Diagnosis and Treatment for Warts
Warts can be diagnosed by regular visual examination. Warts usually disappear after a couple of months and do not require treatment. However, treatments are utilized to remove warts that are painful, or for cosmetic reasons.
In general, doctors can diagnose warts by regular visual examination. The top layer of the wart is scraped off to detect blood vessels, which are common in warts. In addition, doctors may enquire into the family history related to warts. A biopsy may be required if warts are darker in color, have an irregular morphology, or have a rapid growth rate.
Wart removal: In general, warts disappear on their own without any external interference or treatment. However some people are inconvenienced by warts on their face, or by excessive pain due to warts. Different techniques are thus utilized for wart removal. The strategy to remove warts is dependent of the number of warts present and their location.
Cryotherapy: Warts, when frozen, can be eliminated. A nitrogen spray on the wart can cause blistering, which transforms it into a scab in a week’s time and results in it falling off. If the wart is large in size, it may take a few sessions to completely eliminate the wart. A registered medical professional can perform cryotherapy. Skin irritation is reduced with this procedure.
Chemical treatment: Glutaraldehyde, podophyllin and formaldehyde are used to treat warts. Application should be done on the wart alone and not on the skin. These chemicals can be obtained only with prescription.
Electrocautery: In this procedure, warts are destroyed with the use of an electric current.
Curettage: This procedure involves scraping off the skin of the wart with a sharp tool such as a knife. It is normally performed prior to or after electrocautery.
Immunotherapy: This requires a stimulation of the body’s immune system, which then recognizes warts on the body. In general, the body does not recognize warts until the immune system is specifically induced. Antigen shots result in the immune system recognizing the warts, attacking and destroying them. There is no scarring in the process. Interferon shots are given to boost the immune system. Another type of immunotherapy involves applying a chemical, diphencyprone (DCP), to warts. Applying DCP causes an allergic reaction resulting in the warts being targeted.
Surgery: This is normally utilized to remove warts, which have been resistant to other forms of treatment. Doctors recommend this procedure with anesthesia. Hard warts are removed by cutting them off, while smaller ones are scraped. Surgery of warts results in scarring.
Photodynamic therapy: In this procedure, warts absorb a chemical, which destroys the wart when it is exposed to light.
Laser therapy: This procedure is utilized to target and destroy hard warts, which are resistant to other treatments.
Cantharidin: This is a chemical compound obtained from a blister beetle. It is combined with other chemicals and applied onto the wart. The treated wart is bandaged. Following treatment, the blister separates out the wart, which is removed by the doctor.
