. Just take care to use them according to the instructions provided – incorrect application, such as using them on healthy skin, or excessive application, may cause unwanted damage as the acid will eat into whatever it is applied on¹.

Myth #2: Warts can and will disappear on their own quickly

Warts can go away on their own, especially among people with strong and healthy immune systems, since they are more likely to expel the virus from the body sooner than later. That being said, the healing process can take a while, during which the virus may spread to other parts of the body and cause more warts to develop. As such, it is better to treat a wart and follow certain precautions² to prevent it from spreading elsewhere in the body or to other people.

And if warts do go away, whether on their own or with the help of treatments, there is no guarantee that they will be gone for good. This is because the virus that causes these warts does not yet have a cure besides your immune system, so they may recur sooner or later. So, even if you do not experience warts for a while, that does not always mean they have completely disappeared.

Myth #3: You have to live with your warts

Seeing as warts tend to recur even with treatment, you may think there is no choice but to live with your warts. But as mentioned, most strains of HPV go away permanently, and all you need to do is wait for your body to produce the antibodies needed to clear the virus, which takes one to two years on average. Until then, continuing to use treatments that your dermatologist recommends³ for your type of warts, be it medications, cryotherapy, immunotherapy, or laser treatment, is the best way to keep your skin wart-free.

Conclusion

Healthy skin plays a vital role in our overall well-being. Nobody wants to see warts on their skin, but that does not mean you should try out rumours and hearsay just to get rid of them quickly. Now that you have a better understanding of what causes warts and how they can be resolved, you can rest easy in knowing that your body can naturally deal with them and that many treatments are available to keep warts at bay until they are finally gone.

If you need professional help dealing with your warts, schedule an appointment with Dr Angeline Yong today. At Angeline Yong Dermatology, rest assured that you are in good hands as Dr Yong provides you with a personalised treatment regimen tailored specifically to your skin and concerns. For more information about our all-around dermatological and medical services, like skin cancer screening in Singapore, don’t hesitate to contact us today.

References

Pray, W. S., Pray, G. E., & Pray, M. (2011, August 19). Removing warts with nonprescription treatments. U.S. Pharmacist. https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/removing-warts-with-nonprescription-treatments

Warts: How to Heal Warts More Quickly and Prevent New Ones. American Academy of Dermatology. (n.d.-a). https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/warts-heal

Connor, E. (2018, December 7). Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Does It Go Away?. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/sexually-transmitted-diseases/does-hpv-go-away

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Don’t Be Fooled: 3 Viral Wart Removal Myths Debunked