Warts are typically small, rough, hard growths on the skin, they usually occur on the hands and feet, they can also affect other parts of the body.  They typically do not result in other symptoms. There may be one or many warts.  Sometimes painful if manifest on bottom of the feet.

It is one of the common viral infections, caused to humans and contagious. Kids get warts most often, teens and adults can get them. Sometimes warts are sexually transmitted and appear in the genital area. But most warts affect the fingers, hands, and feet.

Warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). There are about 130 known types of human papilloma viruses. HPV infects the squamous epithelium, usually of the skin or genitals, but each HPV type is typically  able to infect a few specific areas on the body. Many HPV types can produce a benign growth, often called a “wart” or “papilloma”.

Common warts are transmitted by touch. It can take wart to develop two to six months to develop, they usually harmless and eventually disappear on their own. But many people choose to remove them because they find   them as embarrassing. Some strains of HPV are acquired through sexual contact. Most forms spread by casual skin contact or through shared objects, such as towels or washcloths.

The virus usually spreads through breaks in your skin, such as a hangnail or a scrape. Biting your nails also can cause warts to spread on your fingertips and around your nails. Each person’s immune system responds to the HPV virus differently, so not everyone who comes in contact with HPV develops warts.

Symptoms

Common warts usually occur on your fingers or hands and may be:

• Small, fleshy, grainy rounded top
• Flesh-colored, white, pink or tan
• Rough to the touch
• Sprinkled with black pinpoints, which are small, clotted blood vessels.

Types of warts

There are five major types of warts, each types appears on different part of the body has a distinct appearance.

• Common warts- Grows on finger and toes, can appear elsewhere-rough, grainy and rounded top.
• Plantar warts-grow on soles and feet, rougher.
• Flat warts-grow on face, thigh, arms, and small not immediately noticeable.
• Filiform– around mouth or nose or neck and chin, tiny tag on skin with same colour.

When to see a doctor

See your doctor for common warts if:

• The growths are painful or change in appearance or colour
• You’ve tried treating the warts, but they persist, spread or recur
• The growths are bothersome and interfere with activities
• You aren’t sure whether the growths are warts
• You are an adult and numerous warts begin to appear, which may indicate the immune system is malfunctioning.

Risk factors

People at higher risk of developing common warts include:

• Children and young adults, because their bodies may not have built up immunity to the virus
• People with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS or people who’ve had organ transplants

Prevention

To reduce your risk of common warts:

• Avoid direct contact with warts. This includes your own warts.

• Don’t pick at warts. Picking may spread the virus.
• Don’t use the same emery board, pumice stone or nail clipper on your warts as you use on your healthy skin and nails. Use a disposable emery board.
• Don’t bite your fingernails. Warts occur more often in skin that has been broken. Nibbling the skin around your fingernails opens the door for the virus.
• Groom with care. And avoid brushing, clipping or shaving areas that have warts.

Treatment

• If warts persist for long- Salicylic acid, counter cream, gel, medicated band aid with Salicylic acid.
• Pumic stone or emery board to rub dead skin from surface of wart.
• Minor surgery to remove the wart.
• Laser surgery– laser to burn and destroy wart tissue.
• Cryotherapy– All these treatments carried out by health care professionals.
• To boost the immunity and good skin Vitamin A and good nutritious food advised.

In Ayurveda

Warts are called Charmakeela, charma means skin. Keela refers to growth or mass eruption. With balancing vata-kapha dosha. Treatment includes

• The application works well when the wart area becomes moist top layer of dead skin is scraped out. Scraping can be done with palasha patra. Do not do excessive scraping.
• Agni karma can also useful treatment same procedure in modern cauterization. And as well as excision can be done.
• External application- Tankana basma mixed with lemon juice and fine paste is made and applied over the warts.
•  Taking yavakshara and saindava lavana (rocksalt) equal quantity, fine power is made mixing with cow’s urineand dehydrated lime powder added and paste is placed.
• Take kshara powder-yava, kalyanakshara, palasha ksara apply it on the wart and cover it with band aid or hansaplast over for a day remove the duct tape.
• Oral medications which are rakta shodhaka – arogyaverdini tab, panchanimbadi gulika, and khadirarista can be used. It is best to undergo these therapies under the care of an ayurvedic physician.

Dr. Rekha –  Associate professor
SDM ayurveda hospital & college
Mysuru road, Bengaluru-98
Ph: 080-2324 1888 Mob: 99450 78171

The post Warts or Charmakeela – a common viral infection in the skin appeared first on Health Vision.

Cervical cancer is becoming one of the emerging health burdens for womanhood. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer for women worldwide, but also one of the most preventable types of cancer. Most cervical cancer cases are caused by the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV).

According to the data released in 2018 by the HPV Centre, in India, cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer among’st women. It is estimate that about 160 million women between the ages of 30 and 59 years are at a high risk of developing it. HPV is very common and it would be interesting to know that many women having the Human Papilloma virus, may end up not developing it. Therefore it has a lot to do with environmental and lifestyle factors.

