Genital warts, a type of sexually transmitted disease, are very contagious. Known clinically as condylomata acuminata, genital warts appear as little bumps near the vagina or penis that can become inflamed and itchy. The problem with genital warts is once you get infected with the virus, you have it for life. But there are several ways you can treat them when outbreaks appear.
Step 1
Boost your immune system. Genital warts are caused when your immune system can't fight the human papillomavirus, or HPV. Imiquimod is an immunity-boosting prescription cream that you can apply to the areas where you have genital warts.
Step 2
Get your warts frozen. Cryotherapy is a type of surgery that involves liquid nitrogen. A surgeon will apply this to your warts to promote the formation of a blister. The healing skin causes the bumps to fall off and new skin then grows in its place.
Step 3
Apply podofilox to your warts. Podofilox is a prescription antibiotic that comes in the form of a gel or solution. It gets applied to the areas where you have warts to help destroy them.
Step 4
Get your warts burned off. Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is a strong chemical substance that your doctor can apply to your warts. It is applied on a weekly basis and it slowly burns away the wart a little bit more after each application until the wart is gone.
Step 5
Get laser removal. Laser surgery can be used when you have a lot of warts or other forms of treatment have been ineffective. In this procedure, a high-powered beam of light is shot onto your warts to kill them.
Step 6
Get them cut off. Surgical removal of your genital warts can take place after you have been given a local anesthesia. Your doctor then removes them with the use of a scalpel or scissors.
