Tuesday, July 29, 2008

what is the difference between a wart and a mole

The Comparison: What Is The Difference Between A Wart And A Mole

The words wart and mole can be heard all the time, even on a daily basis. For people who frequently chat on these two skin problems, do they really understand what is the difference between a wart and a mole? Well, some may have full comprehension on this matter; but for others, the subject is quite a puzzle in their minds.

Reading online materials might confuse you about what is the difference between a wart and a mole. So if you want lesser perplexity on the matter, you might want to consider talking to your physician about it. Nonetheless, they are the ones who know better about these skin ailments and they can provide you with much detail about it. However, there is no need to rush for surgery, only except when your physician tells you that immediate removal is a must. Most importantly, it is you who will decide on this matter. After all, your self-image remains to be the number one reason why you ever opted for medical help.

What Is The Difference Between A Wart And A Mole?

Since we all want to know what the difference is between a wart and a mole, we will deal with issues regarding their comparison, their discrepancies and their mode of treatment. It is essential to create a fine line between the two since these skin ailments are contrasting topics. Although they look almost the same in appearance, a wart and a mole are two opposite skin growths. However, there are also several features common between the two. More often than not, telling the disparity would be a tricky thing to do.

Firstly, warts are contagious and moles are not. Warts come from a variety of virus infection, and moles appear genetically. Moles can also appear or darken after extreme exposure to the sun. Second, warts come in various types and such is named after the location in which they grow. Moles grow anywhere in the body, but they especially favor people with a fairer complexion. Lastly, a wart is a bump in the skin while the mole is a pigmented area. Hence, if you cannot recognize what the difference is between a wart and a mole, it would be likely to call for medical help.

There are certain commonalities involving the two, as both can become cancerous and serious lesions, they are generally harmless skin growths, warts emerge in various forms and the same with moles and they can both be treated with surgery. In case you cannot tell what the difference is between a wart and a mole, then you have to let an expert see it. Also, if you have noticed any change of its appearance medical consultation would definitely be needed. Or, you can always browse the Internet and find some helpful material. However, seeing a physician should always be the top priority.

what is a wart

The Big Question: What is a Wart?

One of the biggest questions that people have about warts is, quite simply, what is a wart? Many people have no idea what a wart is, how it develops, and how to get rid of it and this is all very important information to know.

What is a Wart?

When it comes to the question of what is a wart, the basic answer is that it is a raised growth on the surface of the skin or the surface of another organ. Generally warts are small and rough feeling tumors, and although they are most common on the hands and feet there are different warts that can develop on different areas of the body.

There are plantar warts for instance, which are noncancerous skin growths that develop on the sides of feet and which are caused by the human papillomavirus. It is actually this virus that is responsible for most warts, and the term human papillomavirus or HPV is actually an umbrella term that includes over 100 different infections that are generally symptom free.

Treatment of Warts

Another question commonly asked that relates to the question of what is a wart is how warts are treated. This is one of the most important questions on the topic of what is a wart, because if the warts are left untreated they can be spread to others.

Although there are no guarantees when it comes to treating warts, there are a few different methods that are typically very effective. Warts can be removed in a few different ways, one of the most popular involving the application of chemicals onto the warts. Salicylic acid is often used for one, and this is one of the most common and successful treatments.

First the wart should be pared with a blade or emery board, and then it should be soaked in warm water for about ten minutes. This will help in the absorption of the medicine. After this the salicylic acid should be applied to the wart and then allowed to dry. The skin surrounding the wart can be protected with a petroleum jelly but this is not always necessary.

There are also other effective ways to treat a wart, including liquid nitrogen. This is a process that should only ever be performed by a medical professional, and with great caution and care. The liquid nitrogen treatment is generally very safe and easy, and is used to remove warts and moles from the skin.

what does a plantar wart look like

What Does A Plantar Wart Look Like? Gross

You are not missing out on anything by not knowing what a plantar wart does look like. As they, ignorance is bliss. This is because plantar warts (more commonly known as plantars warts) don’t grow like ordinary warts that pop up on your hands, face, limbs or neck. They look more like weird, bumpy moles on top of your skin. But plantar warts tend to grow underneath your skin.

My Story

I had plantar warts when I was about eight or nine years old on the soles of my feet. They made very step I took painful. I had to do to a podiatrist in order to get them diagnosed. Then, the decision was made to get them surgically removed. Being a typical fourth grader, I asked, "What does a plantar wart look like?"

At the time, it didn’t dawn on me that the bottoms of my feet had to be opened up in order to me to find the answer to my innocent question, "What does a plantar wart look like?" Fortunately, the podiatrist wouldn’t let me see during the operation (which went painlessly). He did, however, show me during the first check up after the operation.

