Treatment FAQ

what is the most appropriate provider-applied treatment option for the removal of genital warts?

by Jude Williamson Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Wart Treatment (cont’d) Cryotherapy with Liquid Nitrogen (LN2) Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen (LN2) involves applying a very cold substance to the anal/genital wart(s). This is the recommended clinician-applied treatment for genital warts.

Patient-applied therapy such as imiquimod cream or podofilox is increasingly recommended. Podofilox, imiquimod, surgical excision, and cryotherapy are the most convenient and effective options.Dec 15, 2004

Full Answer

Are physician-administered treatments for genital and perianal warts on the rise?

With the availability of new patient-applied treatments for genital and perianal warts, medical providers, physician groups, and health systems are reassessing the role of physician-administered therapies.

What is the best chemical treatment for genital warts?

Trichloroacetic acid. This chemical treatment burns off genital warts, and can be used for internal warts. Side effects can include mild skin irritation, sores or pain. Sinecatechins (Veregen). This cream is used for treatment of external genital warts and warts in or around the anal canal.

Can genital warts be treated with over-the-counter wart removers?

Don't try to treat genital warts with over-the-counter wart removers. These medications aren't intended for use in the moist tissues of the genital area. Using over-the-counter medications for this purpose can cause even more pain and irritation.

Do I need treatment for my warts?

It isn't as useful for younger women because for them, HPV usually goes away without treatment. If your warts aren't causing discomfort, you might not need treatment. But if you have itching, burning and pain, or if you're concerned about spreading the infection, your doctor can help you clear an outbreak with medications or surgery.

What treatment options are appropriate for genital warts?

Genital wart treatments that can be applied directly to your skin include:Imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara). This cream appears to boost your immune system's ability to fight genital warts. ... Podophyllin and podofilox (Condylox). ... Trichloroacetic acid. ... Sinecatechins (Veregen).

What is the best topical treatment for genital warts?

One of two creams — podofilox or imiquimod — applied directly to the warts can be effective. A person will need to get a prescription from a doctor before using these medications and should not use them if they are pregnant . A third cream, also available with a prescription, is sinecatechins.

What acid do doctors use to remove genital warts?

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is a treatment for genital and anal warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). It is a powerful chemical that kills warts by destroying the proteins in the cells. After repeated application, it will cause the warts to shrink and eventually disappear.

What is the best treatment for HPV?

HPV treatment optionsHPV usually does not need treatment. ... According to one study , the most effective treatment for genital warts is surgical removal. ... Cryotherapy is a procedure where a doctor freezes off genital warts. ... For home treatment, a doctor may recommend Condylox and Imiquimod.

How do you get rid of genital warts female?

Although there is no treatment for the virus, a doctor can prescribe medications to relieve symptoms. They can also remove the warts. For large or difficult-to-treat warts, a doctor may recommend surgical removal. A person can pass on HPV through vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

Can a dermatologist remove genital warts?

But seeing a dermatologist can provide peace of mind because you can get a proper diagnosis and treatment. A dermatologist can diagnose genital warts by examining the warts during an office visit. Sometimes a dermatologist will remove a wart or part of it and send it to a laboratory.

Does salicylic acid remove genital warts?

Over-the-counter wart or skin tag removal remedies such as salicylic acid (Compound W®, Dr Scholls®), and/or tea tree oil are not recommended for the treatment of genital warts.

Should genital warts be removed?

Genital warts must be treated by your doctor. Do not try to treat the warts yourself. The warts can be removed, but the viral infection itself can't be cured. The virus lives inside your skin.

What is the best treatment for genital warts?

The last option for treating genital warts is cryotherapy. Dermatologists use liquid nitrogen to freeze the warts but since liquid nitrogen evaporates, it is usually not feasible for use in our clinics. Much better for our clinics are cans of freezing solution, like Histofreeze or Verrucafreeze mentioned by Aldo.

How to get rid of genital warts?

This is usually done surgically by excising all of the warts or burning them off with electrocautery. We probably will not be doing this much in correctional facilities.

How to treat warts on skin?

The second approach is to apply an irritating chemical to the wart which works mainly by stimulating the patient’s immune system to recognize the diseased tissue and to destroy it. There are various irritant chemicals that can be used for this purpose: Trichloroacetic acid and podophyline mentioned by Aldo work, but podofilox, sinecatchins, and imiquinod are considered by dermatologists to be superior (and more expensive) agents. These chemicals are all quite irritating so they need to be meticulously applied. Many of them, like trichloracetic acid, should not be applied to the normal surrounding skin. One way to do this is to create a moat-barrier of vaseline around the wart before you apply the irritant. For a patient with a lot of warts, this can take quite a bit of time. Also, these agents should be applied often. Trichloroacetic acid is applied every 3 days. Podofilox is applied 2 times a day for 3 days then not applied for 4-7 days and then the cycle is repeated. Imiquod is applied 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Clearly the chemical agents are labor intensive.

How often should you freeze warts?

Freezing the warts has several advantages over the chemicals, especially in correctional settings. First, you only have to do the freezing once a month. Regular warts on, say, the hand can be frozen more frequently but since genital warts are found on (How shall I put this?) delicate tissues, there is no advantage to freezing more often. Second, you don’t have to be as meticulous as with the chemical agents. Especially if you use the freezing guides that look like a big otoscope tip, these treatments can be done very quickly. Third, cryotherapy is not as irritating or painful as the chemicals (though it still hurts). There is no chance of the irritating chemicals accidentally rubbing off onto normal skin of the patient or others and causing problems.

How to freeze warts with air duster?

Using an air-duster can held upside down to freeze a wart.

Can dermatologists use chemical agents?

Clearly the chemical agents are labor intensive. In the outside world of dermatology, these agents are typically only used on patients who are considered reliable and careful enough to apply these chemicals themselves. This would not work in a correctional setting, of course.

Can you use vaseline on warts?

Many of them, like trichloracetic acid, should not be applied to the normal surrounding skin. One way to do this is to create a moat-barrier of vaseline around the wart before you apply the irritant. For a patient with a lot of warts, this can take quite a bit of time. Also, these agents should be applied often.

What do you see when you use a microscope for intravaginal infection?

When using the microscope for an intravaginal infection, you see something translucent and colorless. What do you suspect?

What to use to control bleeding?

C. Use gel foam to control bleeding.

Is cryotherapy a good choice?

D. OTC home-based cryotherapy is a good choice for treatment.

Can HSV be found near the initial infection site?

B. The HSV lesions will never occur near the initial infection site.

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