3 Genital warts remedies that you can use at home

Genital warts are a venereal disease caused by Human papillomavirus (HPV). Genital warts can be treated, even so the virus remains in the body. Treatment for genital warts can use topical drugs that are used on the skin such as ointments, creams or gels. Generally, genital wart medications are prescribed by a doctor and you can use them at home.

Genital warts medicine that can be used at home

Although you can use it at home, you can't buy genital warts at pharmacies or other drug stores carelessly.

You may want to treat genital warts to reduce or eliminate existing symptoms by buying over-the-counter medications without checking with your doctor first. But unfortunately it can't. Genital wart medications are not available over the counter, all genital wart medications require a prescription from a doctor.

Your doctor will give you a drug that is suitable for you and the severity you have. The doctor may give you a medicine that can be used at home or that requires the help of medical personnel to apply it.

You also cannot use a wart-free hand remedy to apply to genital warts. Genital warts and hands are caused by different types of HPV. Using inappropriate treatments will be more harmful to your genitals.

The following is a selection of genital wart medications that can be used at home, as recommended by your doctor.

1.Podofilox (Condylox)

Podofilox is a genital wart drug that aims to destroy warts. Even so, this ointment is safe and easy to use.

Podofilox consists of two forms, namely in the form of a solution and a gel. Podophilox solution should be applied with a cotton swab to the wart, while podophilox gel should be applied with the fingers.

This drug is applied twice a day, namely every morning and evening for three days, followed by four days without treatment. If the wart does not go away, this cycle can be repeated up to four times (for 4 weeks).

The total area of the wart treated with podofilox should not exceed 10 centimeters and the total volume should be limited to 0.5 milliliters per day. To find out what dose or dose is safe for you, you should discuss it with your doctor.

Podofilox is not recommended for use on internal warts and for use on large areas.

The side effects that may arise from this genital wart medication are pain with mild to moderate intensity and irritation on the treated part. Avoid contact with eyes, if this happens rinse immediately with clean water and consult a doctor.

2.Sinecatechin (Veregen)

Sinecatechin is used to treat external genital warts, the inner area or around the anus. This ointment contains green tea extract which is rich in catechins.

This ointment should be applied three times a day using your fingers. Apply the ointment approximately 0.5 centimeters of ointment on each skin. This genital wart medicine should not be used for more than 16 weeks.

This ointment is not recommended to wash off after application to the skin. As long as the ointment is still on the skin, avoid sexual contact, either genital, anal, or oral, as this can weaken the resistance of both male and female condoms.

This genital wart medication is not recommended for people with HIV, people with weakened immune systems, and people with genital herpes because its safety and efficacy have not been established.

Side effects that often appear are usually mild, such as redness, itching, burning, pain.

3.Imiquimod (Aldara)

Imiquimod is a cream used to boost the immune system's ability to fight genital warts. This cream is not recommended for children under 12 years unless according to a doctor's instructions

This cream is applied three times a week before going to bed and continued until the wart is completely cleared, or for about 16 weeks. Let the cream stay on your skin for eight hours after application, after which it should be washed off with soap and water.

While standing, avoid covering the skin where the cream is applied with a bandage or other waterproof covering. After using the drug, you should avoid contact with water.

Avoid sexual contact if you are still using this cream, as it can reduce the durability of both male and female condoms. In addition, this cream is likely to irritate your partner's skin.

The side effects that often arise from this cream are redness of the skin, body pain, itching and burning sensation, blisters, and skin rashes. Other side effects include pain in several parts of the body, coughing, and feeling tired.

Things to remember when using genital wart medications

Before applying the genital wart medication on the affected area, wash your hands and the area to be treated with soap and water, and dry them thoroughly. Likewise, after finishing treating it.

Use genital warts medication as directed by your doctor. Do not exceed the dose or use the medication for a longer time and more frequently than recommended. This will not make genital warts heal faster, it can actually cause a more severe skin reaction.

This treatment is painless but can sometimes cause pain and irritation for up to two days. If you feel uncomfortable with this, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol.

Some people who experience pain after treatment can take a warm bath. After bathing, make sure the area affected by the wart is completely dry. You are not allowed to use bath oils, soaps, or creams, until the treatment has been completed.

All the drugs mentioned above, have not been proven safe to use during pregnancy. If you have genital warts while pregnant, it's best to tell your doctor so that he can provide the right treatment for you.