Before you read on to discover the answer to my question, "What does a plantar wart look like?" be really sure you need to know. If you get a queasy stomach just hearing someone sneeze, then perhaps you should stop reading right here and live out the rest of your life in perfect plantar wart innocence.

Hello, Fellow Stephen King Fans

How did I know that all of you readers who are left are Stephen King fans? Oh, I'm just psychic, I guess. Now, here we go. Here's what I saw when I asked, "What does a plantar wart look like?" during the first check up after surgery on my feet. They couldn’t all be taken out in one go, you see, and so there was plenty to see.

It looked like bright yellow alien snot was oozing up from the core of my foot bones. I swear the goop was glowing, but I've had doctors tell me that couldn’t be possible. But honestly, that goop looked like it had a life of its own and it GLOWED. I vaguely remember the podiatrist telling my parents that we had caught the infection I time and was able to take out the remaining warts.

I'm not really sure what the discussion was, because of the sound of my heart slamming up into my throat. I grabbed onto that chair as if it were a roller coaster and practically screamed, "Get it out of me!"

So, if you have the chance to look at your plantar warts, don’t. Trust me on this one.

wart with hair

Warts With Hair: A Different Type of Wart?

Nowadays, people have become very concerned about how they look. Their image is one of the most important aspects for them. Some couldn't even leave the house without make up and nice clothes on. Truly, our world has become more populated with image-after people. This however brings conveniences and downsides. Perhaps it is convenient because people have learned how to get passed the primitive days and it's quite fitting to dress appropriately in our modern world. The downside may be that of unnecessary expenses and competition from skin products to clothing lines. Hence, the simplicity of the world before is much better than the world where we are in right now, and the technology of the present day is rather considered very beneficial than that of the previous world. The only key to attaining both worlds is balance including a little vanity plus an ample amount of simplicity could work quite well.

Like I said, it is image that people are after these days, and it is a fact that skin can become of the worst problem areas a person can have. Life can be uneasy especially for those who have moles, birthmarks, warts with hair and other undesirable marks on the skin. Perhaps the trickiest part of all is the one having warts with hair; as it is contagious, difficult to treat and is caused by a virus. On the brighter side, aggressive treatment could be done for complete eradication of the skin problem.

What Are Warts With Hair?

Warts have three usual types, and these are plantar, common and flat warts. All these types of warts originate from a virus known as HPV. They only differ in terms of location and shape. Warts with hair can be any of these three types; only the latter is described literally. The mechanism for how the hair grows is unknown; but since warts are lying on the skin's surface, it is possible for hair to grow on them. A wart with hair maybe one sub classification for this skin ailment, but it really isn't considered another type of wart.

How Are Warts With Hair Treated?

Warts with hair can basically be cured in two ways and it is through destructive therapies or immunomodulators. However, the recurrence of warts with hair cannot easily be halted since a virus causes it. Also, warts with hair do not accommodate all types of cures. For example, salicylic acid and laser is not recommended for such type of skin growth.

If it would be difficult eradicating them by yourself, then you should seek for a physician's help. By no means should you use blades, needles or razors in trying to cut them off. Remember, unsure actions may worsen the situation you are in right now.

wart virus

HPV: The Wart Virus

HPV is mercifully short for the human papiloma virus, which is the virus that causes all of the warts that people get. There are over 100 different strains of the wart virus, which differ in telling the body where to grow warts and if the warts should be smooth or bumpy. This is a contagious virus, but usually not a life-threatening virus. HPV is more annoying than anything else.

How To Catch HPV

The wart virus is the second most common compliant that dermatologists get (acne being number one), so that shows you just how contagious HPV is. It enters the body through any cut, scrape or scratch on the skin. This is like leaving doors open to your body, which is why you need to keep even minor wounds as clean as you can.

The wart virus likes to hang around warm, moist areas like locker rooms, swimming pools, and any food that people like to share. It's nearly impossible to avoid being exposed to the wart virus throughout your entire life. Don’t let yourself be so paranoid about catching the wart virus that you never leave the house.

Anyway, someone that already had the wart virus walks around the locker room, swimming pool or shares food with you. Since you have an opening in your skin, that's how the wart virus enters your body. In a short time, you will most likely get a wart. The big question is where the wart is going to pop up.

When To See The Doctor

If your warts pop up on your genitals, rectum, eyelids, palms of the hands or soles of the feet, you need to see a doctor or dermatologist to get rid of them safely. Over the counter wart medications usually do not work well on warts on these very sensitive areas of the body.

