Vitamin A is a key nutrient our bodies need to perform a wide range of functions and to maintain optimal health. The nutrient plays a role in aiding skin health and can be used as a treatment for warts or other skin conditions. Talk to a medical provider if you're considering using vitamin A as a treatment for warts.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A isn't a single chemical, but rather a group of chemical compounds that humans need for several bodily functions, including vision, bone growth, reproduction and cell division, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin A comes in two main forms: provitamin A carotenoid, which is found in plants, and preformed vitamin A, which is found in animals. Humans need both to maintain ideal health.
Warts
A wart is a typically harmless skin growth caused by a viral infection that appears on the top layer's of a person's skin, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. While warts are often visually unappealing and can cause embarrassment or disgust, they are typically not harmful and may be accompanied by itching or dryness on the skin. There are a wide variety of warts, ranging from genital warts associated with sexually transmitted diseases to planter's warts, which are often transmitted in communal swimming areas.
Vitamin A and Warts
In some situations, using a liquid vitamin A supplement may aid in treating warts. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that people with external genital warts can use a liquid application of vitamin A or beta carotene twice daily. Treatment consists of painting the affected are with the vitamin liquid, or applying three to four drops of thuja, echinacea and lomatium to the warts themselves.
Vitamins
In addition to direct topical treatments, wart sufferers can also use vitamin A as a preventative measure or as a way to alleviate symptoms. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that taking a multivitamin that contains vitamins A, C, E and the B-complex vitamins can help prevent vitamin deficiencies that might exacerbate wart symptoms or make your skin more prone to damage that can lead to warts. Taking a multivitamin daily may help prevent warts by keeping the skin as healthy as possible.
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