Warts

• What are warts?

How are warts treated?

• Salicylic acid application - Salicylic acid treatment is only advised for warts on the hands, fingers, toes, feet, knees and other parts of the bodies except on the genital area. Salicylic acid should be applied once everyday on problem areas right after taking a bath or shower to ensure that the skin is soft allowing better penetration of the acid to the skin. The length of treatment may take from some days to several weeks depending on how the wart reacts to salicylic acid.
  
  
• Cantharidin application - Cantharidin is a chemical derived from green blister beetles. It is in the field of science as a strong blistering agent is applied topically on warts by your health professional. The mode of action of Cantharidin is that once it's applied on the warts, it will react on the skin and lift the wart off. It might sting a bit. Most warts are fully treated during the first application. However, some warts may take up to three treatments to finally get cured.
  
  This chemical is not supposed to be used on moles, birthmarks, warts with hair on them, on mucous membranes and open cuts. They are not advised on patients suffering from diabetes, heart disease and other circulatory illnesses.
  
  
• Liquid nitrogen application - This procedure (also known as cryotherapy) is considered as one of the most common, most effective and simplest type of wart treatments. This substance is very cold and when applied on the skin will result to blister formation. Just like cantharidin, it dries warts by freezing them until eventually, warts fall off from the skin. A slight tingling sensation may be experienced after the wart had fallen off. This procedure can also be used for removing moles.

How are genital warts treated?

Genital warts when left untreated may grow bigger and may multiply affecting more areas of the skin. Although these warts usually go away on their own, it is still best to pay attention the problem by consulting your physician and asking for medical advise.

Unfortunately, there are no present cure for HPV virus. Meaning, even if genital warts are treated, there is a huge possibly that they might return after sometime. The available treatments will only reduce the number of warts or atleast aid in removing them from the skin quicker.

First, the physician will examine the patient and will make a diagnosis after. The most common type of treatment for genital warts is to freeze them using cryotherapy. Genital warts can also be removed using the laser method.

The loop electrosurgical excision procedure or LEEP is a procedure which is often considered for genital wart treatments. It is done by using a sharp surgical instrument which is shaped like a loop. This them passes underneath the wart therefore cutting it off from the skin.