Brodawki zwykłe – Leczenie

Brodawki zwykłe
Leczenie

Brodawki zwykłe (verruca vulgaris) to łagodne zmiany skórne wywołane przez wirusa HPV, które u około 65% pacjentów ustępują samoistnie w ciągu 2 lat. Leczenie jest wskazane w przypadku dolegliwości bólowych, rozprzestrzeniania się zmian, problemów kosmetycznych lub utrudnień w funkcjonowaniu. Podstawową terapią jest stosowanie kwasu salicylowego w stężeniach 17% (brodawki zwykłe) i 40% (podeszwowe), z efektywnością 70-86,5% przy regularnym stosowaniu przez 12 tygodni. Metoda ta często łączona jest z krioterapią, której skuteczność wynosi 50-70% po 3-4 zabiegach. Alternatywne opcje terapeutyczne obejmują miejscowe stosowanie 5-fluorouracylu, imiquimodu, immunoterapię antygenem Candida, bleomycynę oraz metody chirurgiczne i laserowe, z różnym stopniem skuteczności (33-92%). Wybór metody zależy od lokalizacji, liczby i charakteru brodawek, wieku pacjenta oraz wcześniejszych terapii.

Leczenie brodawek zwykłych

Leczenie farmakologiczne
Metody zabiegowe
Domowe metody leczenia
Wybór odpowiedniej metody leczenia
Skuteczność leczenia i nawroty
Kiedy zgłosić się do lekarza
Zapobieganie nawrotom
Podsumowanie
Kolejne rozdziały

Leczenie brodawek zwykłych

Brodawki zwykłe (verruca vulgaris) to łagodne zmiany skórne spowodowane infekcją wirusem brodawczaka ludzkiego (HPV). Większość brodawek zwykłych ustępuje samoistnie bez leczenia, choć może to trwać od kilku miesięcy do nawet dwóch lat. W tym czasie mogą pojawić się nowe brodawki w pobliżu istniejących¹. Około 65% brodawek zanika samoistnie w ciągu 2 lat²³. Pacjenci często decydują się jednak na leczenie brodawek, gdy te są bolesne, rozprzestrzeniają się, stanowią problem kosmetyczny lub przeszkadzają w codziennym funkcjonowaniu¹.

Celem leczenia brodawek jest zniszczenie zmiany, stymulacja odpowiedzi immunologicznej organizmu przeciwko wirusowi HPV lub zastosowanie obu tych strategii jednocześnie¹⁴. Leczenie może trwać tygodnie lub miesiące, a brodawki mogą nawracać nawet po skutecznej terapii. Lekarze zazwyczaj zalecają rozpoczęcie od najmniej bolesnych metod, szczególnie w przypadku leczenia dzieci¹.

Leczenie farmakologiczne

W leczeniu brodawek zwykłych stosuje się różne preparaty farmakologiczne, zarówno dostępne bez recepty, jak i na receptę:

Kwas salicylowy

Kwas salicylowy jest najczęściej stosowanym i najlepiej przebadanym środkiem w leczeniu brodawek zwykłych⁵⁶. Działa poprzez stopniowe złuszczanie warstw brodawki⁷. Jest dostępny w różnych postaciach:

Płyny, żele i plastry zawierające kwas salicylowy (17% dla brodawek zwykłych, 40% dla brodawek podeszwowych)⁸⁹
Preparaty bez recepty (Compound W, Dr. Scholl’s Clear Away i inne)⁸
Preparaty na receptę o wyższym stężeniu kwasu salicylowego¹⁰

Skuteczność kwasu salicylowego wynosi od 70% do 86,5% przy regularnym stosowaniu przez 12 tygodni⁶¹¹. Najlepsze rezultaty uzyskuje się, gdy przed aplikacją brodawkę moczy się w ciepłej wodzie, a następnie usuwa martwą skórę jednorazowym pilnikiem lub pumeksem⁸¹². Leczenie kwasem salicylowym może być łączone z krioterapią dla zwiększenia skuteczności¹³.

5-fluorouracyl

5-fluorouracyl (5-FU) to lek przeciwnowotworowy stosowany miejscowo w leczeniu opornych brodawek⁷. Jest aplikowany bezpośrednio na brodawkę i pokrywany opatrunkiem na 12 tygodni⁷. 5-FU hamuje syntezę DNA i RNA, co zmniejsza liczbę komórek zakażonych wirusem w brodawce¹⁴. Ta metoda jest często stosowana z dobrymi wynikami u dzieci⁷.

Imiquimod

Imiquimod (Aldara) to lek immunomodulujący, który stymuluje układ odpornościowy do walki z wirusem HPV¹⁵. Jest zatwierdzony głównie do leczenia brodawek narządów płciowych, ale może być stosowany również w przypadku opornych brodawek zwykłych¹⁶. Badania dotyczące skuteczności imiquimodu w leczeniu brodawek zwykłych wykazały wskaźnik wyleczenia między 30% a 80%¹⁷.

Antygen Candida

Immunoterapia z zastosowaniem antygenu Candida polega na wstrzykiwaniu wyciągu z Candida albicans w brodawkę⁷. Ta metoda stymuluje układ odpornościowy do walki z wirusem HPV, nawet w brodawkach odległych od miejsca iniekcji⁷. Jest to zastosowanie pozarejestracyjne (off-label), ale często przynosi dobre wyniki w przypadku brodawek opornych na inne metody leczenia⁷¹⁸. Wskaźnik wyleczenia wynosi od 56% do 75%¹⁸.

Bleomycyna

Bleomycyna to lek przeciwnowotworowy, który może być wstrzykiwany w brodawki oporne na leczenie¹⁹. Hamuje syntezę DNA w komórkach i wirusach²⁰. Wskaźniki wyleczenia wahają się od 33% do 92%²⁰. Bleomycyna jest zazwyczaj stosowana dopiero po niepowodzeniu innych metod leczenia²¹.

Inne leki stosowane w leczeniu brodawek

W leczeniu brodawek zwykłych stosuje się również:

Kantarydynę – substancję powodującą powstawanie pęcherza pod brodawką, co prowadzi do jej oddzielenia się od skóry²¹³
Kwas trichlorooctowy – stosowany gdy kwas salicylowy lub krioterapia nie działają²²²³
Retinoidy – szczególnie skuteczne w leczeniu brodawek płaskich²⁴²⁵
Difencypron (DCP) – wywołuje reakcję alergiczną skóry w miejscu aplikacji, co stymuluje układ odpornościowy²⁶

Metody zabiegowe

Krioterapia

Krioterapia (zamrażanie) to jedna z najczęściej stosowanych metod leczenia brodawek zwykłych²². Polega na aplikacji ciekłego azotu na brodawkę, co powoduje powstanie pęcherza pod i wokół zmiany, prowadząc do obumarcia tkanki²². Martwa tkanka odpada po około tygodniu²².