If you get warts anywhere else, then chances are that over the counter wart medication will help you get rid of them, as long as you follow the directions carefully. Many people just ignore their warts and, after a few months, they go away all by themselves. But if your warts get painful, grow thicker or suddenly there's a lot more of them, go see your doctor. Many warts have a mild itch, but they shouldn't be painful.

The doctor or dermatologist will have several remedies available to treat the warts, but there isn’t any cure for the wart virus. However, the body usually is able to keep the wart virus at bay when it is reasonably healthy. Getting a sudden crop of warts could be a sign of an immunodeficiency problem, which needs prompt medical attention.

wart treatment

Effective Wart Treatment: What your Doctor can do

Warts may not be a serious condition, and they may eventually go away on their own, but most people do not like sporting the ugly growths any longer than absolutely necessary. Some, like plantar warts, can also become large and painful if they are left untreated. Because of this, many folks will seek out an effective wart treatment when one of those unsightly growths begins to make an appearance. And the good news is that there are plenty of good wart treatment options available. Some you can buy over the counter, while others will require a doctor's assistance. If you have tried over the counter remedies for your wart to no avail, it is time to find out what your doctor can do.

Freezing
Cryotherapy is the process of freezing a wart using liquid nitrogen. This substance will create a blister around your wart that actually lifts the growth away from the skin. Although this type of wart treatment is generally effective, it may need more than one round before the wart is finally gone. It can also be a bit uncomfortable for some, which is why it is not used on children as often. However, this treatment will work when over the counter solutions have not, and it leaves little or no scarring of the area.

Medication
Cantharidin has been used as a wart treatment for centuries, although it has yet to be approved by the FDA for this purpose. This medication is usually injected directly into the wart, causing a blister to develop and lift the wart off of the skin. After about a week, your doctor can then clip the dead part of the wart away, leaving smooth skin underneath. While this can be another effective wart treatment, the discomfort and the fact that it is still waiting for FDA approval makes some doctors hesitant to use it.

Surgery
For really challenging cases, surgery may become the best wart treatment option. There are a number of methods that can be used for wart removal, including electrosurgery, which burns off the wart with an electrical current. Curettage involves cutting the wart off using a small scalpel or other sharp tool designed for this purpose. Electrosurgery and curettage are often used in tandem for best results. Another type of surgery that can be used as a wart treatment is laser surgery, in which the wart is burned off with a light ray. Surgery can be a more expensive option that may leave scarring, so it is generally done as a last resort.

A wart may be harmless, but that doesn't mean you want to live with it until it goes away on its own. If you have found over the counter wart treatments to be ineffective, talk to your doctor about other options in removing the ugly growth once and for all.

wart removers

What You Need To Know About Genital Wart Removers

Genital warts are embarrassing and, depending on where they're placed, sometimes painful. Unlike warts on other areas of the body, you can't find a genital wart remover at the local pharmacy. You have to see a doctor in order to deal with this problem. Unlike other kinds of warts, these will not go away on their own. You also want to go to your doctor when you discover that your sexual partner has genital warts, because this is contagious.

Prescription Medications

There are three main kinds of prescription medication (or treatments done in the doctor's office) for genital wart removers. They are imiquimod (brand name Aldara); podofilox (brand name Condylox) and a chemical burn treatment most commonly known as TCA. The first two are creams but TCA can only be applied to you by a doctor.

Imiquimod is most likely the first step in your doctor's genital wart remover plan. It's a cream that acts to boost your body's immune system. Since all warts are caused by a virus, when you have warts, your body is suffering from that virus. This is mostly for smaller genial wart removal. You should refrain from sex when you need this cream. The cream can cause condoms to break.

Podofilox is a far stronger topical application that destroys the genital wart itself (and just the genital wart, hopefully). Some patients are far more comfortable doing only the first application themselves, and then having the doctor do subsequent applications to be sure the right dosage is administered. You cannot use this if you are pregnant … and if you are a man who is pregnant, don’t worry about the genital wart and head straight to the National Enquirer.

Other Techniques

If you have large genital warts, that don’t respond to the creams, or they are more inside your genitals than on top of them, then surgical genital wart removers may be your only option. Some of these are also okay to perform even if you're pregnant. But, please don’t use this article in the place of a qualified doctor's advice.

Cryotherapy is when you freeze off the warts with liquid nitrogen. This is usually one of the least painful ways of wart removal. The freezing causes a kind of blister that gradually peels off. However, you often need repeated treatments. This can often be performed in the doctor's office and not in a hospital.

Electrocautery works very much like freezing genital wart remover, only it uses electricity instead of liquid nitrogen. This also tends to need repeated treatments. There is a laser version, but it's really expensive.