Ward off that foot wart

If you have a hard, raised bit of skin on the foot, it is probably a wart. They come and go and may happen to anybody – but they happen more to some people, and it is important to know what causes them and how to keep them at bay.

Why do I get warts on my feet?

Warts are relatively harmless skin growths that protrude slightly and are normally the same colour as your skin. They are formed as a result of a minor skin infection brought on by the HPV (Human Papilloma Virus). HPV is present on the skin in small amounts and it is quite harmless, until certain conditions cause an increase in number. At this stage, it becomes virulent and contagious.

HPV spreads and increases in proportion in environments that are warm and moist, and which are conducive to its growth. The warts may be pale and painless, or in some cases, soft and inflamed. The warts also have a propensity to spread – if there is one wart formed, there is every chance of more forming elsewhere on the foot.

Even worse, the HPV can be transmitted from person to person via direct or indirect contact. So if there is an infected person in the same pool that you are in, or if you borrow the shoes of a person who has the virus, you can get it too. So if you take good care of your feet but are still prone to warts, you might need to get a doctor’s opinion and also keep away from those who suffer from the problem.

How to cure warts

· Many warts come and go on their own, and you don’t even feel their presence or notice them because they do not hurt or impede you in any way.

· Warts normally have hardened skin at the base. You can try removing them by yourself, taking care to use only the most hygienic materials so that you don’t deepen the infection further. Soak your foot in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes, so that the skin becomes soft. Once the skin is softened, it becomes easier to scrape away the wart using a foot scraper. Take care to disinfect the scraper before use, and to disinfect it after use as well.

· You can also use a doughnut-shaped plaster around the wart to isolate it, so that it starts drying up. These are available at most drugstores.

· If the wart is painful or oozy, only your doctor should attempt to remove it.

· Do not walk barefoot in areas of communal use, such as the gym, locker rooms, swimming pools, tiled areas in public parks, etc.

Comments

5 The best way to have beautiful feet – get a pedicure!

The feet are the most overworked part of the body. They carry our weight all the time, and it is only when they begin to hurt that we realise how tired they are. We force them into tight, high heeled shoes, expose them to the elements, do not clean them as properly as we should, and generally neglect them quite a bit. You don’t need a complicated foot care routine to have happy, healthy feet – just get a pedicure . Sit back in your chair and relax as the podiatrist kneads your tired feet, massages them and paints your toenails a pretty colour. You will feel refreshed once your pedicure is complete. Why is a pedicure essential? We live in stressful times, and our feet bear the brunt of our excesses. They need regular soaping, cleaning and massaging to look and feel great. The pedicure strips away the layers of dead skin on the feet, thus allowing the skin beneath to breathe. The feet start looking much better after the dead skin has been removed. Next, the toenails a...

When waxing is simple and pleasurable!

Warm wax is easy to use and quite effective, too. Here’s why you should use it by yourself at home to get salon-like results always. If there is one constant irritant in every woman’s life, it is that she has to battle body hair all the time. There are many ways to remove body hair, but the hair returns every single time and hair removal has to be done again and again. For most women, this means repeated trips to the salon to remove hair from their limbs, back, face, bikini line and underarms. But some women opt for an easier, more comfortable option. They use warm wax at home, and they are able to remove the hair from their bodies easily and efficiently. The best brands in hair removal today offer warm wax for this purpose. What is warm wax? Warm wax comes in a solid form, either in a circular disc or rectangular block. You can heat it in the microwave or a double boiler to the required temperature and consistency. Once the wax is ready, it is applied on the skin w...

5 effective ways to heal acne scars

Acne scars can test your patience and mar your natural good looks. We present five easy fixes for them . Acne is one of the biggest banes when it comes to skin. It can happen to anyone, and it has the tendency to leave behind ugly scars for the world to see. The scars may take the shape of discolouration, dark patches or depressions in the skin. The best way to prevent acne scars is to prevent the occurrence of acne. Eating healthy food, drinking a lot of water, regular exercise and getting enough sleep are all conducive to good skin health. But if you still experience acne breakouts and scars, this is what you can do: - Daily cleansing and moisturising. Not cleansing and moisturising the skin every day results in a build-up of dead skin cells, excess oil and dirt on the skin. Acne develops and leaves scars behind. So instead of letting acne scars appear, it is better to remove the cause of acne – with daily cleansing and moisturising. - Tomato and lemon face pack. Bo...

Girly Discussions

Search This Blog