Warts and Verrucas
Lymphedema People
http://www.lymphedemapeople.com
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Originally Posted by Silkie 05/08/2005
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Response
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Pat
Hi Ya Silkie
Warts (verucas) are fairly common and almost everyone may have experience them at one time or another.
Because a lymphedema limb is immunocompromised, it is at greater risk for them. Clusters on the feet would be a normal way for them to express themselves as of course, it is the feet that are in direct contact with the pavement at any pool. Pools are another subject and are high risk areas also for lymphedema because of possible impetigo, erysipelas and cellulitis infections - so I urge great caution there.
If you do go to a public pool, always be sure to wear sandals (flip flops) or something on your feet - never walk around the pavement or walkways around a pool without something on your feet.
They can be frozen off, or now days removed by use of laser. Never, ever cut them of or try to pull them off. Even without lymphedema, that can lead to some serious infections.
Here are a couple pages on warts I found that may be helpful.
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What are Plantar Warts?
Warts are one of several soft tissue conditions of the foot that can be quite painful. They are caused by a virus, which generally invades the skin through small or invisible cuts and abrasions. They can appear anywhere on the skin, but, technically, only those on the sole are properly called plantar warts.
Children, especially teenagers, tend to be more susceptible to warts than adults; some people seem to be immune.
Identification Problems
Most warts are harmless, even though they may be painful. They are often mistaken for corns or calluses—which are layers of dead skin that build up to protect an area which is being continuously irritated. The wart, however, is a viral infection.
It is also possible for a variety of more serious lesions to appear on the foot, including malignant lesions such as carcinomas and melanomas. Although rare, these conditions can sometimes be misidentified as a wart. It is wise to consult a podiatric physician when any suspicious growth or eruption is detected on the skin of the foot in order to ensure a correct diagnosis.
Plantar warts tend to be hard and flat, with a rough surface and well-defined boundaries; warts are generally raised and fleshier when they appear on the top of the foot or on the toes. Plantar warts are often gray or brown (but the color may vary), with a center that appears as one or more pinpoints of black. It is important to note that warts can be very resistant to treatment and have a tendency to reoccur.
Source of the Virus
The plantar wart is often contracted by walking barefoot on dirty surfaces or littered ground where the virus is lurking. The causative virus thrives in warm, moist environments, making infection a common occurrence in communal bathing facilities.
If left untreated, warts can grow to an inch or more in circumference and can spread into clusters of several warts; these are often called mosaic warts. Like any other infectious lesion, plantar warts are spread by touching, scratching, or even by contact with skin shed from another wart. The wart may also bleed, another route for spreading.
Occasionally, warts can spontaneously disappear after a short time, and, just as frequently, they can recur in the same location.
When plantar warts develop on the weight-bearing areas of the foot—the ball of the foot, or the heel, for example—they can be the source of sharp, burning pain. Pain occurs when weight is brought to bear directly on the wart, although pressure on the side of a wart can create equally intense pain.
Tips for Prevention
Avoid walking barefoot, except on sandy beaches.
Change shoes and socks daily.
Keep feet clean and dry.
Check children's feet periodically.
Avoid direct contact with warts—from other persons or from other parts of the body.
Do not ignore growths on, or changes in, your skin.
Visit your podiatric physician as part of your annual health checkup.
Self Treatment
Self treatment is generally not advisable. Over-the-counter preparations contain acids or chemicals that destroy skin cells, and it takes an expert to destroy abnormal skin cells (warts) without also destroying surrounding healthy tissue. Self treatment with such medications especially should be avoided by people with diabetes and those with cardiovascular or circulatory disorders. Never use them in the presence of an active infection.
Professional Treatment
It is possible that your podiatric physician will prescribe and supervise your use of a wart-removal prepa- ration. More likely, however, removal of warts by a simple surgical procedure, performed under local anesthetic, may be indicated.
Lasers have become a common and effective treatment. A procedure known as CO2 laser cautery is performed under local anesthesia either in your podiatrist’s office surgical setting or an outpatient surgery facility. The laser reduces post-treatment scarring and is a safe form for eliminating wart lesions.
Self treatment is generally not advisable. Over-the-counter preparations contain acids or chemicals that destroy skin cells, and it takes an expert to destroy abnormal skin cells (warts) without also destroying surrounding healthy tissue. Self treatment with such medications especially should be avoided by people with diabetes and those with cardiovascular or circulatory disorders. Never use them in the presence of an active infection.