Skuteczność krioterapii wynosi od 50% do 70% po trzech lub czterech zabiegach⁶²⁷. Większość pacjentów wymaga więcej niż jednego zabiegu, które zazwyczaj powtarza się co 2-4 tygodnie²²¹³.

Efekty uboczne krioterapii obejmują ból, powstawanie pęcherzy i bliznowacenie²². Ze względu na bolesność, metoda ta zwykle nie jest stosowana u małych dzieci²². Krioterapia może również powodować trwałą utratę koloru skóry w leczonych obszarach²⁸.

Leczenie laserowe

Terapia laserowa (fototerapia) jest stosowana w przypadku brodawek, które nie reagują na inne metody leczenia²⁹. Dostępnych jest kilka rodzajów terapii laserowej:

Laser CO₂ – emituje promieniowanie podczerwone, które termicznie niszczy tkankę³⁰
Laser pulsacyjno-barwnikowy – przepala małe naczynia krwionośne w brodawkach, powodując ich obumarcie²⁹
Terapia fotodynamiczna – wykorzystuje światło i fotouczulacze, takie jak kwas 5-aminolewulinowy, do niszczenia zakażonych tkanek³⁰

Dowody na skuteczność terapii laserowej są ograniczone, ale niektóre badania wykazują skuteczność na poziomie 56-75% w przypadku opornych brodawek²⁹¹⁸. Laser CO₂ może powodować ból i bliznowacenie²⁹.

Metody chirurgiczne

W przypadku opornych brodawek stosuje się również metody chirurgiczne:

Elektrokoagulacja (wypalanie) – niszczy brodawkę za pomocą prądu elektrycznego³¹
Łyżeczkowanie (skrobanie) – polega na mechanicznym usunięciu brodawki za pomocą specjalnego narzędzia (łyżeczki)²⁹
Wycięcie chirurgiczne – całkowite usunięcie brodawki skalpelem³¹

Metody chirurgiczne są skuteczne, ale mogą pozostawiać blizny²⁹. Są zwykle stosowane dopiero po niepowodzeniu innych metod leczenia²⁹. Wskaźniki skuteczności wynoszą od 65% do 85%, ale nawroty mogą wystąpić w około 30% przypadków¹⁷.

Domowe metody leczenia

Wiele brodawek zwykłych można skutecznie leczyć w warunkach domowych³²:

Preparaty z kwasem salicylowym

Dostępne bez recepty preparaty zawierające kwas salicylowy są najczęściej stosowaną metodą domowego leczenia brodawek³³. Należy aplikować je codziennie, często przez kilka tygodni⁸. Przed aplikacją zaleca się moczenie brodawki w ciepłej wodzie przez kilka minut, a następnie usuwanie martwej skóry pilnikiem lub pumeksem⁸.

Jeśli skóra stanie się bolesna, należy przerwać stosowanie produktu⁸. Kobiety w ciąży powinny skonsultować się z lekarzem przed zastosowaniem roztworu kwasu⁸.

Domowa krioterapia

Dostępne są preparaty do zamrażania brodawek w warunkach domowych (Compound W Freeze Off, Dr. Scholl’s Freeze Away i inne)⁸. Zawierają one ciekły butan lub podobne substancje, które są jednak mniej skuteczne niż ciekły azot stosowany w gabinetach lekarskich, ponieważ osiągają wyższą temperaturę (ok. -57°C w porównaniu do -196°C dla ciekłego azotu)³⁴.

Metoda z taśmą klejącą

Istnieje metoda polegająca na pokrywaniu brodawki taśmą klejącą (np. taśmą typu duct tape)⁸. Zgodnie z tą metodą należy:

Nakleić taśmę na brodawkę i pozostawić ją na 6 dni⁸
Następnie zmoczyć brodawkę w wodzie i delikatnie usunąć martwą tkankę pumeksem lub jednorazowym pilnikiem⁸
Pozostawić brodawkę odsłoniętą na około 12 godzin, a następnie powtórzyć proces⁸

Wyniki badań dotyczących skuteczności tej metody są jednak niejednoznaczne i nie wykazują istotnej przewagi nad placebo¹⁸³⁵.

Wybór odpowiedniej metody leczenia

Wybór metody leczenia brodawek zwykłych zależy od wielu czynników, takich jak¹³⁶:

Lokalizacja brodawki
Wielkość i liczba zmian
Wiek pacjenta
Stan zdrowia (w tym stan układu odpornościowego)
Wcześniejsze próby leczenia
Preferencje pacjenta

Osoby z cukrzycą lub innymi chorobami, które mogą spowolnić gojenie ran, mają wyższe ryzyko powikłań po niektórych metodach leczenia brodawek. W takich przypadkach zaleca się konsultację z lekarzem przed rozpoczęciem jakiegokolwiek leczenia, nawet domowego³⁷.

W przypadku dzieci z brodawkami na rękach, które ssają kciuk lub palce, również wskazana jest konsultacja z lekarzem przed rozpoczęciem domowego leczenia, ze względu na ryzyko połknięcia stosowanych preparatów³⁷.

Skuteczność leczenia i nawroty

Żadna metoda leczenia brodawek nie jest w 100% skuteczna, a brodawki mają tendencję do nawracania³⁸. Wskaźniki wyleczenia wahają się w zależności od metody leczenia, ale zwykle wynoszą od 50% do 80%⁶²⁷.

Nawet po skutecznym leczeniu, około 35% pacjentów doświadcza nawrotu brodawek w ciągu roku²¹. Z tego powodu zaleca się unikanie metod powodujących bliznowacenie, aby nie doprowadzić do nagromadzenia wielu blizn w przypadku powtarzających się terapii²¹.

W przypadku brodawek opornych na standardowe leczenie, często stosuje się kombinację różnych metod, np. krioterapię z kwasem salicylowym, co może zwiększyć skuteczność terapii²¹³⁹.

