Having moles and warts can be a very embarrassing situation, especially if they are in a place that is visible. All to often, people suffer with this condition, not really making an effort to alleviate the problem, because of the mole and wart being in a non-visible area. Removing warts and moles can be a very expensive and frustrating process.

There are close to 100 different strains of warts caused by the Human Papilloma Virus or (HPV), and some of those are linked to cancer. Warts start out when the (HPV) virus enters a cut or a break in the skin. They can start out as a single bump or can grow in clusters, looking similar to cauliflower.

Types of warts:

Common warts - these are the type of warts that are commonly found on the hands and feet and sometimes on the knees and elbows. They usually start out as a small hard bump that is gray in color, with a rough surface and some may have black dots inside.

Flat warts - also called juvenile warts usually are the size of a pin head but smoother than common warts. They may be pink, light brown or yellow in color. Young people who get flat warts normally get them on their faces, although it is also common for flat warts to appear on their arms and hands and appear in clusters.

Plantar warts - are usually found on the bottom of the feet. Very common in children and young people, plantar warts can be very painful to walk on.

Filiform warts - these warts are usually flesh colored and are finger shaped. They are commonly found on the face, usually around the mouth, eyes, or nose.

Are Warts Contagious?

Warts are a virus and like any other virus are contagious, now simply touching someone's wart will not pass it on to you, however the HPV virus can be passed from human to human. A tiny cut or scratch can facilitate the virus spreading if the HPV virus finds it's way into a break in the skin. Warts appear at different intervals once the virus is in your body, they can incubate for weeks before showing.

How long do Warts Last?

It is said that 25% of warts will disappear on their own with no treatment in about a 6 month time period, while most will go away in 2-3 years. With treatment though, you can get rid of those offending bumps much quicker.

What is a mole?

A mole is a spot on the skin that is normally oval in shape, it can be a multitude of colors from brown, red, pink or brown. We are all born with moles and each person can have anywhere from 10-50 of them on various parts of their body. Skin moles may be flat or raised, and some will sprout hairs which is very normal. Moles can be removed by various methods, some of which are very painful and require a surgeon, and can result in scarring. All moles have the potential to become cancerous, and should be watched for signs of melanoma. Some signs to take note of are sudden changes, bleeding, rapid growth or irregular size may all signify a cancer starting to develop, and should be checked by a doctor.

What are Skin Tags?

Skin tags are small pieces of protruding skin, they vary widely in color and shape. They are commonly seen on eyelids, in the crook of the elbow, on the neck and in the armpits. Dermatologists consider skin tags to be small tumors, although non cancerous and harmless. Skin tags affect women more often in women than in men and are a skin growth over collagen fibers. Skin tags that grow on areas of the body that get rubbed or bumped often can become painful and infected. Skin tags can be removed very easily but do have a chance of returning.

Removing Warts and Moles

There are various home remedies and surgical procedures in removing warts and moles, a few different ways are covered below:

1. Soak the wart or mole in warm water for about 15-20 minutes and then dry. Apply apple cider vinegar to the affected area and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. Wash it off with water and dry.

2. Rub crushed garlic on the wart or mole 2-3 times per day until it disappears. Some have claimed that it took 3-4 weeks of this in completely removing warts and moles.

3. Thuja tincture can be obtained in a herbal store and is a anti-fungal. Apply a few drops to the mole or wart 2 times per day for 2-3 weeks.

I like to focus on the more natural ways in removing warts and moles, there are surgical procedures that will do the job quickly, although they can be costly and leave scarring. Give some of the recommendations above a shot and see if they work for you.