Tips for Individuals with Warts
Avoid self treatment with over-the-counter preparations.
Seek professional podiatric evaluation and assistance with the treament of your warts.
Diabetics and other patients with circulatory, immunological or neurological problems should be especially careful with the treament of their warts.
Warts may spread and are catching. Make sure you have your warts evaluated to protect yourself and those close to you.
http://www.apma.org/s_apma/doc.asp?CID=146&DID=9430
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Warts
What causes warts?
Warts are a type of infection caused by viruses in the human papillomavirus (HPV) family. There are at least 60 types of HPV viruses. Warts can grow on all parts of your body. They can grow on your skin, on the inside of your mouth, on your genitals and on your rectal area. Some types of HPV tend to cause warts on the skin, while other HPV types tend to cause warts on the genitals and rectal area. Some people are more naturally resistant to the HPV viruses and don't seem to get warts as easily as other people.
Can warts be passed from one person to another person?
Yes. Warts on the skin may be passed to another person when that person touches the warts. It is also possible to get warts from using towels or other objects that were used by a person who has warts.
Warts on the genitals can be passed to another person during sexual intercourse. It is important not to have unprotected not allowed if you or your partner has warts on the genital area. In women, warts can grow on the cervix (inside the vagina), and a woman may not know she has them. She may pass the infection to her sexual partner without even knowing it.
Will warts go away on their own?
Sometimes yes and sometimes no. Often warts disappear on their own, although it may take many months, or even years, for the warts to go away. Some warts won't go away on their own. It is not known why some warts disappear and others don't.
Do warts need to be treated?
Generally, yes. Warts are often bothersome. They can bleed and cause pain when they're bumped. They also can cause embarrassment, for example, if they grow on your face. Treatment may also decrease the chance that the warts will be spread to other areas of your body or to other people.
How are warts on the skin removed?
First of all, it's important to know that warts on the skin (such as on the fingers, feet and knees) and warts on the genitals are removed in different ways. Don't try any home remedies or over-the-counter drugs to remove warts on the genital area. You could damage your genital area by putting certain chemicals on it. You also shouldn't treat warts on your face without talking to your doctor first. The following are some ways to remove warts from the skin:
Applying salicylic acid--For warts on places such as the hands, feet or knees, one treatment method is to put salicylic acid (one brand name: Compound W) on the warts. To get good results, you must apply the acid every day for many weeks. After you take a bath or shower, pat your skin dry lightly with a towel. Then put salicylic acid on your warts. The acid sinks in deeper and works better when it is applied to damp skin. Before you take a shower or a bath the next day, use an emery board or pumice stone to file away the dead surface of the warts.
Applying cantharidin--Your doctor may use cantharidin on your warts. With this treatment, the doctor "paints" the chemical onto the wart. Most people don't feel any pain when the chemical is applied to the wart. You'll experience some pain and blistering of the wart in about 3 to 8 hours. After treatment with cantharidin, a bandage is put over the wart. The bandage can be removed after 24 hours. When mixtures of cantharidin and other chemicals are used, the bandage is removed after 2 hours. When you see your doctor again, he or she will remove the dead skin of the wart. If the wart isn't gone after one treatment, your doctor may give you another treatment.
Applying liquid nitrogen--Your doctor may use liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart. This treatment is called cryotherapy. Applying liquid nitrogen to the wart causes a little discomfort. To completely remove a wart, liquid nitrogen treatments may be needed every 1 to 3 weeks for a total of 2 to 4 times. If no improvement is noted, your doctor may recommend another type of treatment.
Other treatments for warts on the skin--Other ways that your doctor can remove warts on the skin include burning the wart, cutting out the wart and removing the wart with a laser. These treatments are stronger, but they may leave a scar. Ask your doctor about the risks and benefits of these treatments before you decide what kind of treatment to have for your warts.
Do warts ever come back?
Most of the time, treatment of warts is successful and the warts are gone for good. Your body's immune system can usually get rid of any tiny bits of wart that may be left after a wart has been treated. If warts come back, though, see your doctor to talk about other ways to treat them.
Family Doctor.org
http://familydoctor.org/209.xml
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Hope this help!!
Pat