Saturday, May 15, 2010

Four Facts About Plantar Warts


Plantar warts are scientifically known as verruca plantaris.

A wart is a benign skin growth caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a localized viral infection of the skin that is specific to the type of skin found only on the bottom of the feet. Plantar warts are often painful and they are definitely downright ugly to look at. But they are not the end of the world. Plantar warts will affect the foot area. Mosaic warts are clustered on the feet and hands.

1. They Are Not Cancerous

Plantar warts are benign (non-cancerous) growths that occur on the sole (plantar surface), heel or ball of the foot. They are seen frequently in Milwaukee podiatry. Plantar warts have a bad reputation because they can be painful, feeling like a stone in the shoe. Plantar warts are often frozen off using liquid nitrogen. This causes a blister to form around the wart, and then fall off a few days later.


2. They Are Often VERY Painful

Plantar warts may hurt significantly when you are walking, standing, or doing anything that requires you to put a lot of pressure on your foot.

Depending on the area of the foot where the warts are located, the pain may be mild or severe. Plantar warts are skin growths on the soles of the feet and toes, caused due to Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

Plantar warts are caused when the HPV virus enters the foot through tiny cuts and breaks. Plantar warts appear on the sole of the foot, known as the plantar surface. Due to the foot pressure on these warts, they don’t look too grown on the outside.

3. How They Are Spread:

Plantar warts are a kind of infectious lesions, where it can be spread through scratching, touching, or even by having contact with skin shed from another wart. The bleeding of the warts may cause another plot to create other warts. Plantar Warts is caused usually on the sole of foot and toe. Caused by a viral infection, known as Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) the plantar wart goes away on its own. Plantar warts are caused by HPV#1, the human pappilloma virus, and are contagious. Most warts go away by themselves after a length of time but there are several ways to shorten that time and make it less painful.

4. Treatment Options:

Treatments are not painful, but may sometimes be uncomfortable, with some soreness and irritation for one or two days. Ordinary over-the-counter painkillers may be taken by patients after treatment. There are numerous natural remedies that you can try. Treatment for warts can take several weeks or months to be fully effective.

The Bottom Line: I fully understand how upsetting and painful this condition can be. But the goodness is that it cannot kill you and in reality there are numerous treatment options.

Remember, this is a condition that has been around for thousands of years in because of that there are scores of remedies that people have used and passed on to others down through the years.

Be encouraged! You really can find the help that you need!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Genital Warts and Home Treatments


Common warts are ones that appear on hands and fingers while plantar warts are one that occurs on the soles of our feet. Common skin warts are either yellow, light gray, brown or gray-black, and are firm to the touch. They normally appear on the back of your hands, or near the fingernails.

Genital warts and HPV infection are transmitted primarily by sexual intimacy, and the risk of infection increases as the number of sexual partners increase. These warts are the most contagious, while common, flat, and plantar (foot) warts are much less likely to spread from person to person.

A number of problems can be caused by genital warts may during pregnancy. But before you get too alarmed, do realise that the problem is usually simply that if the warts are in the vagina, they can make the vagina less elastic and cause obstruction during delivery.

Warts of the genitals look like flesh colored masses of tissue. In some cases they may appear as bumps. Warts from sexual transmission can be raised or flat, small or large. Sometimes they're clustered together in a cauliflower-like shape. These warts can get large during pregnancy, making urination difficult.

Warts on our private parts are the most common symptoms of HPV infection. However, most HPV infections do not lead to either warts or cancer; most infections go away by themselves, without causing any symptoms.

Genitally transferred warts may or may not show symptoms. If they do, the warts may appear as tiny cauliflower-shaped lesions that may be raised or flat. Genital warts do not affect the baby during pregnancy.

Genital Herpes (wart infection) sometimes occurs as a cluster of (often painful) fluid filled "blisters" that appear on a background of skin that is reddish or slightly inflamed. Fresh outbreaks of herpes after their initial outbreak is (we have been told) common when infected with HSV (type 1or 2) and may be associated with the menstrual cycle, emotional stress, illness (especially with fever), sexual intercourse, surgery, and certain medications… The medical profession calls these trigger factors.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV), is the correct term for warts of the genitalia and the course of the infection sometimes is not straightforward. Because, like it or not, they are small fleshly skin tumors of the genital and perianal area caused most often by the most common sexually transmitted virus, HPV 6 and 11. As we have already begun to describe Human Papilloma Virus spreads by skin to skin contact during vaginal, oral and anal sex and is estimated to affect 1% of the sexually active population aged between 16 and 50.

Warts and corns can be treated at home when accessible on the body, and not in a sensitive location. The idea is to remove thickened, diseased skin without damaging surrounding healthy tissue, and by so doing help the body to win over on the virus by removin the seat of the infection.

