Warts, also known as viral warts, are a very common pathology among people. They appear when there is an infection in the skin due to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). They are very frequent especially in children.
Specialists in children’s dermatology affirm that most warts disappear spontaneously when the immune system learns to fight them. Approximately 60% of warts disappear within two years without any treatment.
Types of warts
There are different types of warts depending on the area they affect.
- Common warts: They appear mainly on the hands, both on the palms and on the back of the hands. In some locations, such as on the face, they may have an elongated and hanging appearance.
- Flat warts: This type of wart mainly affects children. They are usually numerous and flattened and are usually located on the face and hands.
- Genital warts: These are a type of sexually transmitted disease (STD) also known as condylomas. They can be prevented by using a condom.
- Plantar warts: They affect the sole of the foot, which can cause discomfort or pain when walking.
How to remove warts?
There are many ways to treat warts. In fact, it is sometimes necessary to resort to different treatments to remove a wart permanently. It can take up to a month to remove a wart. There are two types of treatments: those performed in the doctor’s office and those that can be performed at home.
Among those performed in the doctor’s office, the most common treatments are:
- Cryotherapy: This consists of applying a cold spray based on liquid nitrogen that helps to freeze the wart. It can produce blisters.
- Electrocoagulation: Physical destruction of the wart using a radiofrequency scalpel. It is used under local anesthesia.
- Curettage: Methodical scraping of the wart with a sharp object such as a curette or scalpel blade. This reduces the size of the wart and thus allows other treatments to act on it.
As for treatments that are usually performed at home, the following are common:
- Topical keratolytics: these are topical preparations containing products that produce a superficial and controlled burn of the wart. They are applied by means of an applicator brush, impregnated discs or included in excipients such as petroleum jelly.
- Oral medications: They are used in some cases to help stimulate the immune system.
When in doubt about whether to start one treatment or another, it is best to consult a dermatologist to ensure the diagnosis and to determine which type of treatment is appropriate according to the type of wart and the patient’s circumstances.