Warts Removal Treatment
A small growth with a rough texture is called a wart. It can appear anywhere on the body. You can also call it a blister or a small cauliflower. Caused by viruses in HPV family, the appearance of the warts depend on their location on your body. There are different kinds of warts namely flat warts, palmar warts, planter warts and pigmented warts. In most cases, warts disappear on their own in a span of 1-5 years without any treatment. But, large-sized warts can be treatment without further negligence.
TYPES OF WARTS:
The different types of warts based on their clinical appearance include
1. Flat warts: may arise on the face, legs and other parts of the body
2. Plantar warts: are found on the sole of the foot. Similar lesions may be present on the palms. Small warts growing
in clusters on the sole of the foot are known as Mosaic warts.
3. Periungual warts: are warts which appear under and around the nail.
4. Filiform warts: have a single long stalk, often on the face.
5. Genital warts: are also called as condylomata acuminata; appear in the genital area. People usually acquire these warts by coming into contact with a person who is already infected with this virus. It is a common sexually transmitted infection. In females, they can appear on the vulva, vagina, cervix, and groin and on the penis, scrotum, thigh, and groin in case of males. Females and males can get warts in the mouth or throat after having oral sex with an infected person as well in and around the anal area after anal sex with someone who has HPV.
CLINICAL PICTURE: Most warts have a rough surface with a number of characteristics including black pinpoint spots representing small clotted capillaries.
COURSE OF THE DISEASE: Warts are considered to be contagious. Thus, it’s very common that multiple family members or roommates in hostels or PG accommodation may be affected. Warts can spread to other body areas from the primary site if the patient keeps on fiddling with them.
TREATMENT OPTIONS:
1. Oral Treatment: in the form of oral immunomodulators are available to boost immunity which helps in rapid clearance of wart lesions.
2. Local Application: SALICYLIC ACID PREPARATIONS are available in the market. Salicylic acid is keratolytic which dissolves the skin protein - keratin which makes up most of the wart mass ad thick layer of dead skin that often surmounts it. Many topical Immunomodulator creams are also available in the market which helps in the clearance of warts, especially in early stages. In the case of genital warts, local acid cautery is done along with vaccination which helps in complete clearance of warts in 1-3 sessions spaced at a 1-month interval.
3. Electrofulguration
4. Radiofrequency Wart Removal
5. Laser-Assisted Wart Removal
6. Vaccination: helps in the rapid clearance of wart lesions by boosting the immunity.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, WART TREATMENTS NEED PATIENCE:
There is a wide variety of wart treatments available but recurrence is very common.
So a patient may need 1 - 4 sessions of the procedure at the gap of 1month depending on recurrence. Some warts reappear at the site of the primary lesion/around the primary lesion or sometimes away from the primary lesion. Warts are usually painless unless they appear at areas prone to pressure or friction like palms and soles. Once the infection is completely clear, warts don’t come back unless one gets reinfected. Oral medication is prescribed by the dermatologist to prevent recurrence.