In the case of genital wart problems though home care is not really satisfactory, and you should obtain medical advice from the start and as soon as you see them.

Warts will not normally leave scars, though some of the more aggressive wart therapies might. The fact is though that you can re-infect yourself again by touching the wart and then another part of your body.

Cures that have been used in the past for this condition for plantar and similar warts but are in no way recommended in this article.

Warts may be frozen with various commercial freezing probes or with liquid nitrogen sprayed on or applied with a cotton swab. Cryotherapy is often used for plantar warts and warts under the fingernails.

Physicians themselves have said in the past that they do not know how to get rid of genital warts, making it difficult to keep coming back to get genital warts removed. Costly surgical procedures often leave scars, are painful, and require a significant amount of healing time.

Salicylic acid is the chemical most often found in over the counter products. Another similar acting chemical is retinoic acid. Salicylic acid is commonly used to treat normal warts, and some believe that it would help their genital wart condition, but they could be no more wrong. Using home cures such as salicylic acid can only damage your body.

This article is provided for general reading and entertainment and is not medical advice. Consult your medical advisor, doctor or nurse about all aspects of any ailment and treatment.


About the Author: Steve Last is an environmental engineer who is also a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv), and lives in the county of Shropshire, UK. CEnv is a new and growing academic discipline created in the last two years. All Chartered Environmentalists further the principles of sustainability http://www.climate-change.me.uk UK and World Climate Change: For Better or for Worse http://atexanddsear.co.uk

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Home Remedies to Never Try


Look, when it comes to hand warts, warts on your elbows, your knees, the soles of your feet, you can go ahead and cry whatever crazy concoction you may have read about on the internet. A few of those home remedies are sort of effective, and most of them don’t work, but you at least don’t stand to hurt yourself in the process of self-medicating your HPV infection.

But… when it comes to genital HPV, we can only recommend, in good conscience, real medical attention. Still, if you insist on getting your HPV treatment advice from the big book of home remedies or some such, we urge you to at least consider the following… and strike them right off the list of possible home remedies…

Foodstuffs

One of the more popular home remedies for common warts is to apply certain things from the kitchen to the infected area. You can tape a piece of garlic to a wart, dip it in vinegar, or soak it in salt water. Surprisingly, some of this stuff kind of actually works. Foods with incredibly high acidic content do, in fact, have what it takes to burn away at warts.

…And that’s exactly why you should never apply these foods to your genitals. Your hands, your feet, they can handle “spicy foods”, but putting garlic on your nether regions is no safer, and no smarter, than rubbing it in your eyes. If you’re looking for home remedies, stay out of the kitchen.

Home Surgery

Most people wince at the very idea of trying to surgically excise their own warts. Some doctors will treat hand warts with a pair of sterilized surgical scissors. It’s quick, relatively painless, and most importantly; performed in a sterile, medical environment.

If your HPV infection is severe enough that you’re even contemplating a solution this dangerous and crazy, then it’s severe enough to go see your physicist. You’re not a surgeon, don’t operate on yourself.

Footcare Products

You can get rid of plantar warts with relative ease with a hot footbath and a corn remover, but the very thought of applying the same treatment to genital warts is enough to make any rational person’s hair stand on end. Yes, it is just as painful and as ineffective as you’d guess.

In martial arts, a lot of movements are designed to keep the feet and hands in the heat of the action, and the head and genitals well outside of the action. This is because your feet and hands are the toughest parts of your body, and your head and genitals are the most vulnerable. You wouldn’t wear shoes in place of underwear, so don’t use a plantar wart removal method on your more sensitive parts.

Conclusion…

If you think what we’re saying here is “Don’t use any home remedies to take care of genital warts”, you’re absolutely correct. Trying to treat genital warts yourself can result in scarring, loss of sensitivity due to nerve damage, or worse. Just don’t do it. If you think you have genital HPV, see a doctor. Genital HPV is not a problem you can solve with a simple home remedy.

HPV Health is dedicated to bringing you the most current information on HPV.  We are dedicated to helping you.  For more information on symptoms and treatments visit HPV.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Cervical Cancer: Possible Complications of HPV


HPV accounts for one of the major sexually transmitted diseases in the United States causing many complex problems. It needs to be noted that there are around 100 types of HPV and not all of them are harmful. Read more about Jacksonville STD testing clinics

HPV, sometimes referred to as genital warts, can cause warts to grow in the vagina, rectum, vulva, or groin. When visible, these warts are usually painless, fleshy swellings, white to gray in color, but they may be pink or purple. HPV causes the epithelial cells, that’s the ones making new skin, to grow at a much faster rate than usual. This growth erupts out into the visible, outer skin as a roughly circular or cylindrical lump. HPV infections are of different types and are over hundred in numbers, but around 35-40 of these have the potential to infect the genital area. And these genital wart causing viruses are categorized into two parts according to their intensity - less risky or more risky.

