Wart Removal Therapies and Procedure

What are warts?

Warts are small, benign and self limited tumours that are caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Warts on the body may itch but usually do not cause any pain, except when they occur on the feet. At Apollo Cosmetic Clinic, we endeavour to offer you the best wart removal treatment in Chennai.

What are the different types of Warts?

There exist 5 different types of warts:

• Common Warts that usually occur on the hands. These are tiny, grainy growths that appear on the skin, most commonly on the fingers. Common Warts usually manifest as a pattern of tiny black dots which are rough to touch. The tiny black dots that can be noticed on the warts are actually small clotted blood vessels. They are usually communicable and are transferred from one person to another through touch. Common warts are the second most common dermatological problems after acne. Almost three out of every four people develop common warts at some or the other point in their lives. Common warts are an infection occurring in the top layer of the skin,
• Genital Warts, appear in the pubic area and on the thighs. These warts look like small pink, flesh or red colored growths. They may be very small and even difficult to see and might look similar to small parts of a cauliflower. Genital warts may appear in clusters of three or four. They are most likely to grow and spread rapidly in the genital area. These warts are generally not painful, but might cause itching, bleeding or mild pain in some cases. Certain strains of the Human Papillomavirus causing Genital warts may lead to cervical cancer. Genital warts are the most commonly occurring sexually transmitted disease.
• Flat Warts appear on face and the forehead. These occur more commonly in children and teens as compared to adults. These warts are flat, smooth and generally smaller than other types of warts. While they occur more commonly on the face, they can also appear on the legs, especially in females.
• Plantar Warts, which occur on the bottoms of the two feet. Plantar warts generally appear as brown or flesh colored lumps on the feet. They are usually flecked with small, clotted blood vessels, which appear as tiny black dots on the soles of the feet.
• Periungual and Subungual Warts, which occur around or under the toenails and fingernails. These usually appear as thickened, fissured and cauliflower like skin abnormalities near the nail plates of the hands and/or feet.

What causes Warts?

More than 100 different strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for causing warts. Warts can appear on any part of the body – on the skin, on the genitals, rectal area or even on the inside of your mouth. While some people are naturally resistant to warts, others tend to develop them very frequently. You are most likely to develop warts if you cut or damage your skin for some reason.

What are the risk factors for Warts?

Risk factors for developing warts include the following:

• Common Warts- An increased exposure to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), such as frequent showering in communal bathrooms, increases an individual’s risk of developing Common warts. People with weakened immune systems may also develop common warts quite easily.
• Genital Warts:

◦           An individual has an increased chance of developing Genital warts if

▪           She is pregnant

▪           The individual has a weakened immune system and/or is suffering from a disease such as diabetes, HIV/AIDS; which are indications of a weak immune system.

▪           If the individual has an excessive consumption of tobacco or alcohol

▪           If he/she is suffering from stress and is suffering from a viral infection such as Herpes.

• Plantar warts are more commonly observed in people who come in contact with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in situations such as walking barefoot in common bathing areas, public locker rooms etc.

How a Wart is diagnosed

Dermatologists can diagnose a skin growth as a wart simply by looking at it. In certain cases, however, a skin biopsy may be needed to be performed so as to confirm whether a skin growth is a wart or not. During a skin biopsy, a small portion of the wart is removed and is sent to the lab for testing. It is a short, quick and safe procedure that can correctly identify whether a skin growth is a wart.

What are the treatment of Warts

In most cases, warts disappear on their own, without the need for any medical or surgical intervention. This is not true for genital warts, however, which call for consultation with a certified doctor who will advise on the best form of treatment for the same. The frequent occurrence of warts, especially after medical treatment has been administered, is a cause for concern and calls for an immediate professional consultation. At Apollo Cosmetic Clinic, we aim to eliminate the warts as quickly as possible, calling for the least possible number of repetitions of treatment in order to ensure maximum results.

Treatments for warts administered at Apollo Cosmetic Clinic include the following:

• Cryotherapy: Cryotherapy is a treatment that involves the destruction of the warts by freezing them. The procedure of Cryotherapy involves spraying cold liquid nitrogen on the warts. This praying of liquid nitrogen eventually leads to the appearance of blisters under and around the warts. Once the blisters dry up, the dead tissue over and around the wart falls off in approximately one week. The procedure of Cryotherapy also stimulates processes in the patient’s body that aid in the natural activation of the patient’s immune system, compelling the body to fight off the warts causing virus itself. Multiple sessions of the Cryotherapy treatment may be required in order to get rid of the warts completely.
• Cantharidin: Cantharidin is a chemical that is derived from the blister beetle. The underlying concept of the Cantharidin treatment for wart removal is the formation of blisters beneath the wart that causes it to dry up and peel off, a few days after treatment. During the Cantharidin treatment, a painless blistering liquid is applied to the wart directly. This liquid is allowed to remain on the skin for an hour, before it is washed off and the skin is allowed to blister. Blisters usually start forming on the affected area in the next 24 hours following the Cantharidin treatment. The Cantharidin chemical breaks down specific structures in the skin that aid in cell to cell adhesion, thereby leading to an elimination of the warts.

