Treatment and Prevention
There are plenty of effective treatments for warts, ranging from creams
to laser treatment. Your doctor will decide which treatment is best, depending
on the type of wart you have.
Common warts: These warts often respond to over-the-counter topical
preparations such as salicylic acid and lactic acid, which work by peeling off
the infected skin. Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy may also be used.
Plantar warts: These warts may be difficult to get rid of and usually
require a stronger solution of 40% salicylic acid. For extremely stubborn plantar
warts your doctor may use laser treatment or liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy).
Genital warts: Treatments for destroying genital warts include the following*:
- trichloroacetic acid (TCA) - one of the most popular treatments for
warts; results are usually seen after just one or two treatments
- podophyllin solution (20%) - should not be used by pregnant women
since it can cause birth defects in babies
- 5% 5-fluorouracil cream - this is a strong cream, so follow your
doctor's orders very carefully when using this product; pregnant women should
not use this treatment
- interferon injection - this is a new treatment in which your doctor
injects a chemical called interferon directly into the wart(s)
- imiquimod cream - a new cream treatment for genital warts which some
people find less irritating than the other creams mentioned
- cryotherapy or electrocautery - freezing or burning the warts
- laser treatment - an effective method for getting rid of particularly
stubborn warts
Apart from genital or plantar warts, many warts will disappear on their
own, without any treatment. However, if you find them bothersome, your doctor
can prescribe a treatment like cryotherapy that involves freezing the warts
with liquid nitrogen. Another option is the use of retinoid (vitamin A) creams
prescribed by a doctor; this treatment is appropriate for a selected few and
should only be used under close medical supervision.
Getting rid of a wart does not actually remove the offending virus.
Therefore, to prevent the virus from spreading, it's important to avoid contact
with infected items. Try not to touch someone else's warts and don't let bare
feet touch unknown moist surfaces. Most importantly, genital warts can be avoided
by using condoms during sexual activity. If you're ever diagnosed with genital
warts, always complete follow up exams and tell your partner or previous sexual
partners so they can be properly tested and treated.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name
is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®).
The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen).
A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article
lists medications by their common names. For more information on brand names,
speak with your doctor or pharmacist.