The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that is often associated with sexually transmitted diseases. There are more than 100 types of this virus and one of them can lead to warts. Warts are growths that form on the body when skin cells grow at a rapid pace. Warts are not life-threatening and they often disappear over the course of time on their own. There are several ways to remove warts that don't seem to want to disappear.
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is a formula you can buy over the counter. You apply it to warts once or twice a a day. It absorbs into the wart a little more with each application and you file off the top layer of skin in between treatments. The best time to put this on warts is right after a shower, when the skin is soft and damp.
Nitrogen
Liquid nitrogen is a cryogenic therapy where the wart is frozen. A blister forms around and under the wart when the liquid nitrogen gets applied to it. Within a week, the dead skin falls off and it takes the wart with it. This type of treatment can come with mild pain.
Chemicals
Cantharidin is a substance that comes from the blister beetle. It is mixed with other substances, applied to the wart and then bandaged up to protect it. A blister forms on top of the wart, and a doctor then removes it. If the wart is not completely removed, another treatment might be necessary.
Surgeries
For warts that have not responded to other treatments, minor surgery and laser surgery can be done. In minor surgery, your doctor will cut away the wart tissue. This can be painful, due to an anesthesia injection that is used to numb the area. Laser surgery can also be done with warts that are hard to treat. In both cases, scars can be left behind after the procedures are done.
Medications
Immunotherapy can be used as a last resort when treating warts. Squaric acid dibutylester and Imiquimod are two types of topical medications that can be used on common warts and warts on the genitals. Bleomycin is a virus-killing formula that is injected into the wart. Retinoids come in the form of a cream or oral medication and they help to stop the growth of the skin cells that cause warts.