Precautions: Although the Cantharidin treatment is known to be a virtually painless treatment procedure, some patients may experience skin itching and irritation owing to the blistering that is occurring beneath the skin.

• Duct Tape: In the duct tape method of wart removal, the dermatologist at Apollo Cosmetic Clinic applies a layer of duct tape to the site affected by the wart. This tape is then left on for the next six days, post which, the patient is asked to return to the hospital for a replacement. When the patient arrives for the second round of consultation, the duct tape is removed and the affected area is then soaked in water. An emery board or a pumice stone is then used on the affected area, post which a fresh piece of duct tape is applied on the wart affected site. The duct tape method of treatment is performed every two to three weeks over a period of six months or at least until the wart is completely eliminated.
• Salicylic Acid: The Salicylic acid method of wart removal treatment is a topical route for the effective elimination of warts. The expert at Apollo Cosmetic Clinic initially sterilises the site at which the wart has developed at the commencement of the treatment. Post this, the wart is then soaked in warm water for a couple of minutes. A scrub brush or a pumice stone is then used in order to scrub the wart. The affected area is then dried properly, followed by the application of salicylic acid directly on the wart. This area is then dressed and wrapped up properly so as to prevent contact with the external environment, thus reducing the risk of further infections at the site. The Salicylic acid method of treatment for wart removal requires multiple rounds of treatment for several weeks before the wart is completely removed.
• Excision Surgery: The excision surgery method of wart removal is usually employed for the removal of genital warts. This method of treatment involves the removal of the warts either by chopping it off with a surgical knife or scalpel or by making use of a laser, following a method known as the Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP).

The Excision surgery method for wart removal involves the following risks:

◦           Infection at the site where the wart has appeared

◦           Pain at the site of wart removal following surgery

◦           Bleeding

The patient is advised to consult his/her expert at Apollo Cosmetic Clinic in case the following are observed:

◦           Bleeding lasting longer than a week

◦           Severe pain at the site of wart removal

◦           Fever

◦           A thick yellowish or foul smelling discharge, indicating the presence of an infection

•  Electrocautery: The Electrocautery method of wart removal involves a simple procedure of burning the warts off the skin. Patients are advised to refrain from indulging in sexual intercourse until such time as the affected area ceases to feel sore and gets completely healed. In most cases, this involves a period of one to three weeks following surgery.

What happens after treatment?

Patients are able to return to their day to day activities within one to three days following the wart removal surgery.

The total healing time may vary from two to four weeks post surgery. The scarring that has resulted from the surgery may, however, take a longer time to be healed completely.

FAQs

What are the risks involved in the process of Electrocautery?

The risks associated with Electrocautery treatment include the following:

• Pain in the area that has been treated
• Increased risk of infections
• Some bleeding may also be observed

How long do warts last if left untreated?

When left untreated,warts may take anywhere from a couple of months to two years for complete elimination.

Can I get rid of a wart by simply cutting it off?

Since a wart is a result of an infection by a virus, simply chopping off the wart will not cure the problem as the virus will still be able to manifest itself in the body. In fact, peeling off the skin off a wart or trying to chop it off on your own only increases the chances of further complicating the problem by increasing your risk of acquiring an infection.

How much does it cost to have a wart removed?

At Apollo Cosmetic Clinic, we offer you the best services at the most competitive prices. A typical wart removal treatment at Apollo Cosmetic Clinic costs between 20,000 to 30,000 INR

Why Apollo Cosmetic Clinic

At Apollo Cosmetic Clinic, our team of expert comprises of highly trained and dermatologists and surgeons who have several years of experience in the field. With the most advanced facilities and equipments in the country available at our disposal, our experts at Apollo Cosmetic Clinic make sure that you receive the best possible treatment for Warts, in the most comfortable way possible. Our nurses and support staff at Apollo Cosmetic Clinic are committed to ensuring your safety and comfort and give their best to our patients.

You can rest assured that at Apollo Cosmetic Clinic, you will receive the best possible for your problems.