Wart Removal

Ways to win the war on warts

Among the many types of viral skin infections, nothing could be more embarrassing and uncomfortable than warts. Today, there are a significant number of people around the world who are suffering from this treatable, though often-recurring, skin ailment. However, thanks to the relentless and painstaking efforts of medical scientists and skin specialists, there are now several wart removal methods. These include treatment with a wart remover, as well as other medication to remove warts.

The following are effective ways to win the war on warts

• Cryosurgery – This is an effective wart removal method that involves the use of liquid nitrogen which freezes the wart. The use of this topical, wart remover creates a blister between the epidermal layer and the wart, following which the dead skin around the wart, and the wart, fall off.
• Curettage – A proven method for wart removal that involves the use of conventional surgical tools for curettage of warts. The surgery is performed under local anesthesia. Curettage can include scooping or scraping of the wart and the area immediately around it.
• Injections – This is a common method used to remove warts which involves Trichophyton antigens, mumps or Candida injections delivered at the wart location. These injections help to stimulate the immune system of the body and will eventually remove warts in a painless manner.
• Laser – This is a state-of-the-art, wart removal technique that is primarily a non-invasive, surgical technique. Laser wart treatment involves the use of precisely directed, laser beams to the wart and surrounding affected area.
• Keratolysis – This is another common technique used by doctors for wart removal. It involves the use of blistering agents, salicylic acid, formaldehyde as well as modifiers of the immune system. This method also includes the use of a blade, pumice stone for paring the wart mechanically.

Alternative, ‘over-the-counter’ medication

• Salicylic acid – This is an ideal wart remover which is easily available at any supermarket or drugstore. Two types of this chemical are available, either in bottles that contain a concentrated solution of salicylic acid, or adhesive pads that are pre-treated with the chemical. For effective application, the area around the wart must be cleaned thoroughly before the acid is applied. Later the dead skin can be removed with an emery board or pumice stone.
• Silver nitrate – This product is also available in a supermarket or drugstore and comes in a caustic pencil form. For this method to be effective, it will need at least 3 to 6 applications daily.
• Duct tape occlusion – This is an effective therapy to remove warts and involves the covering of the wart/s with a piece of this tape. After 6 days the affected area should be soaked in water following which an emery board or pumice stone can be used to scrape the area clean.

The choice of technique will vary, depending on the type of virus and the specific area of the body that is affected by warts. There are several natural wart removal techniques as well as home remedies for wart removal available. This is however, left to the discretion of the medical consultant.