Warts Acetocaustin The simple and effective solution to warts!
A service of Temmler Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Marburg, Germany
Warts Verrucas Warts are viruses A virus with many different faces How warts develop Nobody is safe Nobody likes warts What wart viruses like Facts worth knowing about warts What encourages infections with wart viruses to develop Treating warts Outpatient treatment from a dermatologist or family doctor Treating common warts at home How it s done Special advantages of Acetocaustin
Warts Verrucas The word verruca is Latin for wart. Nearly everyone gets a wart at some time in their lives, often in childhood. Warts can appear anywhere, whether on the forehead, cheek, arms, legs, or genital area all parts of the body can be affected by different types of warts. Warts are viruses Warts are harmless skin growths caused by viruses. Viruses have no metabolism of their own, unlike bacteria for example. To reproduce, viruses have to reach a host inside the body s cells. Normally, the skin is well-protected against attacks from viruses. But if a person s immune system is weak, wart viruses seize the opportunity to invade the skin cells.
A virus with many different faces Wart viruses are multifaceted and form a large family. There are assumed to be about 70 different types in existence today, all grouped together under the term HPV (human papilloma viruses). In Germany alone, some 750 000 people every year are newly infected with an HPV virus. A doctor should be consulted to diagnose the exact type of wart, because the differences between warts mean that they need to be treated in different ways. Wart types differ, for example, in the site where they tend to develop. Hemispherical warts typically appear on the hands. By contrast, warts on the face are usually flat and slightly reddish. Verrucas often have little black dots on them and usually form mosaic-like clusters. However, only a tissue sample can provide absolute confirmation of the wart type.
Warts How warts develop A tiny scratch on the skin is all it takes. Wart viruses can penetrate the most minor injury to the outer layer of the skin. After several weeks, they start to form growths on the surface of the skin. Having now spread, the viruses can be released on contact, so other areas of skin or other people can also become infected. In moist conditions, which provide an ideal breeding ground, warts can also be indirectly infectious, for example in swimming pools. Nobody is safe Nobody is safe, basically because wart viruses can infect anybody. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable because their immune systems are not yet fully developed. People with what are known as atopic conditions, such as allergic dermatitis, neurodermitis or hayfever, are also particularly susceptible, because their skin s ability to fight off viral infections is already weakened. And anybody prone to clammy hands or feet may also be more easily infected with wart viruses. The incubation time, in other words the time between being infected and developing the first signs of a wart, is anything from four weeks to eight months.
One of the most frequently encountered types of wart is known as the common wart, or verruca vulgaris in Latin. This is a hard, raised, flat nodule that develops a callus-like covering over time and tends to affect the hands, spreading over the backs of the hands, on the fingers and around or underneath the fingernails. The causative agents are often released into the environment by scratching, leading to secondary growths. The tiniest, often unnoticed, scratches or injuries to the skin allow the viruses to enter. Common warts are round or uneven in shape and their darker colour makes them stand out against the surrounding skin. A weak immune system encourages them to develop. Nobody likes warts because they look unsightly, because, if they grow sideways into the groove around the nail bed, the nail may fall off and cause pain. What wart viruses like: Swimming baths Shower rooms Changing rooms Saunas Gyms Airtight footwear such as rubber boots or gym shoes Skincare products shared with other people
Warts Facts worth knowing about warts Adults can develop immunity to the causative agent, preventing them from becoming infected a second time. The risk of infection increases if the skin s barrier is already damaged, e.g. by perspiration, the cold, or poor circulation. Wart viruses find thin, dry skin much easier to penetrate. Bleeding warts are highly infectious, so it is important not to scratch away at a wart. What encourages infections with wart viruses to develop Weak immune system Mental stress Physical exertion Major surgery Pregnancy Illness Treating warts What is fact and what is fiction? Only a fairytale with a witch covered in warts is a good fairytale, but a fanciful treatment method is rarely a good one. The old wives tale about talking to warts to charm them away is one of the more harmless versions. But attempting do-ityourself surgery in the privacy of your own bathroom using needles, scissors or similar implements carries real dangers. A lot of harm can be done.
Outpatient treatment from a dermatologist or family doctor Freezing with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy) Vaporisation with a laser Surgical removal with a sharp spoon-shaped instrument Disadvantages Surgery or freezing may leave scars Several visits to the doctor are needed, often with lengthy waits in between Pain, pigmentation problems, skin irritation Fear, particularly for children Treating common warts at home Common warts can be treated at home with products containing acetic acid, like Acetocaustin. However, if you are in any doubt, you should consult a doctor. Advantages No lengthy waiting times No pain No fear The wart is removed completely painlessly layer by layer
Warts How it s done: Before starting treatment, the healthy skin surrounding the wart must be covered with a thick, adhesive ointment (petroleum jelly or zinc paste) to protect it from the caustic effect of Acetocaustin. A small amount of Acetocaustin is then dabbed onto the wart using an applicator. As Acetocaustin has a highly caustic effect, dab only the wart and then allow it to dry. In a week s time, the monochloroacetic acid will have dissolved the top layer of the wart, and the scab can then be removed with a plaster. The acid is only able to dissolve the outer layer of the wart, so it is sometimes necessary to repeat the procedure until the wart has gone completely. Special advantages of Acetocaustin Easy and safe to use because of the newly designed active-ingredient container and applicator Safe to store because of the childproof closure Not only that, but it is usually only necessary to use Acetocaustin for short periods of time. If applied once a week, as recommended, it takes at most 5 weeks to remove the wart in the majority of cases. Take care! Please limit over-the-counter treatment to simple warts on the hands and feet. Warts on the face or in the genital area must only be treated by a doctor!
Would you like to know anything else? If so, please contact: Temmler Pharma GmbH & Co. KG Temmlerstraße 2 35039 Marburg Germany Telephone ++49 6421 494 0 Fax ++49 6421 494-204 E-Mail info@temmler.de www.acetocaustin.de
Acetocaustin The strong solution to Warts simple + effective Just once a week! Active ingredient: Monochloroacetic acid; 1 ml solution, for the topical removal of common warts For information about risks and side effects, please read the package leafl et and talk to your doctor or pharmacist. From your pharmacy! www.acetocaustin.de