Kiedy zgłosić się do lekarza

Należy skonsultować się z lekarzem w następujących przypadkach⁴⁰⁴¹⁴²:

Brodawki nie ustępują po samodzielnym leczeniu przez 12 tygodni
Brodawki rozprzestrzeniają się lub mnożą się mimo leczenia
Brodawki są bolesne lub krwawią
Brodawki występują na twarzy, narządach płciowych lub w okolicy odbytu
Pacjent ma osłabiony układ odpornościowy
Występuje niepewność co do diagnozy

Zapobieganie nawrotom

Aby zmniejszyć ryzyko rozprzestrzeniania się brodawek i ich nawrotów, zaleca się⁴⁰⁴³:

Unikanie dotykania i drapania własnych brodawek
Nieużywanie tych samych pilników, pumeksów lub nożyczek do paznokci na brodawkach i na zdrowej skórze
Używanie jednorazowych pilników do paznokci
Unikanie obgryzania paznokci i skórek
Unikanie współdzielenia gorących wanien, pryszniców i ciepłych kąpieli
Nieudostępnianie myjek ani ręczników innym osobom

Warto pamiętać, że wirus HPV może pozostawać w organizmie przez długi czas, dlatego nawet po skutecznym leczeniu istnieje ryzyko nawrotu brodawek².

Podsumowanie

Leczenie brodawek zwykłych może być wyzwaniem zarówno dla pacjentów, jak i lekarzy³⁸. Należy pamiętać, że większość brodawek zanika samoistnie w ciągu 1-2 lat, ale leczenie może przyspieszyć ten proces i zapobiec rozprzestrzenianiu się wirusa⁴⁴.

Wybór odpowiedniej metody leczenia powinien być dostosowany do indywidualnych potrzeb pacjenta, uwzględniając lokalizację i charakter zmian, wiek pacjenta oraz wcześniejsze doświadczenia z leczeniem¹. W wielu przypadkach konieczne jest łączenie różnych metod terapeutycznych lub wielokrotne powtarzanie zabiegów¹³⁹.

Cierpliwość i systematyczność w leczeniu są kluczowe dla osiągnięcia dobrych rezultatów, a konsultacja z dermatologiem jest wskazana w przypadku opornych lub problematycznych brodawek³³.

