Wart Removal - Treatment, Procedure And Side Effects

Warts are usually referred to the small, fleshy tiny bumps which occur on the skin or mucous membranes. Human papillomavirus is the main causative pathogen. It may occur in any part of the body. It can be dislocated from one part to other parts of the body. It can be self-diagnosed.

Summary- Warts are viral invasions. They can spread from skin-to-skin contact.

According to the type of virus involved, warts are categorized into different brackets. They are-

• Digitate or filiform warts- thread-like warts which is common on the face
• Periungual warts- a cluster of warts observed around the nails
• Common warts- raised and roughened surfaces commonly seen on hands
• Genital warts- warts that affect the genitalia
• Mosaic warts- tightly-clustered warts, often found on the hands and soles of feet.

Warts are caused by viral infections. Human papillomavirus is the main reason for these warts, they can occur due to various reasons-

• Direct contact
• Sexual contact
• Sharing towels
• Casual skin contacts, etc.

Summary- Warts occur mainly due to pathogenic infection. Viruses are the most common causative organism

An accurate diagnosis is very important for wart removal treatment. Doctors apply various diagnostic methods to confirm the presence of warts and determine their severity. The methods used for diagnosis are-

• Physical examination of warts
• Biopsy
• Laboratory tests
• Scrapping off the top layer to observe symptoms such as clotted blood vessels, etc.

Summary- Doctors advise a proper diagnosis before proceeding with further treatment because it will help the doctor to know the exact condition of the patient. Removal of warts is very important and this can only be achieved by proper diagnosis and further treatment.

Since warts are viral infections so they slowly respond to antibiotics or other medicine. Warts treatment is mainly engrossed in alleviating symptoms and immunizing the body to fight off the infection. However, warts can be removed surgically and non-surgically. The symptoms usually start vanishing after a couple of weeks.

Summary- Treatment is very important to cure warts completely. We need to follow the doctor’s guidelines exactly.

The primary objective of the warts treatment is to destroy warts. It also encourages the immune system to fight back the virus so that any future occurrences can be mitigated. The peeling treatment includes salicylic acid concentrations in prescribed strengths. It is administered in little amounts in the affected area which gradually remove the warts layer by layer. Freezing therapy is yet another form of warts treatment where liquid nitrogen is applied to the affected area. It leads to the formation of a blister around and under the wart. Afterward, the dead tissue falls away within a couple of days. Cryotherapy is chosen by many doctors since it trains the immune system to form antibody for fighting viral warts. It is found that the combination of salicylic acid and freezing therapy can give most effective results. In some instances, salicylic acid cannot be used due to resistance or allergy of the patient. Doctors may try trichloroacetic or bi chloroacetic acid if salicylic acid is unable to offer desired results.

Surgical treatment of warts offers the immediate removal of warts. It is often done as electrosurgery and curettage. It involves the scrapping of warts with a sharp tool. Warts may be removed before or after electrosurgery. It is completely pivoted on the patient and the type of warts, he is suffering from.

Summary- Surgical treatment processes are usually opted for when non-surgical ways don't work or the patient wants a quick treatment. This process includes the excision of warts.

Due to the painless process of Non-surgical treatment of warts, it is often chosen by people. It involves methods like cryotherapy, immunotherapy, laser treatment, cantharidin, etc. These processes allow the removal of warts after a couple of days. These are not immediate processes.

Summary- Warts can be removed efficiently by using non-surgical methods too. But it will require time depending upon the types of warts.

The cost of surgical treatment of warts may be a little much. This is because the treatment involves different methods like oral medication, surgery, laboratory screenings, etc. So, the costs may be a little high-priced. But every kind of treatment related to this disease is available in India. Despite being a little costlier, it should not be a luxury to the patients.

Summary- The treatments for does not put too much stress on the budget. But it is available for needy people.

Warts are highly preventable. We can do the same easily by following some simple ways. Those ways are-

• Avoid direct contact
• Treating cuts and infections immediately
• Avoid using the same objects that infected persons do.
• Careful towards skincare
• Follow a healthy lifestyle, etc.

Summary- It can be prevented completely. What we need to do is to follow the above-stated rules meticulously.

Any individual who wants to get rid of warts may consider the freezing or salicylic treatment for removal of warts. Even though adults can manage warts, children often get hurt by picking or biting warts which cause excessive pain and irritation. But before deciding on anything, it is recommended to consult with an expert who can guide you better. Even if salicylic acid treatment or Cryotherapy may not work for a particular patient, then the expert can suggest viable alternatives such as laser therapy.

The treatment for warts cannot be easy and effective for some people, especially those who are pregnant, prone to allergies and have an excessive risk of infection. Plus, some people are not able to tolerate the pain associated with these treatments. People who have developed warts in areas that are very sensitive may not be able to take the wart treatment. This is because the treatment affects the skin surrounding warts and in some cases, the area in close vicinity cannot bear the effects, for instance, the skin near the eyes.

Scarring is the most important side effect of wart treatment, and it can be permanent. Patients who are not ready to live with the scar of warts may look for other options. It is also seen that the warts treatment leads to infection in case of some individuals. This is especially true in the case of patients with high blood sugar, peripheral arterial disease, and immunity problems. Also, patients with the history of recurrent warts may have to look for more aggressive treatment methods for curing warts.

The post-treatment care depends on the method that has been administered to the patient. Most doctors begin the treatment with the least painful methods, and it is important to follow the instructions given by the expert. The burning and stinging sensation can be alleviated with the use of ice packs. And to lessen the pain caused by the treatment, the patient would be given painkillers to help ease the discomfort.

Once the wart treatment is over, it takes about a few days to a couple of weeks depending on the type and intensity of the treatment. The side effects like blistering, swelling and pain can take about four to five days for recovery. On the other hand, the discolouration of the skin may be permanent, and the patient may seek resort to other treatment methods for treating the issue.

The price of wart removal varies according to the treatment option. It also depends on the number of warts that have to be removed. But it can be said that in India, the treatment for wart removal can be availed at Rs. 500. The patient has to come for several sessions of wart removal for desired results and so the cost keeps on adding up.

The treatment of warts can have permanent results although one may need several sessions to achieve the desired results depending on the individual conditions of the patient. Besides administering the treatment for warts, it is also important to strengthen the immune system so that the body can combat the virus causing warts.

Besides the conventional wart treatments, there are other methods of treating warts as well. These include an application of cantharidin on warts. Most individuals don’t feel any discomfort in this process, but some blistering may start after 3 to 8 hours. If warts do not subside after one treatment, the expert would suggest another session. Another way is burning warts, but it is not recommended since it leaves behind significant scars. But it is the only way out for warts that have not responded to other treatments. Cryosurgery is the surgical option which helps in removal of warts without affecting the skin around.