High number of women have cervical cancer:

It is seen that countries with low socio-demographic index have a high number of women traumatised by cervical cancer. Factors ranging from indulging in unprotected sex, sexually transmitted diseases, lack of hygiene during menstruation, chlamydia, a weak immune system, smoking, etc…could be the probable causes. In India, there is a social stigma surrounding pelvic examinations. Lack of regular screening, also has a huge role to play in order to arrest the early onset of the disease. As cervical cancer may take 20 years or longer to develop after an HPV infection, the best way to prevent this cancer is to get vaccinated and try to maintain proper intimate hygiene.

Development of cervical cancer is a step wise process by which localized cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia develops in the cervix and progresses into invasive and metastatic carcinoma forms. Growing evidence suggests that microbes, human papilloma virus (HPV), and the immune system interact closely with each other to govern homeostasis of the vaginal environment and the health of the lower genital tract of females. Beneficial vaginal microbial strains like lactobacilli plays a protective role in carcinogenesis of the cervix after HPV infection.

The female intimate area is delicate and is more prone to infections. It has an acidic pH  (range from 3.8 to 4.5), which helps to keep good bacteria (such as lactobacilli) healthy and bad bacteria in check There are various factors that may affect vulvar pH, including endogenous factors (e.g. humidity, sweat, vaginal discharge, menstruation, urine and fecal contamination, anatomical folding, genetics, and age) and exogenous factors (e.g. soap, detergents, cosmetic products, lubricants and spermicides, occlusion with tight clothing or sanitary pads, shaving, and depilation products).

Keep a check for women’s intimate health:

So alteration in pH increases the risk of vaginal infection. However, keeping the intimate area clean can help to reduce the risk of cervical cancer. It might not be able to prevent cancer completely but, proper hygiene practices can definitely reduce the chances of getting infected with the disease. This not only means keeping the area clean but also maintaining good intimate and sexual hygiene.

1.Keep dry all the time: There will be times where you can get invariably drenched in the rains. It is all the more impinging upon oneself to wear dry clothes, especially the inner wear that tend to get moist due to the added atmospheric moisture, since we tend to sweat a lot during this season. As wearing inner wear or lingerie made of synthetic fabric for long durations may retain moisture leading to irritation and friction, it is important to consciously choose natural and breathable fabrics.

2.Safe sexual practices: Studies have shown that women who have many sexual partners increase their risk of developing HPV and their risk of cervical cancer. And if you are sexually active, use a contraceptive every time for safety. Unprotected sexual intercourse leaves you at risk for contracting sexually transmitted diseases that can increase the risk of getting HPV and greatly increase chances of developing precancerous changes of the cervix.

3. Maintain cleanliness and hygiene: Frequently clean your intimate area to keep it free from microbial (bacterial and fungal) infection and odour. It is recommended to clean the intimate area twice a day, during morning bath and before bedtime. In the case of excessive sweating, it is better to clean and pat dry more often.

For cleansing the intimate area, always use specially designed intimate wash products that are safe with natural ingredients and free from harmful surfactants like Sodium lauryl sulphate. Feminine intimate washes are considered more appropriate for intimate health, particularly those containing lactic acid, with an acidic pH it helps to augment vaginal mucosal homeostasis and serve as a helpful adjunct therapy in women with vaginal infections.

4.Keep yourself hydrated: Drink plenty of water and liquids to keep the urinary tract flushed and healthy. Water helps to clears out toxins from the body and maintains body pH balance. Due to excessive sweating and inadequate liquid intake, one tends to lose body fluids and salts that could potentially lead to burning sensation during urinating and irritate the intimate area. If not attended to, this could be another reason for urinary tract infection.

5.Maintain a healthy food habit and avoid smoking: Avoid eating excessive spicy food, since acidic food can cause a pH imbalance. Smoking also increases risk of developing cervical cancer. Studies have shown that tobacco damages the DNA of cervix cells and contribute to the development of cervical cancer.

Increase the intake of food that are rich in pre and probiotics like plain yoghurt, onion, garlic, strawberry, green leafy vegetables and ayurvedic herbs like Guduchi, that helps to support the growth of healthy bacteria in the vagina.

Regular care and preventive measures in vaginal health ensure staying fresh and clean all the time. While in this season it is important to wash 3-4 times a day, and all the more care during menstruating. Try and avoid soap and water, as they tend to dry up the vaginal skin which is extremely delicate as well as ensuring a maintenance PH balance in the range of 3.8 to 4.5. The use of vaginal washes that balances the pH levels is therefore recommended however, ensuring that is free from harmful sulphates and chemicals.

Vaginal washes made of natural solutions that retain the layer good bacteria, which actually protects the vaginal area and kills bad bacteria are most apt. There are many OTC products fighting for space in the shelves, but it is advisable to be discerning and aware, so that you use the right product for your intimate hygiene.

Mr.Chintan Gandhi – CEO& Director

Millennium Herbal Care

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