Kolejne rozdziały

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Materiały źródłowe

#1 Common warts – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-warts/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371131
Most common warts go away without treatment, though it may take a year or two and new ones may develop nearby. Some people choose to have their warts treated by a healthcare professional because home treatment isn’t working and the warts are bothersome, spreading or a cosmetic concern. […] The goals of treatment are to destroy the wart, stimulate an immune system response to fight the virus or both. Treatment may take weeks or months. Even if warts clear up with treatment, they tend to come back or spread. Your healthcare professional will likely suggest starting treatment with the least painful method, particularly when treating young children. […] Treatment for common warts includes the following approaches. Which is best for you depends on the where the wart is, your symptoms and your preferences. These methods are sometimes combined with home treatments.
#2 Warts: How To Identify, Causes, Types, Treatment & Prevention
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15045-warts
Your provider uses laser light to heat and destroy tiny blood vessels inside the wart. […] Certain at-home remedies may help you get rid of warts, like covering the wart with duct tape and over-the-counter products. […] Yes, about 65% of warts go away on their own after two years. […] There’s no surefire way to prevent warts. […] If you have a wart, do the following to help keep it from spreading: […] Once you have a strain of HPV that causes warts, there’s no sure way to keep warts from returning. […] Most warts go away without any significant problems. […] If over-the-counter treatments haven’t helped to give your wart the boot, talk to your healthcare provider, especially if the wart is affecting your life. […] The good news is that there’s a variety of treatments.
#2 Warts: How To Identify, Causes, Types, Treatment & Prevention
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15045-warts
Warts can be stubborn, but many treatment options can help get rid of them. […] Your healthcare provider may recommend treatment. Options include: […] OTC wart removal medications, like Compound W, contain salicylic acid. This chemical dissolves warts one layer at a time. […] Your healthcare provider may apply a liquid mixture containing the chemical cantharidin to a wart. […] During a procedure called cryotherapy, your provider applies liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart. […] If the wart hasn’t cleared up with conservative treatments, your provider may recommend more invasive treatments, like: […] Immunotherapy helps your immune system fight the virus that causes warts. […] Your provider may cut out the wart to remove it. […] This treatment involves burning away the wart tissue using a specially designed heated needle.
#3 Nongenital Warts Treatment & Management: Medical Care, Surgical Care
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1133317-treatment
Multiple modalities are available for the treatment of warts, but none is uniformly effective. Start with the least painful, least expensive, and least time-consuming methods. Reserve the more expensive and invasive procedures for refractory extensive warts. Various treatment methods are available. The British Association of Dermatologists has treatment guidelines for cutaneous warts. […] Providing no treatment at all is certainly safe and cost effective. Consider this as an option, since 65% of warts may regress spontaneously within 2 years. Without treatment, however, patients risk warts that may enlarge or spread to other areas. Treatment is recommended for patients with extensive, spreading, or symptomatic warts or warts that have been present for more than 2 years. […] Salicylic acid is a first-line therapy used to treat warts. It is available without a prescription and can be applied by the patient at home. Cure rates from 70-80% are reported.
#4 Common warts – Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment | BMJ Best Practice
https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/615
Common warts, also known as verrucae vulgaris, are caused by human papillomavirus infection and affect most people during their lifetimes. They are most common in children and young adults. […] The goals of treatment are to destroy the lesion, induce cytotoxicity against infected cells, and promote antiviral immune responsiveness to prevent recurrence. […] Best outcomes are achieved with a combination of destructive and immune sensitisation approaches. […] Most common warts in healthy people resolve spontaneously. Clearance rates in children from time of diagnosis to clearance are 23% at 2 months, 30% at 3 months, 65% to 78% at 2 years, and 90% at 5 years.
#5 Warts: Diagnosis and treatment
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/warts-treatment
Warts are curable. Your dermatologist knows it takes time to clear warts and that you can certainly get rid of them. […] Most warts are harmless, and many go away on their own. However, without treatment, it takes time for warts to clear from a few months to years. Treatment can help: Clear warts more quickly. Reduce the risk of spreading the virus that causes warts to others or to other parts of your body. […] When treatment is recommended, dermatologists offer a range of treatments. A treatment plan may include one or more of the following: Salicylic acid: This is a common treatment for warts. It works by stripping away the layers of the wart. […] Wart treatments that you can buy without a prescription often contain salicylic acid. Your dermatologist may recommend one of these products or a prescription medication that contains a stronger dose.
#6 Treatment of Nongenital Cutaneous Warts | AAFP
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2011/0801/p288.html
Numerous treatments for nongenital cutaneous warts are available, although no single therapy has been established as completely curative. […] Salicylic acid has the best evidence to support its effectiveness, but it is slow to work and requires frequent application for up to 12 weeks. […] Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen is a favorable option for many patients, with cure rates of 50 to 70 percent after three or four treatments. […] For recalcitrant warts, Candida or mumps skin antigen can be injected into the wart every three to four weeks for up to three treatments. […] Photodynamic therapy with aminolevulinic acid has the best evidence of effectiveness compared with pulsed dye laser, intralesional bleomycin, and surgical removal using curettage or cautery. […] Salicylic acid is the treatment option with the best evidence to support its effectiveness. Combined results from five RCTs showed a 73 percent cure rate with six to 12 weeks of salicylic acid treatment, compared with a 48 percent cure rate with placebo.
#7 Common warts – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-warts/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371131
Prescription-strength peeling medicine. Wart medicines with salicylic acid work by removing layers of a wart a little bit at a time. Studies show that salicylic acid is more effective when combined with freezing or pulsed-dye laser treatment. […] 5-fluoruracil. This wart medicine is applied directly to the wart and keep under a bandage for 12 weeks. This method is often used with good results in children. […] Candida antigen. This method works by injecting candida antigen into a wart. It stimulates the immune system to fight warts, even those not close to the injection site. This is an off-label use of this medicine, which means that it doesn’t have FDA approval for removing warts. This method is often used with good results for people whose warts haven’t responded to other treatments.
#8 Common warts – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-warts/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371131
Peeling medicine. Nonprescription wart removal products such as salicylic acid are available as pads, gels and liquids. For common warts, look for a 17% salicylic acid solution. These products (Compound W, Dr. Scholl’s Clear Away, others) are used daily, often for a few weeks. For best results, soak your wart in warm water for a few minutes before applying the product. File away any dead skin with a disposable emery board or a pumice stone between treatments. […] If your skin becomes sore, stop using the product for a while. If you’re pregnant, talk with your doctor before using an acid solution. […] Freezing. Some liquid nitrogen products are available in nonprescription liquid or spray form (Compound W Freeze Off, Dr. Scholl’s Freeze Away, others). […] Duct tape. Results from several small studies of duct tape for warts show that this treatment doesn’t work very well. If you’d like to try it, take these steps: Cover the wart with duct tape for six days. Then soak the wart in water and gently remove dead tissue with a pumice stone or disposable emery board. Leave the wart exposed for about 12 hours, and then repeat the process until the wart is gone.
#9 5 Treatment Options for Stubborn Warts
