Wart Treatment

Choosing the Right Wart Treatment

Not all types of warts need wart treatment. Some people however may choose to have their warts treated when they begin to cause too much embarrassment or discomfort. There are several treatment options to consider.

Medication

Using medicated creams on warts is one of the mildest forms of wart treatment. They may however irritate sensitive skin and cause a little discomfort. Among the medications you should consider are:

• Salicylic acid- This is the most basic form of treatment but is most often recommended only for common and plantar warts or those that grow on the hands, feet, elbows and knees. The chemical wears away the wart so you can easily peel or rub away the wart layer by layer.

• Tretinoin- This solution is most often used for acne but it can also serve as a form of wart treatment. Tretinoin can help normalize skin cell growth and is best applied on flat warts on the face.

• Cantharidin- This is a chemical extracted from a beetle. As a form of treatment, it causes the wart to blister, making it easier to remove or peel off. It is recommended for common warts. Not everyone will trust this treatment most probably because of its origins.

• Bichloracetic acid- This medicine destroys warts by attacking their protein component. It can be used on common and plantar warts.

• Aldara- This wart treatment can be used on genital warts. It works by increasing a person’s immune response, allowing the body to fight the virus that causes warts.

• Podophyllin- This is another form of medication that can be applied directly to the warts. It is often used for genital warts.

Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery

In some cases, doctors may choose a more aggressive form of wart treatment in the form of cryosurgery or cryotherapy. This involves the use of liquid nitrogen to freeze and kill the warts which simply slough off after some time. Although this procedure can be used for different kinds of warts on the hands and feet, it is often recommended for genital warts.

Laser Treatment

The pulse dye or CO2 laser can be used on various wart types. Lasers remove the fluid in the warts. Although this form of treatment is effective, it may cause some pain and scars may be slightly evident. The option is also a bit costly.

Cauterization

Wart treatment can come in the form of cauterization. This usually involves the use of an electric needle to burn the warts. This may also possibly result in some scarring.

Things to Consider

There is no direct prohibition against treating warts yourself. Salicylic acid and other mild medications may be bought over the counter if you want to apply it yourself. If you do choose chemical wart treatment however, it is always best to ask for your doctor’s advice. Your chosen treatment may not be appropriate for the kind of wart that you have and may even irritate your skin.

Doctors typically assess the kind of wart that you have before recommending a type of treatment. Your health condition, wart location and wart size are also taken into consideration.