ANIMAL MAGIC

This week: Beetle juice that gets rid of warts

ALMOST everyone gets at least one wart in their lifetime.

They develop when a strain of a common virus, the human papilloma virus, infects cells in the skin called keratinocytes and causes thickening that, within weeks or months, turns into a visible wart.

Most disappear on their own. But if they become sore, or are on a pressure area such as the sole of the foot, doctors may prescribe treatment.

One common drug is cantharidin, made from a chemical produced by the blister beetle, found in the UK, the U.S. and Canada. In the wild, the blister beetle releases cantharidin when it feels threatened. It can cause instant, painful blistering in predators. In medicine, when cantharidin lotion or cream is applied to a wart, it forms blisters on the surface of the lesion within a couple of days, and peels away layers of tissue. Within a week, most warts disappear, with no scarring. But cantharidin is usually applied by doctors or nurses as it can cause severe blistering if not used properly and may be lethal if swallowed.