https://www.stoneoakdermatology.com/blog/5-treatment-options-for-stubborn-warts/
Most warts can be eliminated at home with over-the-counter treatments. These include: […] Nonprescription freezing products: These wart-freezing products typically use dimethyl ether to damage infected tissue causing warts to fall off one to two weeks after treatment. Multiple treatments may be needed for stubborn warts. […] Salicylic acid: Products containing salicylic acid in concentrations of 17% for warts in sensitive areas or 40% for plantar warts can also be an effective at-home solution. These products need to be used consistently and work best if you soak the wart and file it down with a pumice stone before application. […] However, most patients should be able to eliminate warts after one to three months of consistent home treatments. If your warts dont resolve in this period, you can contact a dermatologist for wart removal.
#10 Wart – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wart
Warts are non-cancerous viral growths usually occurring on the hands and feet but which can also affect other locations, such as the genitals or face. […] Without treatment, most types of warts resolve in months to years. A number of treatments may speed resolution, including salicylic acid applied to the skin and cryotherapy. […] Treatment of genital warts differs from that of other types. […] There are many treatments and procedures associated with wart removal. A review of various skin wart treatments concluded that topical treatments containing salicylic acid were more effective than placebo. […] Cryotherapy appears to be as effective as salicylic acid, but there have been fewer trials. […] Salicylic acid can be prescribed by a dermatologist in a higher concentration than that found in over-the-counter products.
#11 Warts: Causes, types, and treatments
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155039
A wart is a small growth that can appear anywhere on a persons body. Treatment options for warts include topical remedies, surgery, and antibiotics. […] Most warts clear up without treatment. But the time it takes a wart to disappear can vary. […] But if they do not disappear, or if a wart causes concern, medical help is available. […] A person may be able to treat their warts at home with salicylic acid. This is available over the counter (OTC) as creams, gels, paints, and medicated dressings. A person will typically have to apply salicylic acid daily for several weeks or even months. […] In controlled medical settings, solutions with high concentrations of salicylic acid have been successful in clearing 62.786.5% of warts. OTC treatments are usually of lower strength, but may still be beneficial.
#12 Patient education: Common warts, plantar warts, and flat warts (Beyond the Basics) – UpToDate
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/common-warts-plantar-warts-and-flat-warts-beyond-the-basics/print
Thick or loose skin on the surface of the wart should be removed at least every few days. This skin often appears white after soaking. Removal of this skin helps the medication to penetrate better and can be performed by filing the surface of the skin with a pumice stone or nail file. It is common to have a small amount of bleeding during filing, but you should stop if the skin becomes painful. […] If the wart does not go away within 12 weeks, you should stop treatment and see your health care provider. […] If you have neuropathy (nerve damage that causes numbness), you should not use salicylic acid, as it could injure your skin without you realizing it. […] Treatments performed by a health care provider […] Liquid nitrogen â Liquid nitrogen, often called „cryotherapy,” is a very cold liquid that destroys warts by freezing the skin. Liquid nitrogen must be applied by a health care provider, and multiple treatments are often needed to eliminate the wart.
#13 Warts: Diagnosis and treatment
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/warts-treatment
Keep in mind that results take time. To improve results, your dermatologist may add another treatment like cryosurgery (freezing), which is described below. […] Possible side effects include irritated skin and stinging where you apply salicylic acid. […] Cryosurgery (freezing): A common treatment for warts, this is a procedure that your dermatologist performs during an office visit while you remain awake. […] Your dermatologist will freeze your wart with a very cold substance, which causes the wart to scab up and fall off. […] Most patients need more than one cryosurgery treatment. Treatment may be repeated every 2 to 4 weeks. […] Cantharidin: This is a medication that your dermatologist paints on the wart(s). […] Dermatologists use cantharidin to treat: Common warts, Plantar warts.
#14 Treatment of Warts in Pediatrics: A Review
https://clinmedjournals.org/articles/jfmdp/journal-of-family-medicine-and-disease-prevention-jfmdp-6-132.php?jid=jfmdp
Intralesional bleomycin: Bleomycin is a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat localized warts with minimal systemic absorption. […] 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) inhibits DNA and RNA synthesis, which decreases the number of replicating virally-infected cells in warts. […] In a prospective cohort study this hypothesis was tested in 1,134 primary school children ages 4-12 years of age. Complete resolution was found in 52% within 11 to 18 months for patients with common and plantar warts. […] Salicylic acid is the only approved treatment by the FDA and is therefore the standardized first line treatment for warts. For pediatric patients, topical alternatives are generally better tolerated and there for favored over injected treatments due to decreased pain. The efficacy and safety of many treatments discussed have not been thoroughly established and require larger randomized trials to determine statistically significant results.
#15 Nongenital Warts Treatment & Management: Medical Care, Surgical Care
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1133317-treatment
Several topical agents are available that can be applied by trained personnel in a physician’s office. Cantharidin is an extract of the blister beetle that causes epidermal necrosis and blistering. Dibutyl squaric acid, also known as squaric acid dibutyl ester (SADBE), and diphencyclopropenone (DCP) are contact sensitizers. Trichloroacetic acid is a caustic compound that causes tissue necrosis. Podophyllin is a cytotoxic compound used more commonly in the treatment of genital warts. Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is a photosensitizer that has been successfully used topically in combination with blue light to treat flat warts. […] Several prescription medications have proven beneficial in treating warts. These can be applied at home by the patient. Imiquimod is an immune response modifier approved for the treatment of genital warts. Reports indicate successful treatment of common warts.
#16 Azthena logo with the word Azthena
https://www.news-medical.net/health/Wart-Treatments.aspx
#17 Treatment of Nongenital Cutaneous Warts | AAFP
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2011/0801/p288.html
Overall, it appears that plantar warts respond the least to this treatment. […] Pooled data from three trials evaluating the effectiveness of interferon alfa for the treatment of cutaneous warts showed no statistically significant advantage over placebo. […] Small nonrandomized trials evaluating topical imiquimod 5% for the treatment of recalcitrant warts reported 30 to 80 percent clearance rates. […] Although curettage or cautery is used to remove warts, no RCT has been published. Success rates are reported to be between 65 and 85 percent, but scarring and recurrence occur in up to 30 percent of patients.
#18 Treatment of Nongenital Cutaneous Warts | AAFP
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2011/0801/p288.html
Cryotherapy requires fewer applications than salicylic acid. Usually, liquid nitrogen is applied until a 2-mm white halo forms around the wart. […] Intralesional injections of the antigens induce a localized, cell-mediated and HPV-specific response that may target the injected wart as well as more distant warts. […] Two high-quality RCTs including 45 and 67 patients, respectively, with recalcitrant cutaneous warts reported cure rates of 56 to 75 percent with phototherapy plus aminolevulinic acid versus 23 to 42 percent with placebo phototherapy after four months. […] Although duct tape is a popular remedy for nongenital cutaneous warts, there is little documented evidence of its effectiveness. […] There is no consistent evidence regarding the effectiveness of bleomycin for nongenital cutaneous warts.
#19 Wart Removal – Plantar Wart Treatment – Near Chicago, IL
https://www.advdermatology.com/skin-concerns/benign-growths/warts/
Warts are non-cancerous skin growths caused by a viral infection in the top layer of the skin. […] Warts are common skin growths that can appear anywhere on the body and are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). […] There are several treatment options for warts, including over-the-counter creams and gels, prescription medications, and in-office procedures such as cryotherapy or surgical removal. […] At Advanced Dermatology, we often use injections as these are more highly effective than other treatments, especially if the warts are on the bottom of the feet or the palms of the hands. […] One medication is an anti-cancer drug called bleomycin. […] The other medication is an immunotherapy drug called candida extract. […] With each treatment, warts will become shallower and smaller in diameter as the virus causing the warts is destroyed.
