Wart Treatment by Type of Wart

Warts are generally destroyed physically, either by being excised surgically, or frozen off using cryotherapy. Less commonly, other types of therapies that take an immunological approach are used. The type of wart, the patient's circumstance, medical record, and personal preference, and the location of the wart are all factors that can determine the appropriate treatment.

Common Warts:

Common warts are extremely common, especially in children. Although painful, cryotherapy is one of the most effective ways of removing the common wart. They can also be removed surgically, but scars are a problem in excision.

Flat Warts:

Flat warts most commonly occur on the legs and the face. When it affects the face, procedures that cause scarring like excision are often a poor option. A light cryotherapy treatment or topical treatments using tretinoin are preferred.

Plantar Warts:

Plantar warts can be a challenge to treat due to their location. Aggressive therapies can cause scarring or make for a troubling recovery. As the entire weight of the body concentrates on the foot, treatments must be chosen carefully and patients should take appropriate time to recover from the treatment itself.

Genital Warts:

Genital warts are challenging to treat with traditional excision or cryotherapy due to the location. They are sexually transmitted, and affect the peri-anal area, which is extremely sensitive. Topical treatments like podophyllin can be applied, and help reduce the warts. If the warts are small, and are located in a favorable location, they can be treated with cryotherapy.

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