How to Remove Warts?, Latest Warts Removal Methods
It may be necessary to see a doctor about your warts. He or she may simply confirm you have warts and what type they are. Depending upon the extent, size, type and placement of your warts, you may also require specialized treatment from your doctor. There are a few ways he or she may treat your warts. These include cryosurgery.
How to Remove Warts – Cryosurgery
Simply put, cryosurgery or cryotherapy is freezing. Your doctors may decide the only effective way to remove your wart is through this process. It involves using a chemical agent to freeze the wart. The preferred chemical is nitrogen. This product is kept at a temperature of -195.6 degrees Centigrade.
The doctor applies the nitrogen in 1 of 2 ways. He or she may use a cotton-tipped applicator. The other possibility is a cryospray unit. In either instance, the nitrogen must touch the skin for between 5 and 30 seconds. You do not require anesthesia. The freezing touch of nitrogen will numb your skin. Nevertheless, the process will be a little uncomfortable. Freezing the mole is followed by a burning sensation as the area thaws out.
With cryosurgery, you will require more than one treatment. Ideally, you will need to see the doctor for freezing for a total of 2 to 4 times. This will take place over a period of anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks. You can increase the time period and number of therapies if you have Plantar Warts.
The placement of Plantar Warts on the thick soles of the foot increases the number of layers requiring freezing and removal. Nevertheless, liquid nitrogen is one of the most effective ways of treating Plantar Warts. Cryosurgery is also recommended for the removal of Filiform Warts, Flat Warts and Common Warts.
In most cases, the process of cryosurgery follows a certain pattern. Your wart should react accordingly. After 2 weeks of cryosurgery your wart will have altered its appearance. It will become white. This is the result of the process. The nitrogen will have created a blister between the specific wart and the epidermal layer of the skin. The doctor can then scrape off this pale layer to expose more of the wart. This allows the doctor to then freeze the lower layers and even the root. After continuing his treatments, you should see an improvement. The warts should disappear or, rather, fall or flake off under the doctor’s scraper.
The process of healing after cryosurgery is rapid. While you are recovering, you can still indulge in such normal activities as bathing, showering and even swimming.
Do not attempt cryosurgery if your skin reacts badly to cold. Be aware that cryosurgery may have certain side effects. These include hypopigmentation. This is an excessive coloring of the skin. It becomes darker than usual. Another possibility is visible skin scarring.
How to Remove Warts -Electrodessication or Electrosurgery
Electrodessication or electrosurgery is a form of burning. It is also sometimes called Electro-cauterization. A doctor burns the wart with an electric probe. The method is simple. The doctor or dermatologist uses a high-frequency electric current. It destroys the tissue through its heat. Warts suggested for this method of removal include Plantar Warts, Common Warts. If the wart exceeds a certain size, it is better to use another method.
Unlike cryosurgery, electrodessication requires the implementation of a local anaesthetic. After securing the area, the doctor applies the current for from 1 to 2 seconds. The current flows to, into and through the wart. This destroys the tissue. The process will last between 2 to 3 weeks. This is comparable to that of cryotherapy.
The method of electrodessication is not recommended for younger children. Older children and adults are better candidates. Possible problems include scarring. Even expert doctors may leave a minor mark on your skin. With electrodessication, there is also a chance of infection developing. Furthermore, like many surgical procedures, you can resume such activities as swimming or indulge in bathing and showers until the wound heals.
Electrodessication is frequently combined with another method of removal. This is called scraping or cutting. In surgical terms it is curretage. When both are employed, the term applied is EDC. Electrodessication is popular for a simple reason. The failure rate of this method of treatment is small.
How to Remove Warts – Surgical Curretage
The word “curretage” refers to the means of removal. The surgeon utilizes a curet or sharp, cutting instrument for removing the wart. When removing warts, surgical curretage is rarely used on its own. It is frequently combined with electrosurgery. Together the 2 methods cut out or remove the tissue. They then both destroy the tissue and cauterize the wound. When you use both surgical curretage and electrodessication, it is called EDC.
How to Remove Warts – Painting
One way your dermatologist may have of handling a wart problem is through painting. This method involves the application of a specific chemical to the wart. Cantharadin is a common choice to use for this process. It is safe and may actually remove the wart after a single application. There are, however, other chemicals your dermatologist may prefer to apply. These include such keatolytic acids as salicylic acid and resins such as podophyllium.
Painting does not immediately cause pain. The doctor applies the substance to the wart with precision and care. He then covers it with a protective bandage. This is true for both cantharadin and Salycylic acid. They are usually both applied then covered over. The bandage, pad or plaster must remain in place. If this is Cantharadin, it remains over the wart for around 24 hours. If the dermatologist uses podophyllium, he will leave the resin on for 6 hours. In the case of a salicylic acid plaster, it remains for 5 to 6 days. This allows the chemical to go to work unhindered. It also helps protect against possible infection.
