HPV, otherwise known as Human Papillomavirus, is an infection which just about everybody gets at some time in their lives. The HPV virus is actually a group of viruses, and is essentially a skin infection. There are many different strains of HPV, and nearly all of them are quite harmless, occasionally resulting in warts. Some, however, are quite dangerous and can lead to serious medical conditions like cancer.
HPV and health issues
HPV in its various forms is highly contagious. The genital form of HPV is caused by skin to skin contact, but other forms of the HPV virus can be contracted simply by contact with contaminated surfaces.
The basic facts about HPV are:
- Most HPV viruses have no visible symptoms.
- The main risk group for HPV are women aged 21 to 65.
- A small number of types of HPV can lead to cancer.
- Most of the types of HPV which cause cancer have no visible symptoms.
- Regular pap smears are the only way of positively identifying HPV.
- HPV which causes genital warts is contagious, and it is absolutely essential to practice safe sex while warts are present.
As you can see HPV does pose various risks, even when it’s the harmless type of HPV.
HPV warts – Basic practices
The warts are really a tight mass of dead skin cells. They can be treated with a variety of medications, like creams. HPV treatment usually involves applying creams to the affected areas over a period of time.
However – Although this treatment is quite simple and can be done at home, it’s advisable to seek medical advice regarding the condition. Because of the nature of HPV, and the fact that some strains of HPV can be dangerous, it’s a good idea to have a doctor monitoring the condition from the start. It’s also advisable to seek medical advice if the nature of the condition changes, if lesions appear, or if you’re experiencing pain or discomfort.
In most cases the HPV warts will disappear in a week or two, and that’s usually the end of the problem. In cases where lesions appear, or there are additional issues with skin conditions, treatment may take somewhat longer.
What not to do when treating HPV
- Don’t scratch or touch the warts: Because HPV warts are a skin condition, they can react to scratching, which can cause further skin irritations and in some cases create lesions. If the skin is broken, the wound can cause further problems, and make the area around the warts quite sensitive.
- Home remedies can be dangerous: Some of the “home remedies” can actually be worse than the warts. Cocktails of chemicals used to treat warts can damage skin and cause scar tissue to form.
- Don’t use household chemicals: Some common household chemicals like disinfectants simply don’t work on warts, and they can cause major skin reactions and in some cases chemical burns. Not exactly the best result, with a case of genital HPV warts.
- Don’t forget to practice safe sex: While present, the warts are contagious. HPV spreads easily, and this is the way best way to prevent it spreading.
HPV can be detected and treated quite easily. The simplest approach is to be aware of the possibilities and seek treatment as soon as possible.