Warts are growths on skin, which are small and painless. Warts are caused due to the human papilloma virus (HPV). Warts are harmless, though they may lead to disfiguring and be associated with cosmetic concerns. Occasional warts may be painful or itch, which can lead to distraction and heightened irritability.
There are different kinds of warts.
Causes And Symptoms Of Warts On Knuckles?
Warts anywhere in the body are caused due to human papilloma virus. The virus infects the cells of the epidermis, causing them to multiply rapidly. This in turn results in overgrowth of skin and tags. Warts on the knuckles are usually pedenculated. Some of the common symptoms associated with warts on the knuckles include,
- Abnormal discoloration of the skin surrounding the lesion.
- The growth is usually round and found under the fingernails or toenails. However warts may also appear in the form of round or oval lesions on the skin. These lesions are raised and often attached to the skin via a neck (i.e. pedenculated).
- In general warts are painless; however they can itch severely and may be associated with occasional bleeding (as a result of excessive scratching).
Natural Remedies To Get Rid Of Warts On Knuckles
It is important to ensure that the lesion is a wart. In most cases, it is obvious based on the appearance and location. However in some cases, a biopsy may be required to rule out a callus, corn or skin cancer. Once confirmed, here are some simple home remedies and natural treatment options that can help in management of warts,
- Dab a piece of cotton with freshly squeezed lemon juice and apply it on the warts. Keep the cotton on for almost 15 minutes. Repeat this about three to four times in a day. Lemon juice has strong natural acids which can help kill the virus and also remove the skin tag. Lemon will also act as natural bleach and deal with the discoloration.
- Prepare a paste of turmeric powder and apply it around the warts. Turmeric also has strong anti inflammatory and anti-microbial properties which can help in wart removal.
- Apply apple cider vinegar as explained for lemon juice. Apple cider vinegar also has a similar effect as lemon; however it needs to be adequately diluted. Concentrated vinegar can damage the healthy skin.
- In case the wart of pedenculated, use a thin cotton thread and tie it around the base (pedencule) of the wart. Keep this cotton thread as tightly tied around the base as possible. Keep it on for a couple of days and then replace it. This technique actually cuts out the supply of blood to the wart. As a result the wart withers off within a week or two naturally, without any side effects. Don’t try to hasten by pulling or tugging on the wart as it may only result in spread to the surround skin.
Ensure preventive measures like avoiding direct skin contact to another person with a wart. Also don’t touch a wart on your body, as it may spread to other parts. A healthy diet loaded with vitamin C keeps your immunity strong and prevents HPV infections.