Warts are painless growths on your skin that commonly appear on the hands and feet and occasionally cause discomfort if they are rubbed or pressed. Warts typically spread from one part of the body to another, and many people contract them in wet areas such as bathrooms or pool areas. Prevention for warts requires proper cleaning and sanitizing of these areas with chlorine bleach, which will kill the virus that causes warts and prevent further infection.
Causes of Warts
Warts are caused by infection of the human papillomavirus, or HPV, and commonly occur as small growths on the skin of the hands, feet or genitals. There are more than 100 strains on of HPV that cause warts, and while approximately 65 percent of warts go away without treatment, some warts can cause serious complications, such as cancer. Consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis of warts and seek doctor approval for any over-the-counter wart treatments.
Symptoms
Warts appear as raised bumps on the skin, with a size between 1 and 10 millimeters. Warts often have a darker color toward the center, and the surface may vary from rough to smooth. While warts can occur in clusters on the feet or hands, it is not uncommon for solitary warts to occur in these areas.
Chlorine Tablets and Wart Prevention
Health organizations such as the National Institutes of Health note that people often contract warts in damp areas such as bathrooms and swimming pools. Chlorine bleach can be used to control the spread of warts by killing the virus. While chlorine will not directly treat warts, tablets can be combined with water to create a powerful cleaning solution that will disinfect surfaces in pool areas, locker rooms and bathrooms. A 3.5-gram chlorine tablet should be combined 5 liters of water to create a disinfecting solution that can be used to sanitize surfaces that may carry the virus. Do not apply this cleaning solution directly to skin or warts.
Treatment Options for Warts
While proper cleaning techniques with chlorine solutions may help stop the spread of warts, people may also need medical treatment to cure warts they have already contracted. There are a variety of over-the-counter treatments such as topical skin chemicals that can be applied directly to the wart. In some cases, a dermatologist may need to use cryotherapy to freeze a wart with liquid nitrogen. Doctors may also prescribe patients anti-viral medications. Individuals with warts should consult a doctor for proper diagnosis, evaluation and treatment.