#20 Nongenital Warts Treatment & Management: Medical Care, Surgical Care
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1133317-treatment
Cidofovir is an antiviral agent used for the treatment of cytomegalovirus infection in HIV patients. Several reports describe successful treatment of recalcitrant warts using various concentrations of topical cidofovir. […] 5-Fluorouracil is a topical chemotherapeutic agent primarily used to treat actinic keratoses. It has been reported to be effective in treating warts when used under occlusion daily for up to 1 month. It has been used in children. […] When warts are persistent and refractory to topical agents, consider intralesional injections as an alternative. […] Intralesional immunotherapy using injections of Candida, mumps, or Trichophyton skin test antigens has been shown to be effective in the treatment of warts, with reports of success in up to 74% of patients. […] Bleomycin is a chemotherapeutic agent that inhibits DNA synthesis in cells and viruses. Cure rates have ranged from 33-92%.
#21 Warts – Dermatologic Disorders – Merck Manual Professional Edition
https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/dermatologic-disorders/viral-skin-diseases/warts
Cryosurgery, also called cryotherapy, uses liquid nitrogen, and is extremely effective. […] Recurrent or new warts occur in approximately 35% of patients within 1 year; therefore, methods that scar should be avoided as much as possible so that multiple scars do not accumulate. […] Treatment of plantar warts is vigorous maceration with 40% SCA plaster kept in place for several days. […] Combination therapy with liquid nitrogen and imiquimod 5% cream, tretinoin, or SCA is effective and usually safer than liquid nitrogen alone or cautery. […] Several methods are available for the treatment of recalcitrant warts, but their long-term value and risks are not fully understood. […] Intralesional injection of small amounts of a 0.1% solution of bleomycin in saline often cures stubborn plantar and periungual warts. […] The 9-valent HPV vaccine has been reported as useful for recalcitrant warts in children, but efficacy of this intervention is not proved.
#22 Common warts – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-warts/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371131
Freezing. Freezing therapy administered at the office of a healthcare professional involves applying liquid nitrogen to a wart. This method also is called cryotherapy. It works by causing a blister to form under and around the wart, killing the tissue. The dead tissue sloughs off in a week or so. You’ll likely need repeat treatments. […] Side effects of cryotherapy include pain, blistering and scarring. Because this technique can be painful, it usually isn’t used to treat the warts of young children. […] Other acids. If salicylic acid or freezing isn’t working, your healthcare professional might suggest trichloroacetic acid or other acids. With this method, the wart is shaved and then the acid is applied with a wooden toothpick. You’ll need repeat treatments every week or so until the wart goes away.
#23 Warts: Diagnosis and treatment
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/warts-treatment
Trichloroacetic acid: This medication can destroy stubborn warts. […] Antiviral medication: If other treatments are unsuccessful, your dermatologist may prescribe this medication. […] Your dermatologist will carefully select your wart treatment based on your health, age, type of wart you have, and other considerations.
#24 Warts
https://www.pcds.org.uk/clinical-guidance/warts
Filiform warts – SA is not advised for this variant as too difficult to apply. Cryotherapy or curettage cautery seem to be most effective. NB NICE advise facial warts should not be treated in Primary Care. […] Plane warts – often multiple, thin and often in high-risk areas such as the face and hands. Usually not suitable for SA or cryotherapy due to the risk of scarring, especially on the face. Retinoid creams/gels can be tried, eg adapalene gel, once a day for six weeks (30% effective). […] Referral of warts (as per NICE) may be considered in exceptional circumstances including: an uncertain diagnosis, a persistent facial wart, extensive recalcitrant warts (ie not responding to treatment). NB Most CCGs will require an exceptional funding request. […] There are several other treatment options available in Intermediate/Secondary Care, or through a GP experienced in treating warts, however, it is important to note that all the following are unlicensed and evidence for their effectiveness is limited – Imiquimod 5% cream x3/week (Mon/Wed/Fri) for up to 16 weeks, Efudix cream at night under occlusion with a review after 4 weeks, or Actikerall gel applied daily for up to 12 weeks. Other treatments occasionally used include surgical removal with cautery or curettage (up to 65% effective but risk scarring and recurrence rate 30%), photodynamic therapy and pulsed dye laser.
#25 How to Get Wart Treatment? Effective Options Explained
https://miiskin.com/skin-conditions/wart-treatments/
Topical immune response modifier used for genital warts and other types of warts in certain occasions. Use: genital warts, flat warts, and stubborn common warts. […] In studies, retinoid creams or gels (like tretinoin or adapalene) are successful in the treatment of flat warts. Use: flat warts and occasionally for resistant common warts. […] Studies show the topical application of DCP provoke an immune response against warts. Use: recalcitrant warts, periungual and subungual warts, mosaic warts, and stubborn common warts. […] Podophyllin binds to the DNA of the HPV infected cells, preventing them from dividing and multiplying, which leads to the eventual destruction of the wart tissue. Use: Genital warts, florid warts over genital area called condylomata accuminata. […] Cryotherapy: Performed by a healthcare provider, liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the wart.
#26 Warts, verrucas, human papillomavirus infection
https://dermnetnz.org/topics/viral-wart
Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen is repeated at one to two-week intervals to cause peeling of the surface layer. It is uncomfortable and results in blistering for several days or weeks. Treatment is required frequently to prevent the wart regrowing between appointments. Success is in the order of 70% after 3-4 months of regular freezing. […] Electrosurgery (curettage and cautery) has been used for large and resistant warts. Under local anaesthetic, the growth is pared away and the base burned. The wound heals in two weeks or longer (depending on the site); even then 20% of warts can be expected to recur within a few months. […] Other treatments for recurrent, resistant or extensive warts include: The immune modulator, imiquimod cream – is approved for treating anogenital warts but is usually ineffective for cutaneous warts, Bleomycin injections, Pulsed dye laser destruction of feeding blood vessels, Photodynamic therapy, Laser vaporisation, Diphencyprone, dinitrochlorobenzene, or squaric acid to cause localised allergic contact dermatitis over the wart, Microwave therapy for plantar warts.
#27 Nongenital Warts Treatment & Management: Medical Care, Surgical Care
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1133317-treatment
In one study, photodynamic therapy with topical 5-aminolevulinic acid applied to the warts, followed by photoactivation with red 633-nm light-emitting diodes at 2- to 3-week intervals resulted in 68% improvement. […] Systemic agents that have been used to treat warts include cimetidine, retinoids, and intravenous cidofovir. […] Several alternative treatments have been reported as successful in treating warts, including adhesiotherapy, hypnosis, hyperthermia, garlic, and vaccines. Adhesiotherapy is performed by applying duct tape to the wart daily. This method is painless and inexpensive and has reports of good success. […] Liquid nitrogen (-196C) is the most effective method of cryosurgery. Apply liquid nitrogen using a cotton bud applicator or cryospray to the recommended 1-2 mm rim of normal skin tissue around the wart. Repeat every 1-4 weeks for approximately 3 months, as needed. Cure rates of 50-80% have been reported. […] Although electrodesiccation and curettage may be more effective than cryosurgery, it is painful, more likely to scar, and HPV can be isolated from the plume. Avoid using surgical excision in most circumstances because of the risks of scarring and recurrence.
#28 Patient education: Common warts, plantar warts, and flat warts (Beyond the Basics) – UpToDate
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/common-warts-plantar-warts-and-flat-warts-beyond-the-basics/print
