Treatment of warts

WARTS

Acute warts are the epidermal manifestation attributed to the epidermotropic human papilloma virus (HPV). They appear as skin-colored or whitish nodules. . Locations are mainly the genitals in men and women, but also the mouth, tongue, and pharynx. To date, more than 180 types of HPV have been isolated.

Many of them have been directly associated with an increased risk of neoplasia in men and women.

About 90% of acute warts are associated with HPV types 6 and 11. These two types are the least likely to cause neoplasia.

The risk for neoplastic transformation has been determined as moderate (types 33, 35, 39, 40, 43, 45, 51-56, 58) or high (types 16, 18), with many other individual types. Many times, at a rate of 10-15%, more than one type of HPV virus may co-exist in the same patient.

DIAGNOSIS

Warts are visible to the naked eye. These are palpable protrusions, which are initially less than one centimeter in size.

In the case of subclinical forms, which are not visible, the diagnosis is made with a special test.

TREATMENT

The treatment of warts focuses on their removal.

The removal of warts is done either with medication, using topical preparations, such as cream or lotion, or with cryocoagulation (cryotherapy).

CRYOTHERAPY It is a minimally invasive method performed in the doctor’s office, without local anesthesia.

The procedure involves removing the warts by topically applying liquid nitrogen. Liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -175 degrees Celsius destroys the warts by cooling them.

This method is an easy process that takes less than a minute.

It is relatively painless, and is allowed during pregnancy.