Easy, Effective and Inexpensive Home Treatment Remedies for Genital Warts

Posted under General Health

Genital warts, also known as venereal warts, are caused by the HPV virus. Because they are highly contageous and transmitted by sexual contact, it is essential that any individual infected with genital warts takes responsibility for treating them.

Symptoms of genital warts usually include red or pink colored bumps, swellings and lesions that can occur on the penis, vulva, vagina, anus, cervix, rectum and scrotum, accompanied by a an itching or burning feeling. Most genital warts are raised from the skin and if scratched, they can cause bleeding. Usually they appear within three months of being exposed to the virus through sexual contact but can remain asympomatic for years.

There are a number of home remedies that that can help lessen the discomfort of genital warts and eventually make them disappear. The topical application of Vitamin E oil or Vitamin A from fish oil over the infected area is an effective home remedy for genital warts. Applying a slice of fresh garlic, well-known for its antibacterial properties, and affixing it to the area of a genital wart with tape overnight, usually effectively removes the wart within a week’s time. It’s important to apply fresh garlic nightly.

Another effective home remedy is a solution made from covering sliced onions with salt overnight, then extracting the juice and applying it to the genital warts daily until they disappear. Applying apple cider vinegar to genital warts using clean cotton balls is another proven remedy, but consistency and patience are important with this cure. Apply the vinegar daily for at least a week or until the warts disappear.

Other treatment that can be pursued at home include the topical application of fresh aloe vera juice or the gel from the inside of an aloe vera leaf. There are a number of fresh produce items that contain enzymes effective at shrinking the warts, including papaya, banana peel, pineapple and figs. Tape a slice of the fresh fruit to the affected area for several hours, then rinse with warm water and repeat daily.

Increasing the amount of amino acids in the daily diet from foods such as onions, eggs, citrus fruits, asparagus and garlic can help treat genital warts. Increasing foods rich in folic acid and beta-carotene has proven helpful as well, including dark green and leafy vegetables, tomatoes, squash, mangos, cabbage and bell peppers.

Because warts tend to thrive in moisture, keep the affected genital area as clean and dry as possible during the healing process.

How to Beat Bad Skin Habits

Posted under Skin Care

Even celebrities like Lindsay Lohan have trouble with their skin from time to time. But bad skin care habits often add to the problem. We take a look at a few of the worst and show you how to beat them!

1. Bad Habit: Cleansing With Soap

It’s okay to use regular soap and water to clean your face—as long as you never wear makeup, live in an area with soft water and have oily skin. But everyone else should steer clear, according to skin care experts.

The Danger: According to the pros, regular soap can easily dehydrate your delicate facial skin, leaving it prone to breakouts and dullness. Plus, it’s not really equipped to wash off makeup.

Quick Fix: Buy soaps that are specially designed to cleanse your face (it should say “facial soap’ on the label). Or, choose a gel, cream or foam cleanser that’s made for your specific type of facial skin (such as oily, acne-prone, normal or dry).

2. Bad Habit: Over-Exfoliating

Do you over-exfoliate? Scrubbing with a grainy, nice-smelling exfoliator can be addictive, for sure. Plus you see an instant result, which is great if you’re a gal on the go. After exfoliating, your skin will glow and feel soft. Plus any after-treatments, such as masks, are better absorbed.

The Danger: Over-do the exfoliation and you can run into trouble. Warning signs that you’re using these scrubs too often include patchy dry areas on the face, redness, irritation, skin tautness and occasional breakouts.

Quick Fix: Cut down on the number of times you exfoliate a week. Once a week is plenty for most skin types. You should also consider switching to a more gentle formula of exfoliator that uses natural plant extracts to remove dead skin cells without the need for harsh scrubbing or chemicals. Check the labels on products before buying.

3. Bad Habit: Sleeping With Makeup On

When you get home late, the last thing you want to bother with is taking off your makeup. This may be forgivable every now and then – but don’t make a habit of it or your skin and eyes will suffer.

The Danger: If you leave makeup on your face while you sleep, mascara can flake off, causing your eyes to get itchy and bloodshot (or worse, lead to an eye infection). Lipstick – especially long-lasting formulas – can dry out your lips, making them dry and flaky. And skin will get dull and start to suffer from breakouts because dirt collected during the day has not been removed from your pores.

Quick Fix: If you simply can’t find the time to wash your face in the sink, switch to a lotion-based cleanser that you remove with cotton balls. Leave a supply on your bedside table and remove while you’re settling into bed. Once you’ve seen how much dirt comes off your skin at the end of the day, you’ll never go to bed in your makeup again!

4. Bad Habit: Picking at Pimples

However tempting it is, never, ever pick, squeeze or mess with a spot – and don’t let anyone else (like a facialist) do so either.

The Danger: Play with pimple and you increase the chance of scarring your skin. That turns a temporary flare-up into a permanent mark on your face!

Quick Fix: However tempted you are, the breakout will only last longer if you fiddle with it, say dermatologists. Touching the area continually can lead to the infection spreading elsewhere. The best way to deal with acne is to keep the infected area completely clean and cut down on excess oil. Using spot treatments at night to dry out nasty breakouts will also make you less likely to worry about them during the day.