How Can I Manage HPV Infection?

Do you know that you should treat warts early, as soon as they appear?

Do you know that you should not pick or scratch warts?

Do you avoid touching warts (your own or someone else's)?

If you did touch a wart, do you wash your hands with soap and water immediately afterwards?

Do you avoid shaving over a wart?

Have you tried any of the wart tratment products whit salicylic acid (salicylic acid solution, salicylic acid patches)?

Do you know that you should consult your healthcare professional if your warts are not better after a few weeks of home treatment or if you have warts on your face or genitals?

Have you talked to a dermatologist to suggest some of the wart treatments such as prescription medications or in office procedures?

Based on your answers, there are several other ways that can help you manage HPV infection. A virus called the human papilloma virus causes warts that are often harmless but unappealing growths on the skin. You should avoid touching the warts, as this can spread the virus from one part of your body to another. If you do touch a wart, be sure to wash your hands immediately to remove the virus from the skin. You can also treat warts at home using over-the-counter salicylic acid products. If you can't get rid of warts, or have them on your face or genitals, be sure to visit a dermatologist.

Based on your answers, you know a lot about how to manage HPV infection. There is no cure for the wart virus, so warts can return to the same site or reappear in a new spot at any time. Home treatments aim to irritate or inflame the wart area, which will trigger your immune system to fight the virus. The success of home treatments can vary because what works for one person may not work for another. Your dermatologist can also recommend one of the many warts treatments like "painting" warts with cantharidin, cryotherapy (freezing), electrosurgery (burning), curettage (scraping off the wart), or excision (cut out the wart).