Warts, those sometimes painful and embarrassing bumps on the skin, are a type of infection that is caused by viruses in the human papillomavirus, or HPV, family. The Mayo Clinic reports that a type of warts known as flat warts usually appear on the face and usually affect children, adolescents and young adults. The Cleveland Clinic notes that warts referred to as molluscum contagiosum may also affect the face. Treatments are available over-the-counter and from a doctor, but many warts go away without any intervention.
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is an over-the-counter wart treatment that is sold under brand names such as Compound W. The Cleveland Clinic says salicylic acid liquid and film medications work by softening and dissolving the abnormal skin cells, and it notes that film medications with a higher percentage of salicylic acid tend to work better. It helps to apply the treatments to damp skin, and it may take weeks for the wart to be completely removed. Salicylic acid is used to treat common and flat warts, as well as molluscum contagiosum.
Chemicals
A doctor may decide to use chemicals to destroy warts. The Cleveland Clinic says trichloroacetic acid or cantharadin preparations are used on both the flat warts and molluscum contagiosum that commonly affect the face, as well as common warts. FamilyDoctor.org reports that with these treatments, a doctor "paints" the chemical onto the wart. You probably won't feel pain when the chemicals go on, but there may be some pain and blistering several hours later. To help prevent any scarring, the Cleveland Clinic stresses that good wound care is important throughout the healing process.
Freezing
A doctor also may opt to treat warts with the use of liquid nitrogen. In this cryotherapy, the wart is frozen to remove it. FamilyDoctor.org reports that applying liquid nitrogen to the wart may cause a little discomfort, and it may take a few treatments to completely remove the wart. Again, the Cleveland Clinic notes that good wound care is important to prevent scarring or blistering of the skin.
Other Treatments
If none of these treatments works, doctors have a few more options from which to choose. FamilyDoctor.org notes that doctors can try burning the wart, cutting it out or using a laser to remove it. The website notes these treatments are effective, but they are usually saved for last because of the risk of scarring.
