Treatment for Different Types of Warts
Although most warts don’t require treatment since they may spontaneously resolve within 1 to 5 years, other reasons might prompt you to seek treatment.
Salicylic acid
The most accessible option for treatment is salicylic acid. This is readily available as an over-the-counter topical formulation like creams, gels, and even medicated band-aids. However, at high concentrations, it’s possible for the healthy skin surrounding the wart to be destroyed. To avoid this, lather on petroleum jelly on surrounding skin to prevent it from damage. Doing this daily for 2 to 4 months helps to get rid of warts.
Cryotherapy
Another common treatment is cryotherapy where liquid nitrogen or some other freezing substance is sprayed onto the wart to destroy the cells and eliminate the virus that causes it. After freezing, the area blisters and turns into a scab before naturally falling off. It’s important to note that this procedure is better done by healthcare professionals since it could require several sessions and local anesthetic depending on your case.
Precisions methods
Precision methods like laser treatments and electrocautery use a precise laser beam and electricity, respectively, to kill the virus, afflicted cells, and to get rid of the wart.
Chemical treatments
Chemical treatments like cantharidin and candida antigen shots are also available. Cantharidin is extracted from the blister beetle, which is an insect that gives off this substance that creates a blister when injected under the wart and lifts it for the doctor to remove.
Candida antigen can be locally injected and it activates the immune system to get rid of the wart. This is similar to immunotherapy, and both of these methods may not be advisable for pregnant people.
Surgery
A last-resort solution is surgery. Surgical removal of warts is uncommon because it might cause scarring. The method is similar to shaving, but the material used is a surgical razor and it is conducted under anesthesia. A topical cream may be used as a supplement to prevent scarring.
Other methods
Other possible treatments are antibiotics, in case of infection, retinoids to disrupt the skin growth, bleomycin or benoxane to kill cells, as well as targeted treatments like photodynamic therapy.
Key Takeaways
Warts are, more often than not, no cause for real alarm. To help to determine the types of warts you may have, consult your doctor or dermatologist. They can also help in sharing treatment plans to help address your concerns.
Learn more about Skin Health here.
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