Skin-to skin-contact, such as during sex, between a sterile person and one who has genital warts HPV is the primary reason for the spread of the human papilloma virus. Skin warts or papillomas can be transmitted between individuals by a filterable infectious agent.
Cervical cancer is a possible complication of HPV infection. Cervical cancer used to be an old woman's disease but today it is showing up in younger women. In the 1960's, 9 percent of cervical cancers were found in women under 35 years old.  Cervical cancer develops slowly over decades. If you have genital warts, you are also likely to have been infected with a cancer-causing strain of the virus.

There are greater than 100 different types of HPV, but only a few can cause genital warts. Types 45, 31, 18, and 16 all together are related to 80 percent of the cases of cervical cancer. Types 6 and 11 are low risk HPV types, associated with 80 percent of genital warts.

Sexual partners of people who have genital warts may benefit from examination to assess the presence of genital warts. They may also benefit from counselling about the implications of having a partner who has genital warts. Sexual contact should be avoided while the cream is on the skin. If you decide to have sexual relations, apply Aldara cream after—not before—sexual activity. Sexual relationship with a secure single partner minimiz”es the risk considerably. It is also advisable to use latex condoms while engaging in sexual affair.

Doctors often recommend medicine applied to warts (topical drug treatment) as the first choice of treatment. A doctor will apply the medicines that have a high risk of causing damage to the skin around the warts. Doctors define cold sores and its causes as the following: "The virus lies latent (dormant) in the body and is reawakened (reactivated) by factors such as stress, sunburn, or fever from a wide range of infectious diseases including colds. Recurrences are less common after age 35.

Visit us online: FL STD Testing Clinics
Call Today: 1(888)MAX-LABS or 1(888)629-5227

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Genital Warts- What Are Genital Warts And How Do They Form?

Genital warts form on the genitals of both men and women. This is a sexually transmitted disease that is caused by a virus known as HPV. HPV is of many types. Different types of HPV cause the warts on other areas of the body. HPV virus types that cause genital warts are different.

It is not necessary that you will get genital warts soon after contact with an affected person. Genital warts may not develop after the contact for months or sometimes years. But one, who gets them, becomes a silent carrier. That is how this disease is spreading rampantly in today's world. Find out more and save yourself from this problem.

Symptoms-

The warts on genitals and anus look skin-colored. They are raised lesions either single or in a bunch. If genital warts are not treated, they may spread, grow and also form cauliflower type appearance. The outer warts can be easily seen. But if women develop warts inside their genitalia, the warts are not seen till a doctor examines the site. The area near the warts growth can become damper. Women may have more discharge. As genital area is moist and warm, the HPV virus multiplies there very fast once warts develop.

Causes-

HPV virus causes genital warts. There are more than hundred HPV virus types. Only the type HPV6 causes anogenital warts. After one gets the virus, one may not get genital warts for months or years, but becomes a carrier. During that period, the affected person may pass on the virus to others. If you are in sexual relation with someone and if he/she shows no outer sign of warts, it does not mean that they cannot pass on the virus to you. Even they might be totally unaware that they are carriers.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

DoctorGoodSkin.com is a popular skin care guide where you can find a lot of information, articles and tips about acne, skin care, STDs, skin diseases and conditions, skin treatments and procedures, skin care products, etc. You will also find information about hair and nails. If you love solving Quizzes and tests, visit funquizcards. Myspace users,please click here for- Myspace Comments such as Compliments, Cool Comments, Cute Comments, Flirty Comments, Funky Comments, Funny Comments, Hot Comments, Love Comments,Picture Comments, Profile Comments, Sexy Comments, Sweet Comments and Thanks For The Add comments.


About the Author: CD Mohatta writes content for eCards, Screensavers and wallpapers for many websites. He is now focussing on promotion of http://www.wishafriend.com


Monday, May 10, 2010

HPV Prevention


To understand how best to prevent contracting HPV, we should, of course, look at how HPV is spread, first and foremost. Here are some basic facts about HPV.

Common Warts

The old wives tale of getting hand warts from frogs is, well, it’s crazy talk. Toads and frogs won’t give you HPV. However, HPV can be spread quite easily if you don’t wash your hands regularly. Doorknobs, guard rails, even bar tops, anywhere hands meet surfaces is a potential carrier of HPV.

If you simply practice hygienic measures, you can seriously reduce the risk of catching common warts. Wash your hands, clean your doorknobs now and then, clean your countertops with disinfectant, and don’t swap socks and gloves with strangers.

There’s no 100% guarantee against catching HPV, but you can at least cut down on the risk tremendously.

Plantar Warts

One of the most common ways plantar warts are spread is through communal showers or walking around barefoot. HPV can survive on even flat dry surfaces for awhile, thanks to their protein shells, but they’re much easier to transmit on wet surfaces.

