Download Warts

Warts
Causes:
Warts are caused by human papillomaviruses (HPV) which infect the skin. These
can present anywhere on the body including the feet (plantar warts) and anogenital area. The
viruses are transmitted by skin-to-skin contact.
Prevention: Avoid touching warts on yourself or others. Use footwear in public showers. Do
not shave hair around warts with a blade; use an electric razor. Do not use emery boards, pumice
stones, etc., that are used to pare down warts, on normal skin.
Treatment: Two-thirds of warts disappear on their own within two years however many
people desire treatment, and this can more readily occur when they are smaller and fewer in
number.
The virus lives deep in the tissue, so any treatment needs to remove several layers of skin even
when the skin starts to look normal. Therefore, treatment needs to be continued for several
weeks or months. Many people stop too early, and the wart comes back in a few months.
Liquid Nitrogen – This can be painful so it usually reserved for older children and adults. It
works by freezing the tissue and therefore killing the virus. One to three cycles of freezing and
thawing will be done on each wart by your physician. Afterwards, the response varies from a
little redness to blistering and pain. If a blister should appear and pop, then an antibiotic
ointment should be used to prevent infection. Healing usually occurs in 4-7 days, after which
you should use salicylic acid to remove more skin. This method can cause loss of pigmentation
in those with dark skin, so other methods are preferred.
Salicylic Acid – Useful in all ages.
Plasters (Mediplast, Duofilm) only for thick areas like palms and soles (plantar warts).
Apply to the wart and include a few millimeters of normal skin. Tape it into place with duct
tape. Remove the patch in 2-3 days. Remove the dead skin with an emery board or pumice
stone and repeat the process until several layers of skin have been removed or 1-2 weeks after
the wart is gone. Replace the patch if it gets wet.
Liquid (Compound W, Duoplant,, Duofilm, Wart-off) – can be applied in all areas. Soak
the affected area with warm water for 10-20 minutes before bedtime. Apply the liquid overnight.
Pare away the dead skin in the morning. Repeat for 1-2 weeks after the wart is gone.
Duct tape – Especially useful in young children. Cover the wart and 2 millimeters of
surrounding normal skin with duct tape. Remove after 6 days. Soak the area and pare away the
dead skin with an emery board or pumice stone. Leave uncovered for 24 hours. Repeat the
cycle for 1-2 weeks after the wart is gone or for up to 2 months.
If the above methods do not work, your physician may prescribe stronger medications or refer
you to a dermatologist.