Liquid nitrogen is often used to treat warts in older children and adults. The treatment can be difficult for younger children to tolerate because it can be painful. […] After liquid nitrogen treatment, most people heal within four to seven days. […] Liquid nitrogen can cause permanent loss of skin color in the areas treated. If you have concerns about how your skin will appear after treatment with liquid nitrogen, talk to your health care provider. […] Cantharidin â Cantharidin is a liquid that is applied by a health care provider to treat skin warts. It may be particularly useful for young children because it causes no pain initially. However, some people develop pain, blisters, and swelling 2 to 24 hours after the treatment. […] The skin usually heals within 5 to 10 days after treatment.
#29 Common warts – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-warts/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371131
Side effects are burning, stinging and changes in skin color. […] Remove wart tissue. Your healthcare professional can use a special tool to remove part of the wart. This tool is called a curet. This treatment may be combined with other methods. The wart may return in the same area. […] Laser treatment. If other methods haven’t worked, your healthcare professional might suggest laser treatment. This type of treatment is also called photo-based therapy. Examples include carbon dioxide laser, pulsed-dye laser and photodynamic therapy. Laser treatment burns the tiny blood vessels in warts. Over time the wart dies and falls off. […] Evidence for how well laser treatments work is limited. […] A carbon dioxide laser can cause pain and scarring. […] Home treatments such as the following often remove common warts. Do not use these methods if you have an impaired immune system or diabetes.
#30 Treatment of Warts in Pediatrics: A Review
https://clinmedjournals.org/articles/jfmdp/journal-of-family-medicine-and-disease-prevention-jfmdp-6-132.php?jid=jfmdp
Cantharidin is also known as „beetle juice” as it is derived from secretions of blister beetles of the family Meloidae. This substance causes destruction of epithelial cells by generating a blister formation around the affected area. […] Duct tape is an all-purpose adhesive with a variety of household uses. It serves as a convenient and cheap alternative that patients are able to attempt at home. […] Photodynamic therapy uses a wavelength of light that exogenously targets the tissue by stimulating photosensitive agents, such as 5-aminolevulinic acid to create oxidative stress on the cells, causing destruction. […] CO2 lasers function by emitting an infrared wavelength to thermally destroy tissue in a focused or defocused beam. […] Er:YAG lasers are 10 times more selective for water than CO2 lasers, therefore minimizing the thermal damage causing the severe side effects associated with CO2 lasers.
#31 Warts: Diagnosis and treatment
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/warts-treatment
Electrosurgery (burning) and curettage (scraping): Electrosurgery destroys the wart by burning it off. […] Excision (cutting): Your dermatologist may surgically remove the wart by cutting it out. […] When warts have not cleared with time or other treatments, your dermatologist may use one of the following: Laser therapy: If other treatments have not worked, your dermatologist may recommend this in-office procedure. […] 5-fluorouracil (5-FU): When a wart remains despite other treatments, your dermatologist may recommend this medication. […] Bleomycin: This is a chemotherapy medication. It can also effectively treat warts that are hard to get rid of, so your dermatologist may use bleomycin when other treatments fail. […] Immunotherapy: This treatment stimulates your immune system, so it can more effectively fight the wart-causing virus.
#32 Warts: Tips for managing
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/warts-self-care
Warts can often be treated at home. The following explains when you can safely treat warts at home and when you should see a dermatologist. […] You can get some wart remedies without a prescription and treat the warts yourself. This may be enough to get rid of the warts. […] You can treat warts at home by applying salicylic acid. This medicine is available without a prescription. It comes in different forms a gel, liquid, or plaster (pad). You should apply salicylic acid to the wart every day. […] Some home remedies are harmless, such as covering warts with duct tape. Changing the tape every few days might peel away layers of the wart. […] Ask your dermatologist if you are unsure about the best way to treat a wart.
#33 Over-The-Counter & Medical Treatments for Common Warts
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/understanding-common-warts-treatment
Some doctors say that the best treatment for warts is no treatment at all. […] However, if your wart doesn’t disappear, or if it’s unsightly or uncomfortable, you can try self-treatment or seek help from your doctor. […] If you decide to treat your own wart, your first-choice remedy should be an over-the-counter medication in liquid, gel, pad, or ointment form. […] Most of these contain salicylic acid, which softens abnormal skin cells and dissolves them. […] After applying the over-the-counter salicylic acid treatment, the area should be covered with a piece of duct tape. […] Another over-the-counter option is using a freezing spray. […] If over-the-counter treatment fails, your doctor can remove a wart by: […] Getting rid of warts takes persistence. […] There is no treatment that your doctor can do that has been proven to be more effective than the over-the-counter treatment with salicylic acid and duct tape.
#34 Common Warts Types, Causes, Symptoms, Contagious, Removal
https://www.medicinenet.com/warts_common_warts/article.htm
Aerosol wart treatments that are available over the counter use sprays that freeze warts at a temperature of minus 90 F (minus 57 C). This compares with the liquid nitrogen used by most dermatologists, which is considerably colder (minus 320 F or 196 C). The over-the-counter products may not work nearly as well as the colder agents a doctor applies. […] It has been reported that warts can be treated with duct (duck) tape or other nonporous tapes, such as electrical tape. This treatment requires that the tape be left in place all the time and removed only a few hours once per week. The tape must be replaced frequently. There is no firm scientific evidence that duct tape is effective, based on published studies that have shown mixed results. […] Above all, wart treatments require patience. The fact that there is a wide variety of wart treatments is evidence for the fact that there is no single best therapy. Warts can appear and disappear without an identifiable cause and often disappear on their own without treatment. Warts are generally painless unless they are present in areas prone to pressure or friction like the palms and soles. Treatment methods may require several sessions over weeks, months, or longer.
#35 Warts: 3 Types, Treatment, and Prevention
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/warts
Laser surgery for warts […] This procedure uses an intense beam of light (a laser) to burn and destroy wart tissue. It can leave a scar. […] Home remedies for warts […] You may be able to take care of mild warts at home. You can try: […] Salicylic acid for warts […] Over-the-counter wart treatments come in several forms (gel, ointments, or pads) and have salicylic acid as their active ingredient. When you apply the treatment on a regular basis, the acid gradually dissolves the wart tissue, one layer at a time. The process may take several weeks or months. This strategy works on about 50%-70% of common warts. […] Over-the-counter freezing spray products […] Some freezing products and liquid nitrogen sprays can help you freeze your wart at home. […] Duct tape […] This folk remedy involves covering your wart with duct tape. You leave the duct tape on for 6 days, then take it off and soak the wart in warm water. You can use an emery board or pumice stone to gently remove dead skin. Then, you leave the wart exposed to open air for about 12 hours and repeat the process until the wart goes away. […] Research has shown that this method doesnt work very well, and medical experts don’t recommend it. If you have diabetes or a weakened immune system, or if you need a wart surgically removed, go to a doctor. Never try to cut away or rip off a wart on your own. It could become infected.
#36 Common warts – Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment | MedPark Hospital
https://www.medparkhospital.com/en-US/disease-and-treatment/common-warts
Proper treatment can remove your wart and boost your immunity to fight the virus. A suitable treatment method depends on the wart’s location, symptoms, and preference. […] Chemical peels by salicylic acid and other acids: The top layer of the wart will gradually dissolve by salicylic acid. You may feel a stinging or burning sensation. You will need to see your doctor for weekly treatment. This method works well when used together with cryotherapy. […] Cryotherapy: Applying liquid nitrogen to your wart causes blisters to form under and around the wart, and the dead skin will fall off within one week. Cryotherapy can also stimulate your immunity to fight the HPV virus. This method can be painful or cause discolored skin. It is not suitable for young children. […] Surgical removal: This method can remove the affected tissue and heal by scarring. It is the treatment of choice if your wart is large and not amenable to other treatment modalities. […] Electrocautery: The treated tissue will die and peel off. However, this method can be painful and leave a scar. Healing and wound care can take longer than cryotherapy.
