Treatment and medication: how to get rid of warts, what will help remove them?

Treatment can help remove warts more quickly. Half of warts disappear within a year without treatment. However, sometimes it can take 5 to 10 years to remove them from the body. Longer durations occur especially in adults.

Treatment is time consuming and in some cases painful.

There is a great deal of advice and methods for removing warts. Viruses can persist in the skin even after the wart has healed. Therefore, total removal is recommended.

A large number of wart removal products are available in the pharmacy. They are available in various forms such as ointment, gel, varnish, cream (also for genital warts), spray, tincture, stick or lotion. Products used for this purpose include Duofilm, Endwarts Freeze, Urgo, Lapis, Wartner, Kolodium Forte and other products.

The solution gradually etches the tissue of the wart. The wart shrinks and eventually disappears.

Warts on the feet are painful when walking and standing. They require treatment or complete removal by a surgeon.

It is advisable to see a dermatologist before any treatment. The dermatologist will determine the most appropriate method of treatment to avoid unnecessary complications from self-treatment.

There are many methods and medications to remove warts. We will recall the most commonly used ones.

Treatment with creams or solutions that stop the multiplication of skin cells and remove warts.

Salicylic acid treatment is one of the most common options. It is possible even in the comfort of your home. Salicylic acid burns the top layer of the wart.

When treating at home, apply it only to the wart to avoid contact with the skin next to the wart. Skin irritation could occur. To protect the skin around the wart before applying the acid, rub the skin with petroleum jelly or use a special patch with a wart hole. In case of skin contact and irritation, discontinue treatment for a few days.

Treatment may take two weeks to three months for the wart to disappear.

Freezing treatment (cryotherapy) is the most common treatment. Liquid nitrogen is applied directly to the wart. It freezes it, destroying the tissue. This is the generally recommended removal, suitable for all types of small warts. Up to 4-6 treatments are often needed for complete removal, sometimes more. The treatment may be more painful.

Another option is a combination of salicylic acid treatment and cryotherapy. Salicylic acid is applied to the wart daily in between freezing.

Electrocoagulation removal is removal using heat.

In laser removal, a highly targeted beam is aimed directly at the wart. The beam heats the blood vessels and stops the blood supply to the wart. This actually starves the wart because it is not supplied with blood. After a few weeks, it falls off.

In surgical removal, a scalpel is used under local anaesthetic to remove the wart and its root to prevent it from growing back.

Treatment for seborrhoeic warts is not necessary. However, these warts often itch and slowly enlarge. They are removed by freezing and then scraping with a sharp surgical instrument. Seborrhoeic warts usually do not return after removal.