Treatment of Warts

Numerous treatment modalities ranging from home remedies to electrosurgery have been tried to remove the wart completely and avoid recurrence. Although persistent treatment can completely clear the wart, the wart may recur in certain cases.

Salicylic acid preparations are available over-the-counter lotions or creams and when applied on the warts are known to reduce the size of the wart and at times complete removal. Before applying the salicylic acid preparation, the wart should be soaked in warm water to soften it. Then, it must be rubbed with pumice stone, pat dried and then apply the preparation. Preferably after such an application, the wart must be covered with a tape. This procedure may be required to be repeated daily for a minimum of twelve weeks for complete resolution.

 

Procedures performed by the doctor include mechanical removal of the wart using procedures known as electrocautery, cryosurgery or laser therapy. The doctor may also apply some sensitizing agents on the warts or inject certain medications such as bleomycin into the wart to soften them or cause their removal.^1,2           

Written by: Healthplus24 team
Date last updated: November 27,2009