#37 Patient education: Common warts, plantar warts, and flat warts (Beyond the Basics) – UpToDate
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/common-warts-plantar-warts-and-flat-warts-beyond-the-basics/print
People with diabetes or other diseases that can slow healing of wounds may have a higher risk for complications from some wart treatments. If you have one of these diseases and have developed skin warts, it’s best to talk with your health care provider before trying any home treatments. […] Also, if a child with a wart is at risk for ingesting treatments that you might try at home (eg, children with warts on the hands who thumb or finger suck), it is best to discuss treatment options with a health care provider before trying at-home treatments. […] Treatment you can try at home […] Salicylic acid â Salicylic acid is a type of acid that is applied directly to the wart. It comes in different forms, such as a liquid or patch. […] If you decide to try salicylic acid treatment at home, you should follow the instructions on the package or your provider’s instructions. This often involves first soaking the wart in warm water for five minutes, then drying the skin completely, and then applying the salicylic acid. These steps are repeated each day.
#38 An Armamentarium of Wart Treatments
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1764803/
There is currently no cure for HPV infection, and therapy does not affect transmissibility. […] Therefore, current therapy aims at eliminating signs and symptoms. […] No single treatment is fully effective in all patients. […] Different types of warts may need different site-dependent treatments, and treatments may need to be combined. […] Spontaneous regression of warts must be considered in researching the effectiveness of treatment. […] The ultimate wart treatment would resolve all or a great percentage of warts, be painless, need only one or a part of a wart treated, call for one to three treatments, create no scarring, offer HPV immunity for a lifetime and be available to all patients. […] An armamentarium of wart treatments exists, including over-the-counter treatments and therapies provided by primary care and dermatology offices. […] Because so few of the reported treatments have undergone rigorous clinical trials, rather than weighing the evidence for or against any particular treatment, we offer a comprehensive list of treatments that have been reported in the medical literature.
#38 An Armamentarium of Wart Treatments
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1764803/
Patients and clinicians experience the frustration of cutaneous viral warts caused by infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV). […] A review of the medical literature reveals a huge armamentarium of wart monotherapies and combination therapies. […] Official evidence-based guidelines exist for the treatment of warts, but very few of the reported treatments have been tested by rigorous blinded, randomized controlled trials. […] It is the purpose of this review to provide a comprehensive overview of the wart treatment literature to expand awareness of the options available to practitioners faced with patients presenting with problematic warts. […] Common warts have been a frustration for both patients and clinicians since early Greek and Roman times. […] Moderate to extreme discomfort is reported in 51.7% of patients, and social or leisure activities are affected to a moderate to extreme degree in 38.8%.
#39 Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection – STI Treatment Guidelines
https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/anogenital-warts.htm
The aim of treatment is removal of the warts and amelioration of symptoms, if present. […] For most patients, treatment results in resolution of the warts. […] Treatment of anogenital warts should be guided by wart size, number, and anatomic site; patient preference; cost of treatment; convenience; adverse effects; and provider experience. […] No definitive evidence indicates that any one recommended treatment is superior to another, and no single treatment is ideal for all patients or all warts. […] Shared clinical decision-making between a patient and a provider regarding treatment algorithms has been associated with improved clinical outcomes and should be encouraged. […] Because all available treatments have shortcomings, clinicians sometimes use combination therapy (e.g., provider-administered cryotherapy with patient-applied topical therapy between visits to the provider).
#40 Common warts – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-warts/symptoms-causes/syc-20371125
Common warts are usually harmless and over time go away on their own. But many people choose to remove them because they find them bothersome or embarrassing. […] See a healthcare professional for common warts if: […] You’ve tried treating the warts, but they persist, spread or come back. […] Common warts are caused by the human papillomavirus, also called HPV. […] To help prevent common warts: […] Don’t touch or pick at warts, including your own. […] Don’t use the same emery board, pumice stone or nail clipper on your warts as you use on healthy skin and nails. Use a disposable emery board. […] Don’t bite your fingernails or pick at hangnails. […] Avoid shared hot tubs, showers and warm baths. And don’t share washcloths or towels.
#41 Flat Warts: Causes & Treatment
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24337-flat-warts
Flat warts dont usually require treatment. Theyll usually go away on their own, but it may take several months or even years. […] If you want to treat flat warts sooner, you have options, such as over-the-counter (OTC) wart removers. These medications contain salicylic acid and work by dissolving away the layer of skin the HPV virus has infected. But scientific evidence doesnt confirm their effectiveness and they can irritate your skin. […] You should have flat warts checked out by your healthcare provider if theyre painful, spreading or affecting your quality of life. Your provider can discuss various options with you to remove flat warts. Keep in mind that removal methods may not completely destroy the warts. In fact, they can sometimes cause warts to spread or the warts may reappear later. Treatment can cause also pain and scarring.
#42 Common Warts: Symptoms, Causes & Treatments | Ada Health
https://ada.com/conditions/common-warts/
Given that common warts are generally non-serious, some people may choose to try and treat them at home, possibly after visiting a pharmacy, or before seeking professional medical advice. Common techniques for doing this include salicylic acid products, liquid nitrogen, and apple cider vinegar. […] It can take a significant amount of time before home remedies make a difference, and they may not result in wart removal or cause side effects. If treatments prove ineffective or side effects are strong or worrying, seeking professional medical advice is recommended. […] If a wart does not go away after treatment with prescription and/or home remedies, it is recommended that you see a doctor to rule out other conditions and ensure that the most appropriate treatment is being used.
#43 Warts | Dermatologist In Batavia, IL | Advanced Dermatology and Mohs Surgery
https://www.adv-derm-mohs.com/warts/
Immunotherapy: This treatment uses the patient’s own immune system to fight the warts. […] You can get some wart remedies without a prescription and treat the warts yourself. […] You should see a dermatologist when you have: A suspicion that the growth is not a wart. […] You can treat warts at home by applying salicylic acid. […] Ask your dermatologist if you are unsure about the best way to treat a wart. […] To prevent warts from spreading, dermatologists recommend the following: Do not pick or scratch at warts.
#44 Patient education: Common warts, plantar warts, and flat warts (Beyond the Basics) – UpToDate
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/common-warts-plantar-warts-and-flat-warts-beyond-the-basics/print
SKIN WART TREATMENT […] Treatment of warts depends upon where the wart is located and how much it bothers you. Treatment is not necessary in all cases. For instance, two-thirds of skin warts in children will resolve on their own within two years, without treatment. However, during this time, the wart may enlarge or new warts may appear. In addition, a few small warts are usually easier to treat than multiple larger warts. For these reasons, most people choose to treat skin warts, particularly if they are painful, persistent, or bothersome in their appearance. […] There are many ways to treat warts. Some treatments take several weeks or even months to work, and warts can come back after treatment. Plantar warts and periungual warts can be particularly difficult to eradicate with treatment.