What is a Genital Wart?
Usually, a genital wart is soft and grows in the genital area on men or women. It is a very uncomfortable condition that is more dangerous for women than for men because it may possible cause cervical cancer or cancer of the vulva. The main cause is the human papillomavirus, aka HPV.
Symptoms of Genital Warts
There are many symptoms of genital warts and it is important to know what they are since you cannot always see them. They are small in size and may match the skin’s color but sometimes they can be darker. It may also look like the shape of a cauliflower and feel like a bump.
This condition can sometimes be painful and uncomfortable. In men it can occur on the penis, scrotum, thighs, groin or within or skin that surrounds the anus. In women, it can grow on the vagina or within it, or the cervix in which case, it may cause cancer.
You can also develop these symptoms if you have had oral sex with a person. In this case, you may see warts in the mouth, on the lips, throat or possibly even the tongue.
Other symptoms include itching, burning sensation and bleeding. Women may experience a vaginal discharge because of genital warts. You’ll need this information to decide which home remedy for how to get rid of genital warts.
What Causes Genital Warts?
The main cause of genital warts is the human papillomavirus but there two specific types that may lead to this condition. Even though there are more than 40 different types of the virus, only HPV 6 or HPV 11 cause genital warts. This is based on information released by the Center for Disease Control.
Are Genital Warts Contagious?
The answer to this question is yes, they are contagious and can be transmitted from one individual to another through sexual activity. It is an STI. This type of infection can also be transmitted from one person to another by touching the wart with an open cut or wound. The sense of touch can also spread warts from one location to another on your body, especially with poor hygiene, such as if you don’t wash your hands after touching a wart.
The Diagnosis of Warts
Your physician will check the affected area. If you show the symptoms but don’t see anything, it is possible the genital wart is inside the vagina if you are a woman. Women may need to be swabbed to determine the cause of the wart and to ensure it is not cervical cancer. This test is similar to a pap smear. Any abnormalities found will need close monitoring. Genital warts patients, both men and women, will need to provide a full medical history and will need to answer uncomfortable questions regarding sexual activity.
Preventing Genital Warts
There are two vaccines that are available for protection again HPV. The first one is Gardasis can prevents getting the types of HPV related to genital warts causes and those that are linked to causing cervical cancer in women. The second one is Cervarix that also protects against HPV that causes genital warts. It is important to know that though both vaccines prevent HPV, they do not stop the occurrence of warts.
The Treatment of Genital Warts
Sometimes warts go away on their own but for stubborn ones, you should know remedies of how to get rid of genital warts fast. There are many home remedies you can try to alleviate this issue. The first thing you should know is that over the counter solutions are not recommended for genital warts but are fine for warts in other places of the body.
Home Remedies: How to get rid of Genital Warts
Duct Tape to get rid of Warts
It has been shown that duct tape can get rid of genital warts that are on the exterior. Simply cut some tape big enough to cover the wart and let it stay on for 7 days. If it falls off, simply replace it using the same procedure. The next step is to file it off with an emery board, pumice stone or a nail file. If you have sensitive skin that is thin and can be easily harmed, avoid this remedy.
Witch Hazel: How to get rid of Genital Warts
Witch Hazel is popularly used as an astringent because it can dry out breakouts on the skin as well as genital warts. By applying witch hazel on the wart with a cotton ball soaked in it, it will dry off the wart and make it fall off the affected area. After application, leave it on for ten minutes and then remove it with a cloth that is clean and dry. This should be done two times per day until the wart is gone.
Onion for Genital Warts Removal
When it comes to how to get rid of genital warts, onion can work well for this. Just like garlic, it has anti-microbial abilities. It is a safe and effective home remedy. To use this remedy, one way is to put an onion slice on the wart and cover it with gauze and tape, medical tape of course. You’ll need to change the gauze every few hours. The second method is to put some salt on slices of onion and let it marinate overnight. Then make a paste of this in a blender. Apply the paste on the wart. Cover it with a bandage or with gauze and tape.
