Different Approaches In The Treatment Of Warts

Warts could be very disturbing, and several treatments may be used together because it has been theorized that no single therapy is effective in treating the viral skin problem. The good news is that you have a lot of alternatives to choose from. These are the things you will learn today.

First in the list is hypnosis or suggestive therapy. There have been few and sporadic reports that those with warts and who were placed under hypnosis had been cured. This could have been a result of the awakening or strengthening of the immune system, but this kind of therapy remains untested, though.

The use of garlic extracts have been shown to have an inhibiting effect on the virus causing the warts. The application of chloroform extracts of garlic to cutaneous warts resulted to no recurrence after three to four months in a placebo-controlled trial.

Dr. Jerome Litt in 1978 suggested the use of occlusive duct tape in removing warts. In 2002, a clinical trial was made comparing the use of duct tape in removing warts and cryotherapy. A piece of duct tape the size of the wart involved was applied on the area. It was removed six days later, and a pumice stone was then used to scrub the wart after minutes of soaking it in water. Overnight, the wart was left open. The 6-day cycle was then repeated, and this process was done for two months.

Eighty percent of the warts were removed while that of cryotherapy was only sixty percent. Distal warts were even removed. There were no side effects reported, and this was regarded as very useful in the treatment of warts especially in children since it's painless.

Nevertheless, you have to know, though, that there are very minimal studies that can strengthen the result of the trial. Thus, you may want to make this your last-ditch effort.

Removal of warts surgically by curettage followed by cautery is still practiced nowadays. Scarring and recurrence are the disadvantages, though. It can also be very painful on the part of the patient. Recurrence is usually caused by the latent virus adjacent to the original wart.

Silver nitrate caustic applicator pencils are also widely used since they are non-prescriptive. Surface tissues are then slough off. Clinical efficacy is average, though. Another popular product is the salicylic acid. People prefer salicylic acid because of convenience, less pain, less cost, and effectiveness. Positive results may take weeks and even months, and patient must be consistent with the application. Contact dermatitis as a side effect has been reported. Systemic toxicity is also a potential risk.

The use of liquid nitrogen in removing warts is also another option. The chemical causes necrotic destruction on the affected area or induces inflammation in the wart, thereby causing a cell-mediated response. One should take note, however, that this treatment does not kill the virus but just contains it. Precautions should be done to avoid its spread. Adverse effects include hypo or hyperpigmention. Recurrence is also reported.

Cantharidin from the blister beetle, Cantharis Vesicatoria, is used to call superficial skin death and blister formation in the affected area. The application is generally painless and does not usually cause scarring. Nevertheless, there have been no controlled trials to prove its efficacy.

It would be best to check with a dermatologist first before using any of the treatments above.