Wart Treatment
Warts are common skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They can appear on any part of the body, including the feet (plantar warts), and are characterized by their rough texture and sometimes black dots (clotted blood vessels). At Axis Foot & Ankle, your foot doctor in NJ, we offer a comprehensive approach to treating warts to eliminate them effectively, prevent spreading, and minimize recurrence.
Here’s a detailed guide to the treatments we provide:
1. Diagnosis and Evaluation:
- Purpose: Confirm the presence of warts and assess their type and location.
- Description: Your podiatrist will conduct a visual examination of the affected area, looking for characteristic signs of warts such as rough texture, black dots (clotted blood vessels), and tenderness. In some cases, a biopsy may be performed to rule out other skin conditions.
2. Conservative Treatments
a. Salicylic Acid Treatment:
- Purpose: Remove layers of the wart and promote healing.
- Description: Over-the-counter salicylic acid preparations (gels, pads, solutions) are applied directly to the wart to break down the skin layers affected by HPV. Your podiatrist may recommend using salicylic acid daily and gently filing the wart with a pumice stone or emery board to remove dead tissue.
b. Cryotherapy (Freezing):
- Purpose: Freeze the wart tissue to destroy it.
- Description: Liquid nitrogen is applied directly to the wart, freezing and destroying the affected tissue. Cryotherapy may cause mild discomfort or stinging during treatment. Repeat sessions may be necessary to fully eliminate the wart.
c. Cantharidin Treatment:
- Purpose: Promote blister formation and wart removal.
- Description: Cantharidin, a chemical compound derived from the blister beetle, is applied to the wart and covered with a bandage. This treatment causes a blister to form under the wart, lifting it from the skin. The dead wart tissue can then be removed by your podiatrist during a follow-up visit.
- spaced several weeks apart for optimal results.
3. Surgical Treatments:
a. Curettage and Electrosurgery:
- Purpose: Remove the wart tissue and destroy the remaining viral particles.
- Description: Your podiatrist uses a curette (a sharp, spoon-shaped instrument) to scrape off the wart tissue, followed by electrosurgery to destroy any remaining virus particles and cauterize the wound. Local anesthesia may be used to minimize discomfort.
b. Laser Treatment:
- Purpose: Vaporize the wart tissue with precision.
- Description: Laser therapy targets the wart tissue with a focused beam of light, effectively vaporizing and destroying it. Laser treatment is typically used for larger or stubborn warts that have not responded to other therapies.
4. Patient Education and Prevention:
- Purpose: Educate on preventive measures and reduce the risk of spreading warts.
- Description: Advise on proper foot hygiene, including keeping feet clean and dry, avoiding walking barefoot in public areas such as locker rooms or swimming pools, and refraining from sharing towels or personal items to prevent HPV transmission and recurrence of warts.
5. Follow-Up Care:
- Purpose: Monitor treatment progress and prevent recurrence.
- Description: Schedule regular follow-up visits with your podiatrist to assess the effectiveness of treatments, monitor for recurrence of warts, and adjust therapies as needed. Your podiatrist may recommend ongoing preventive measures or additional treatments to achieve complete wart removal.
Why Choose Axis Foot & Ankle?
- Expertise: Our podiatrists specialize in diagnosing and treating warts with advanced techniques and personalized care plans.
- Compassionate Care: We prioritize your comfort and well-being throughout your treatment journey.
- Comprehensive Approach: From conservative treatments to surgical options and preventive education, we offer comprehensive care to effectively eliminate warts and restore skin health.