Skin Problems
Warts
Warts are skin growths that are caused
by a virus. They can appear anywhere on the body. Warts are not dangerous, but
they can be bothersome.
Little is known about warts. Most
types are only slightly contagious. They can spread to other areas on the same
person but rarely to other people. Genital and anal warts are an exception;
they are easily transmitted through sexual contact and may increase a woman's
risk for cervical cancer. See
Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is spread
through sexual contact. The warts generally look like small, fleshy bumps or
flat, white patches on the lips around the vagina (labia), inside the vagina,
on the penis or scrotum, or around the anus. A person infected with HPV may
never develop genital warts, or the warts may be too small to be seen. Certain
types of HPV seem to increase the risk of cervical cancer in women. A Pap smear
can occasionally detect the virus..
Plantar warts
appear on the soles of the feet. Most of the wart lies under the skin surface
and may make you feel like you are walking on a pebble.
Because warts seem to come and go
for little reason, it's possible that they are sensitive to slight changes in
the immune system. Although there is no scientific explanation for why it works,
in some cases you can "think" warts away.
When necessary, your doctor can remove
warts. Unfortunately, they often come back.
Warts appear and disappear spontaneously. They can last
a week, a month, or even years. To get rid of your warts, it helps to
believe in the treatment. If something works for you, stick with it.
Try the least expensive method of treating warts first.
You may save a trip to your doctor.
If the wart bleeds a little, cover it with a bandage and
apply light pressure to stop the bleeding.
If the wart is in the way, rub it with a pumice stone or
a file or apply a nonprescription product containing salicylic acid. (If
you have diabetes or peripheral vascular disease, do not irritate the
wart or use salicylic acid on it without first discussing these treatments
with a health professional.)
If treatment with salicylic acid causes the area to become
tender, taking a 2- to 3-day break from treatment may help relieve pain.
If you use a pumice stone or file, both the debris from
the wart and the area of the pumice stone or file that touched the wart
can be infectious. Don't use these items for any other purpose or you
may spread the wart-causing virus. Wash your hands with soap after you
touch the debris from the wart or the pumice stone or file.
For plantar warts, apply a doughnut-shaped pad to cushion
the wart and relieve pain. Before you go to bed, apply salicylic acid
to the wart, and cover the wart with a bandage (or wear a sock). Wash
the medication off in the morning.
Don't cut or burn off a wart.
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Hair Loss
Many people lose hair
as they grow older. Such hair loss is natural and is largely the
result of heredity. Balding poses no health risks other than sunburn,
which you can prevent by wearing a hat and using sunscreen when
outdoors. While men tend to lose hair from the hairline and crown
of the head, women's hair becomes thinner all over.
If you are thinking about
drug (such as minoxidil) or surgical treatment for baldness, make
sure you understand the risks of treatment, how many treatments
you will need, and how long the results will last.
Bald spots are not
the same as baldness. Wearing tight braids or habitually tugging
or twisting your hair may cause bald spots. Ringworm is a fungal
infection that causes scaly bald spots. See
Ringworm. A condition called alopecia areata causes patchy
hair loss that may require treatment with steroid medications.
Thinning hair can signal
problems such as thyroid disease or lupus. Emotional or physical
stress can cause short-term hair loss, as can changes in hormone
levels during pregnancy and menopause.
If hair loss is sudden,
or if it develops after you start taking a new medication, call
your doctor.
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If a wart looks infected after being irritated or knocked
off.
If a plantar wart is painful when you walk, and foam pads
do not help.
If you have warts in the anal or genital area See
Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which
is spread through sexual contact. The warts generally look like small,
fleshy bumps or flat, white patches on the lips around the vagina (labia),
inside the vagina, on the penis or scrotum, or around the anus. A person
infected with HPV may never develop genital warts, or the warts may
be too small to be seen. Certain types of HPV seem to increase the risk
of cervical cancer in women. A Pap smear can occasionally detect the
virus..
If a wart develops on your face and is a cosmetic concern.
If a wart causes continual discomfort, or if warts are numerous enough
to be a problem, they may need to be surgically removed. Talk with your doctor
about the risks and benefits of surgery to remove warts.
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