Wart removal at Auro Skin Clinic

  • Warts on genitals, face, hands and any body area is treated at the Clinic.
  • Diagnosis is done by clinical examination by the Doctor
  • Medical line of treatment includes Podophyllin toxin applicationr
  • Cryotherapy: This is performed to remove the Warts via Hydrozid can. 
  • Radiofrequency & Electrocautery: This helps to remove the warts by a minor procedure where the Dermatologist by cauterizing them via a device.

What is a Wart?

  • A Wart is a small rough growth on the skin resembling a cauliflower. Occasionally it can be smooth and plain also.
  • It is caused by a virus named Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

How can one get Warts?

  • The virus usually enters the body through areas of broken skin and spreads from person to person by direct touch or by touching objects used by the infected person.
  • Within the body of the affected person, it can spread from one body site to another.
  • Can spread by sharing shaving kits at salons and after beauty parlor activities.

How can the infection spread? Is it transmissible to family members or contacts?

  • It can spread by direct skin to skin touch or by sharing of objects and thereby can be transmitted to family members or close contacts
  • Sexual transmission can cause genital warts

How does the Wart appear?

  • Warts vary in their appearance as per their types and site they affect. These include:
  • Common Wart: Small localized swellings over the skin surface that have a roughened uneven surface and can occur anywhere including the face, hands, body and scalp.
  • Flat Wart: Occur as small, smooth-surfaced, skin coloured projections usually numerous in number. 
  • Filiform Wart: Appears as a slender finger like projection, usually over the face.
  • Genital Wart: Common warts that appear over the genitals in both males and females. However, they appear more whitish and glistening than the common Warts. 
  • Periungual Wart: A variant that occurs as a small cluster of Warts with roughened cauliflower-like surface around the nails.
  • Plantar Wart: Appears as a small whitish projection on the foot with minute black dots at the center. It is painful, particularly when present over pressure bearing areas of the sole.
  • Mosaic Wart: A group of tightly clustered plantar-type Warts, commonly on the hands or soles of the feet.

What should one do if he/she gets Warts?

  • One should consult a doctor qualified in treating Warts i.e. a Dermatologist.

Are there any tests to confirm the diagnosis of Warts?

  • A dermatologist can easily confirm the diagnosis based on the appearance of skin lesions. No laboratory tests are usually needed for diagnosis.
  • Rarely, when the diagnosis is less certain, the doctor may do a skin biopsy, and examine them under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis.

How can Warts be treated? Warts can be treated by both medical and procedural treatments.

  • Various topical medications (that can be applied onto the surface of the Wart) include:
  • Salicylic acid: They come in both ointments and lotions. They are usually prescribed in higher concentrations and work by keratolysis i.e. dissolving the upper layers of the skin.
  • Lactic acid: This is another chemical substance that is usually used in combination with salicylic acid.
  • Imiquimod: This is a cream that comes in a sachet. It should be applied overnight, three times a week.
  • Podophyllotoxin: It is usually used for genital warts and applied by a trained dermatologist
  • 5-Fluorouracil: It is not commonly used, and may be used in difficult cases. 
  • Various procedural treatments used to treat Warts include:
  • Cryotherapy: Works by freezing the wart using liquid nitrogen kept in a can and can be applied directly or through a nozzle.
  • Radiofrequency cautery: It uses energy to physically destroy the infected cells.
  • Lasers: Lasers such as Carbon Dioxide Laser can be used to destroy Wart.
  • Surgical excision: Surgery is not routinely advised for Warts but can be considered for large sized lesions and when other forms of treatment are not feasible.

Can Warts be cured?

  • Warts can be cured. There are chances that they may recur after a course of treatment, but eventually they respond to treatment.

Are there any major risks associated with Wart apart from cosmetic disfigurement?

  • Warts of very large size that remain untreated for a long time and genital warts can lead to cancer of the skin and genitalia.
  • Warts over the genitalia are highly contagious. Partners should practice safe sex methods such as using condoms.
  • Sometimes blood tests are needed in case of genital Warts to rule out concurrent sexually transmitted infections including HIV.

Is there any way to prevent Wart?

  • Recombinant Human Papillomavirus Vaccine is a vaccine designed to prevent cervical cancer and genital Wart but it does not prevent common Warts.

Disclaimer

The above clinical content is published by The Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL) for circulation amongst patients for their education purposes.

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