Olive Leaf
Olive leaf has properties that can prevent the HPV virus from replicating so this can work to eliminate the main cause to stay free of warts. This is an ideal remedy for genital warts that are within the body, such as a woman’s vagina. Within a man’s or woman’s anus or elsewhere. Unlike other remedies, this is not applied on the wart. It is consumes as a tea for internal and external health benefits including how to remove genital warts fast.
Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV is one the most popular treatments for various illnesses including this one. The acetic acid in ACV can literally burn away warts of various types, regardless of the location. Apply apple cider vinegar with a cotton ball or cotton swab to the wart. And leave it on. Another method is to leave the cotton ball on the wart by “sealing” it with a bandage. The second method is ideal for more stubborn genital warts. Since ACV is safe, it can be left on for an unlimited amount of time.
Castor Oil
Castor oil is effective for wart and mole removal because it is high ricinoleic acid. The acid is well-known for its anti-inflammatory abilities. It is commonly used to treat disorders in which swelling is a symptom. Using it as a topical solution, can reduce the size of the wart until it is gone. It can dissolve the growth because the nutrients in it are safe and easy to absorb by a person’s skin. There are several ways castor oil can be used to get rid of genital warts. The first method is take a cotton ball completely soaked with it and hold it against the wart with a bandage or gauze with medical tape. To make the solution stronger, you can also add garlic to kill bacteria and other micro-organisms. Crush the garlic clove first and mix it with the castor oil. Another option is to make a past with it and baking soda. Application methods are the same.
Pineapple Juice for Wart Removal
Pineapple is a good home remedy for genital warts removal because it has bromelain in it as well as manganese. Both can prevent scars on the skin after a wart is gone. If you use this for how to get rid of genital warts, you must use fresh pineapple and never canned because of the added sugar and preservatives. You’ll need to get the juice out of the fresh pineapple and then apply it on the wart. Just like other remedies, cover it up and leave it on for about ten minutes.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is an antiviral agent that can get rid of genital warts and other types as well. If you use this, you should dilute it with another liquid such as water or essential oil. Once your mixture is ready, apply it on the wart to shrink it. Another method is to soak in a bathtub with water and tea tree oil. The reason it must be diluted is that if the wart is painful, direct application may aggravate this symptom. It should be mixed in a 1:4 proportion.
Oatmeal: How to get rid of Genital Warts
Oatmeal exfoliates the skin so it is ideal to be used for how to get rid of genital warts. It can help stop the itching associated with these growths. You can mix a bucket of hot water with oatmeal powder. Leave this as is for a short while and then take a batch with this. You can also use it as an exfoliator on the genital wart.
Vitamin C for Genital Warts
Vitamin C is an important nutrient that can eliminate the virus that is well-known for causing genital warts. Not only is it beneficially taken orally, it can also be used as a topical remedy to remove genital warts and other types of warts. You’ll need Vitamin C is pill form. Make a paste by crushing it and combining it with water. Apply it and cover it up. Leave this on for a little while, overnight is okay too.
Banana Peel for Warts Removal
Banana peels are high in polyphenol oxidase and this can help get rid of genital warts. It’s very easy to use since you just cut off a piece to put on the wart and leave it on. Hold it in place with tape so it doesn’t move or fall off. The yellow part should be on the outside so you can clearly see it and know you put it on right for maximum benefits. Do this at night so you can let it stay on while you are asleep at night. Continue this for as long as it takes to go away.
Baking Soda for Genital Warts Removal
Baking soda is a universal and multipurpose item that works for many tasks and the list includes genital wart removal. You can use it as a paste by combining baking soda and castor oil. Once the mix is ready, apply it to the wart and cover it up with a bandage or you can use gauze and medical tape. Leave this on overnight. Obviously, do this before bedtime. Get rid of it in the morning after you wake up by washing it off. Let the skin dry naturally or pat it dry. Keep using this home remedy for how to get rid of genital warts until it disappears.
