Warts are non-cancerous, contagious skin growths. They are generally more cosmetically unappealing than harmful. The human papillomavirus (HPV), of which there are more than 100 strains, causes warts. According to the National Women's Health Information Center, HPV strains are classified as either "low risk" or "high risk," depending upon their ability to cause cervical cancer.
Considerations
Warts will sometimes disappear on their own, most likely because, after repeated exposure to HPV, the body develops immunity against the virus. Some individuals, however, never develop immunity, or prefer not to wait to see if they will do so. A wide range of treatment options exist for those individuals.
Before deciding upon a treatment, determine the type of wart you have. Different treatments exist for each type.
Home Treatment
Options for treating warts at home include over-the-counter (OTC) topical medications, prescription medications and even duct tape.
Because many over-the-counter medications irritate healthy skin, the American Academy of Dermatology pronounced duct tape the best treatment option for young children with warts.
Plantar warts develop on the soles of the feet. A protective callus often grows over these tender lesions. Salicylic acid-based pastes and gels can cure plantar warts after removal of the callus.
Flat warts, often called "juvenile warts", are common on children and teenagers. These warts tend to grow in clusters so treatment considerations must include those that can cover a wide area, such as a paint-on wart compound or paste. Wart freeze, on the other hand, can only treat small areas at a time.
Common warts are thick growths that appear rough and knobby. Salicylic acid-based OTC medications are usually effective on these warts, though repeated applications are often necessary. Wart freezes, which depend on an aerosol propellant that doubles as a refrigerant, are advertised to treat common warts. The efficacy of these products is questionable, however, possibly because they do not reach low enough temperatures.
Medical Treatment
Two types of wart, especially, have associated risks. Genital warts can develop both outside and inside the genitals. In rare cases, the HPV strain that causes genital warts can cause cervical cancer. During oral sex, the virus can also pass to the mouth.
Genital wart treatment includes both provider-applied and patient-applied therapies. For many, preventing wart formation in the first place makes more sense than treating warts after they develop. In 2007, the FDA approved a HPV vaccine that protects against the high risk forms of the virus, as well as against those that most commonly cause genital warts. Some people choose full abstinence from sexual activity to prevent genital warts and other sexually-transmitted diseases.
Filiform warts that grow on the eyelids are the second class of wart that brings associated risks. Because most OTC treatments can cause trauma to they eyes, do not treat this form of wart without consulting a medical practitioner.
Medical treatment of singular warts includes cryotherapy, or freeze therapy, of the wart. Some dermatologists prefer electrocautery, or burning, on singular infections. Larger infections often respond best to the application medications that stimulate the immune system.
The best medical treatment for warts depends on the type, location, size and pervasiveness of the infection.
