Warts and All?
The commmonly used phrase “Warts and All” is defined as:
The whole thing; not concealing the less attractive parts.
It more generally implies the inclusion of unattractive elements.
The phrase has its roots firmly in history and is said to derive from Oliver Cromwell’s instructions to the painter Sir Peter Lely, when commissioning a portrait. The painter’s usual style was intended to flatter the sitter, accentuating the good features and ignoring the bad. However, as Cromwell famously disliked any idea of vanity, he asked for a true and honest portrait, allegedly saying:
I desire you would use all your skill to paint my picture truly like me, and not flatter me at all; but remark all these roughnesses, pimples, warts and everything as you see me, otherwise I will never pay a farthing for it.
The actual phrase ‘warts and all’ was a slight misquote in the retelling of the story by Alpheus Cary, in Massachusetts, in 1824:
When Cromwell sat for his portrait he said, “Paint me as I am, warts and all!”
Nowadays, for most people, our feeling towards warts remains the same – they’re something we’d simply rather not see on our portraits. They’re seen as unsightly and slightly unhygienic too.
Wart Removal
For anybody looking to get rid of warts, there are a number of wart removal options available:
- Home treatment – Wart treatment at home is carried out using over-the-counter wart removal preparation. Treatment involves a cycle of filing down the wart and applying the salicylic acid formula until the diseased area is eradicated. This can be effective on newer warts, before they become established, but can be a slow process and sometimes never succeeeds with stubborn warts
- Freezing treatment is a professional treatment option for those who are keen to have their warts removed quickly and efficiently. It works by applying intense cold to the area
- Laser treatment is suitable for more stubborn warts
- Surgery is the ultimate treatment where other options have failed and the wart is extremely resistant to treatment
Professional wart removal treamtent via freezing, laser or surgical techniques is available at Skin Surgery Laser Clinic who have a selection of locations conveniently based in London and Bristol. All procedures are carried out by highly trained and experienced doctors and surgeons.
For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.
