Wart Removal | Methods To Remove Warts

Wart Removal | Methods to Remove Wart

Wart removal can be achieved through simple procedures performed by a doctor or dermatologist at the clinic. Normally, local anesthetic would be administered to arrest the pain during the procedure. This is necessary as the discomfort and pain could be unbearable for most people who have a large number of warts. Not all warts require immediate removal, for instance, warts on children are observed to vanish gradually without treatment over several months to a few years. Removal should be considered when they start to grow at alarming rate or have become cosmetically ugly, and affecting your daily activities.

Before we talk more about the suitability of each wart removal method for specific type of warts, here are the common procedures to remove warts:

Cryotherapy for Wart Removal (Freezing of Warts)

Warts can be frozen off your skin by applying liquid nitrogen.

Excision/Cutting off Warts with Scissors or Scalpel

Small warts can be easily cut off with serrated or curved blade scissors. Excision is required for larger ones.

Electro Surgery/Electro Dessication (Cauterization/Burning of Warts)

Warts can be removed by burning with electric current.

Laser Surgery

Using laser technology to splice the warts and remove them. Laser surgery is often very expensive and local anesthetic would normally be injected into the affected area.

Over-the-counter (OTC) Medications

Plasters, gel or solution containing salicylic acid, tretinoin, glycolic acid or other surface peeling elements are effective against warts. Cantharidin or keratolytic wart paint can be applied or painted over the warts. It has the effect of forming a blister under the wart, ie separating the wart from inner skin layer and hence facilitate cutting of the dead wart.

Depending on the age of the sufferer and type of warts, different treatments may be administered. It is important to consult your dermatologist for his professional opinion.

For common warts, applying OTC medications is a preferred method for children since it is the least painful. The application is also relatively easy and can be done at home. But this course of wart removal can take weeks before you can see any positive results.

Cryotherapy and cauterization are suitable for adults because of their greater threshold for pain. Sufferers may experience stings during the treatment. Treatment has to be repeated at intervals of about 2 weeks until warts are completely removed. Sometimes, laser surgery may be the last resort if the wart removal is unsuccessful for persistent warts.

Similar to common warts, flat warts can be treated using OTC medications containing salicylic acid, glycolic acid etc. In short, they are effective because of their skin peeling properties. Research has shown that applying salicylic acid with acetic acid in an acetone collodion base is almost as effective in treating warts as cyrotherapy. But once again, the setback is the lengthy treatment process which can often stretch for months.

Foot warts can be removed using all the different types of wart removal methods discussed thus far. Common sense will also tell you that since they are caused by moist conditions and pressure, they can be kept at bay by wearing comfortable footwear that reduces pressure, and by keeping our feet dry.

Genital warts can be removed by cyrotherapy, laser surgery and electro surgery. Special chemicals may be applied on the warts over a span of weeks before they can be eliminated.

Other methods which are not so common include immunotherapy which means making use of the body’s natural immune system to reject the warts. This is often done with the introduction of external compounds such as interferon, bleomycin, etc.

Learn More about a Natural, Safe and Painless Way to Get Rid Of Warts Permanently From a Long-time Sufferer on Breakthrough Wart Removal