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Treatments for Warts
2006-06-28
Dear Dr. Proskiw:
My son has some warts on his feet and hands that have been treated several times over the past few years. We have used over the counter acid preparations and liquid nitrogen, but they seem to recur.
This common disease is caused by infection with various strains of the human papiloma virus. Warts are seen most often in children, however all ages of people are commonly affected, and I most commonly see warts that affect people's feet. These are called Plantar's Warts. The most frequently affected sites are the hands and feet, however they can also be seen on the back of the hands and on the face.
Genital warts also are becoming a more serious problem in our society.
Genital warts are another type of wart that are very difficult to treat in most cases. Various types of warts involve different types of treatment. The typical warts of the hands and feet are most commonly treated with salicylic acid ointments that can be applied at home and are bought from your local pharmacy. I think it is very important to treat these warts consistently as directed on the instructions, and pair them down or trim them prior to application of the ointment and cream.
The second most common way of treating warts is using cryotherapy, or liquid nitrogen. This is usually applied at your Doctor's office or at a walk in clinic and is effective in almost 50% of cases. It is also important to realize that most warts subside spontaneously and there are some medications that can also be taken orally for treatments of viral warts. Viral warts respond variably to oral medication.
Oral cimetidine an ulcer medication, has been used to treat warts, however, several studies have shown that it is not that affective when compared to placebo treated groups. There are other topical treatments such as 5 F-U, or injection of breomocin that can be used. However, these treatments are typically more painful during the healing process.
In my experience, liquid nitrogen and pulsed dye laser treatment, are the most effective treatments for warts that are resistant to simple topical treatments. Generally warts have been shown to respond very well to pulsed dye laser treatment. Genital warts in particular have responded well to pulsed dye laster treatments. If you are concerned about your wart you should see your primary care physician and have a good treatment plan. Warts on occasion can grow to a large size and really effect the person's ability to walk if they are present on the feet, or they can be particularly embarrassing if they are in a location that is easily noticed.
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