WARTS
Warts are small growths caused by a viral infection of the skin or mucous membrane. This virus infects the epidermis (surface) layer, and are contagious, easily passing from person to person. Warts can also pass from one body part to another. Common warts are hand warts, foot warts, and flat warts. Hand warts frown around the fingers (specifcally the nails) and on the backs of hands. They appears mostly in areas where the skin may be 'broken'. Foot warts (plantar warts) usually appear on the ball of the foot, the heel, or the flat part of the toes. Foot warts do not stick above the suface like warts. They can grow in size, if untreated, and spread into clusters of several warts. Warts that are painful can usually be found where pressure points are located on the feet. Flat warts are smoother and smaller than other warts. They grow in great number and can occur anywhere on the body. Many nonprescription wart remedies are available that will remove simple warts from hands and fingers. Physicians use stronger chemical medications to treat warts that are larger or do not respond to over-the-counter treatments. Freezing warts with liquid nitrogen or burning them are advanced treatment methods.