You probably don’t have anything to worry about if you have no cuts or abrasions on your feet, as the soles of your feet are pretty thick, and plantar warts generally need a break in the skin before they can sneak in and set up shop.

The best way to prevent plantar warts is to, well, just stay away from communal showers if at all possible, and don’t go outside without shoes on. Practice sanitary measures, use those tacky rubber shower slippers if you share a locker room at the gym, and don’t worry if people think you’re an eccentric because you spray the locker room shower floor down with disinfectant every time you need to bathe.

Genital Warts

As most of us know, genital warts are a sexually transmitted disease, spread through direct sexual context. It’s not very likely that you’re going to get HPV transmission through a toilet seat or anything like that.

The best way to prevent genital warts is, of course, by safe sex practices. This means knowing your partner’s sexual history, letting them know yours, and using condoms as long as there persists the slightest uncertainty.

Okay, many readers are now probably saying “Well I’m sure we’re safe, so to heck with condoms!” but it’s not so easy!

HPV can lay dormant in an infected person for several years. In fact, some people may contract genital HPV and never know it, because no outward signs of the virus are present. Yes, you can have genital HPV your entire life and never get a single wart. There is no way of telling for sure and being one hundred percent certain that a person does not have genital HPV without HPV testing being conducted.

It should be noted that even with condoms, there is no one hundred percent guarantee that HPV cannot be transmitted, not even counting the possibility of defective condoms. This is because HPV breakouts can occur on the scrotum or anus, and other areas not protected by the condom.  Spermicides don’t exactly have a perfect record when it comes to killing HPV, either.

There is no one hundred percent guaranteed way to prevent transmitting HPV, so it’s imperative that you get tested if there’s any doubt at all in your mind, and that you practice safe sex without exceptions.

An Ounce of Prevention…

As of the time of this writing, there is no way of curing HPV. There are ways to get rid of warts, but there’s no way to cure HPV. Someday, we might cure HPV, but for now, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of, well, you know.

HPV Health is dedicated to bringing you the most current information on HPV.  We are dedicated to helping you.  For more information on symptoms and treatments visit HPV Treatments.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Genital HPV


Honestly, most forms of HPV are actually pretty harmless and benign. Common warts, for example, may be unsightly and uncomfortable, but let’s be honest, they’re not really a big deal. You put a little treatment on them and they’re gone in a couple weeks.

Genital HPV is what you need to worry about.

Believe it or not, though, it’s not genital warts you have to look out for. Certainly you don’t want genital warts, but aside from the general unpleasantness of genital warts, they rarely lead to any further health complications, and can be treated with relative ease.

The most dangerous forms of genital HPV might not even show any visible symptoms. The most dangerous strains can lead to testicular cancer, cervical cancer, rectal cancer, and penile cancer, and might not even be detectable until the later stages.

Unfortunately, there is no real cure for any strain of HPV. We have all sorts of ointments, chemicals, and treatments to get rid of ugly warts, but HPV stands for Human Papilloma Virus, and as of right now, we still haven’t discovered an effective method for actually killing viruses.

Genital warts might not show up for weeks after the virus is contracted, but when they do show up, they will be taken care of by the body’s immune system pretty quickly about 90% of the time. Again, genital warts do not lead to cancer. The only strains of genital HPV that lead to cancer do not cause genital warts.

It is estimated that around half of the world’s population is infected with genital warts, right now, and that most people will actually contract the virus at some point in their lives. Luckily, most of these cases come and go without even showing any symptoms or escalating to cancer. This isn’t a Get Out of Jail Free card, though. If you have sex without protection or without getting yourself and your partner tested, you’re playing the odds. Because so many strains of genital HPV don’t even show any signs, you can’t rely on your ability to “spot” an infection in the form of venereal warts. The only way to keep yourself safe from STDs is to either always use protection, or have STD testing conducted on yourself, and every single one of your sexual partners.

Luckily, there is an HPV vaccine available. Tens of thousands of women die, every year, thanks to cervical cancer caused by an HPV infection, and if we can get enough people administering and signing up for the HPV vaccine, it may well be possible that nobody should ever have to die thanks to HPV.

But the vaccine has met some unfortunate controversy. The vaccine is most effective when administered around the time of puberty, and a group of ‘concerned citizens’ have taken it upon themselves to speak out against the vaccine, stating that it would give pubescent children “permission” to go out and have unprotected sex.

Raising sexually responsible people is the job of the parent, not the pharmacy companies. If we can save tens of thousands of lives, there is no reason to object to the HPV vaccine.

HPV Health is dedicated to bringing you the most current information on HPV.  We are dedicated to helping you.  For more information on symptoms and treatments visit HPV Treatments.