Health Tips for March 2

Health Tip: A Word About Warts

A wart is a common but unsightly growth that can occur just about anywhere on the skin, on the genitals, or inside the mouth.

Here is more information about warts, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

* Warts are caused by a virus.
* Some people seem to have more resistance to the virus, and are less likely to get warts. Others are more susceptible, and may get them frequently.
* Warts on the skin can be passed from person to person -- from skin-to-skin contact, or from using the same towels or other objects that have touched the wart.
* Genital warts are highly contagious, and may be passed from person to person when obvious symptoms aren't necessarily present.
* If treatment is needed, options may include removal or medication designed to shrink the wart.

Health Tip: Before a Wart is Removed

Before your doctor removes a wart, often by a freezing process called cryosurgery, there are things you can do to prepare for the procedure.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions:

* For two weeks, thoroughly clean the wart with soap and water each night. Once it is dry, apply a salicylic acid gel to the wart.
* Once the gel has been applied, cover the wart with a salicylic acid pad. Be sure the pad is large enough to cover the wart completely.
* Keep the pad on the wart for 24 hours. Repeat this process once daily until the removal procedure.
* If the wart becomes red and sore, discontinue using the gel and see your doctor.