The substance works in a simple fashion. It produces a blister under the wart. This may take anywhere between 3 to 8 hours. At this point, you may experience some form of discomfort or pain. With the blister, the chemical creates dead tissue. This part of the wart is then clipped away.
The painting method by cantharadin may result in immediate success. In general, however, you may need a re-application 2 or 3 times. The period using a keatolytic agent is much longer. Even under the direction of a dermatologist, wart removal through salicylic acid may take weeks or months.
Painting is often used to remove many foot warts including Plantar Warts. It is not generally used commonly for wart removal. In fact, it is utilized usually only after cryotherapy and other common methods fail to remove the wart. The exception is if the dermatologist employs salicylic acid.
In some instances, the doctor may prefer to combine various chemicals. If, for example, your dermatologist opts for chemical painting, he or she may also use several substances in combination. Often, he or she may employ salicylic acid. In such an instance, the same procedures are followed. There is one variation. The bandage is removed after only 2 hours. In the case of podophyllium, the combination may include aloes and isopropyl alcohol IP.
Painting can be painful. While there are not scars, it may be itchy or hurt. The skin is tender for several days after the procedure. Moreover, painting using cantharadin has definite limitations of applicability. If you suffer from different forms of circulatory problems, diabetes or peripheral arterial disease, you cannot use painting to remove your warts. If your wart is inflamed, you cannot employ podophyllium. These restrictions do not apply to painting with salicylic acid.
How to Remove Warts – Laser Treatment
Lasers are an expensive way to remove Common and Plantar Warts. The approach utilizes one of 2 laser types. These are the pulse dye laser and the carbon dioxide laser. Both are painful. Both require the use of anaesthetic.
Of the two options, the pulse dye laser is less destructive in implementation. It is also less likely to cause scarring. The carbon dioxide laser vaporizes and destroys both skin and tissue. This increases the chance of scarring and further skin damage. Nevertheless, the CO2 laser is very effective in removing recurrent warts of different varieties including Common, Periungual and Plantar warts.
The emissions required for wart removal may vary/ they could be 585, 595 or 532 nma. There are open wounds to fill in. You will require treatment every 3 to 4 weeks. This will eventually remove all the tissue of your wart.
How to Remove Warts – Infrared Coagulator
A less expensive alternative to laser treatment is an infrared coagulator. This light source is applied in a similar fashion. Like lasers, however, infrared light sources can cause scarring. The treatment is also painful.
How to Remove Warts – Injections
Injections are another way of treating warts. There are several types your dermatologist may employ. The most common is a bleomycin injection. This is actually an antibiotic taken from a soil fungus. It is used in cancer treatments, particularly for Kaposi’s Sarcoma. Doctors only use this for warts that have failed to respond to any other treatment.
A patient is given a diluted form of the drug. It is only available by prescription. Do not use if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. If you have warts on any of the digits of your hands or feet, you can also not use this method. The side-effects in many cases are very painful.
Injecting bleomycin is painful of itself. The side-effects may also be excruciating. They include localized swelling, bleeding scabs, and possible anaemia. The drug may suppress your production of bone marrow. If you do use it on your fingers or toes, digital necrosis or nail loss may occur. Nevertheless, bleomycin treatments have a high cure rate for Common and Plantar Warts.
How to Remove Warts – Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is another extreme way to treat persistent warts. Its implementation is based on using various substances to decrease the individual’s sensitivity to the cause of the problem. A dermatologist will provide, through injections or other methods, an increasing dosage of the substance.
This is a trigger system. A purified extract of the wart virus is injected into the skin. This continues weekly for 30 weeks. Afterwards, you may receive the shot every 2 weeks. This is reduced to once a month eventually. In some cases, a patient may continue immunotherapy for 3 to 4 years.
Immunotherapy used to eliminate warts uses one of 2 approaches. Interferon is injected into the blood stream. This boosts the immune system’s response. It increases its ability to reject warts. Another method is the injection of an antigen. This stimulates the immune reaction. As a result, the system actively engages in fighting off warts.
The problem with immunotherapy is correct dosage and possible reactions. There is a high risk of the patient suffering an allergic reaction. This is one reason why you can only receive such a treatment under a doctor’s care. The length of time may also be a disadvantage for some individuals. They may need a quick fix.
How to Remove Warts - Other Warts Removal Methods
There are other doctor-administered treatments available. Some are currently considered experimental. Among these is the use of fluoracil. This drug inhibits the synthesis of DNA. Dinitochlorabenze (DNCB) also falls into this category. It is used cautiously for one major reason. DNCB is a mutagen. It may create more problems than it solves.
Another new arrival on the scene of wart removal has only been tested for Periungual Warts. This is Photodynamic Therapy. This method involves treating the viral infection with a photosensitizer. The physician then irradiates the area with Versa Light. The method has proven effective but is still in the experimental stages.
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