Treatment FAQ

why does my wart hurt after treatment

by Marcel Koch Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

Bleomycin Injection

Wart Removal Procedure Usual Pain Level Recovery Time and Post-Treatment Activit ... Aftercare Required of the Patient Number of Treatments Expected
Cryotherapy Brief discomfort during the procedure Mi ... Recovery takes up to 1 week Non-weight-b ... Keep the site dry and clean Put a plaste ... Small warts may require 1-2 treatments B ...
Cantharidin Painless procedure Mild to moderate pain ... Recovery takes up to 1 week Non-weight-b ... Wash off the site after 4 hours Keep the ... Resistant warts will require multiple se ...
Electrosurgery and Curettage Pain meds needed during the procedure Ma ... Recovery takes 2-4 weeks Non-weight-bear ... Keep the site dry for the first 24-48 ho ... No repeat treatments needed
Excision Pain meds needed during the procedure Ma ... Recovery takes 2-4 weeks Non-weight-bear ... Keep the site dry for the first 24-48 ho ... No repeat treatments needed
Apr 24 2022

Full Answer

How to heal warts more quickly and prevent new ones?

  • Avoid touching someone’s wart. ...
  • Make sure that everyone in your home has their own towels, washcloths, razors, nail clippers, socks, and other personal items. ...
  • Clean and cover cuts and scrapes. ...
  • Wash your hands often. ...
  • Prevent dry, cracked skin. ...
  • Stop nail biting and cuticle chewing. ...

More items...

How do you get rid of warts on skin?

  • Thin down warts with a nail file or pumice stone.
  • File the place until white, dead skin is removed without causing pain or discomfort.
  • Apply the solution to the warts
  • Take care not to spill salicylic acid on the normal skin
  • Cover with the band-aid or duct tape to increase the efficiency and get rid of warts quickly

Why are plantar warts so painful?

Plantar warts are so painful because of their location on the weight bearing part of your leg. With every step or time spent standing at a spot, we force them deeper into our skin which results in the pain caused to the affected area. The dry skin layer formed around the wart, also known as callus, has the role of containing the virus at that ...

How to treat a painful wart infection?

  • Imiquimod 3.75% or 5% cream†
  • Podofilox 0.5% solution or gel
  • Sinecatechins 15% ointment†
  • Provider-administered: Cryotherapy
  • Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) or bichloroacetic acid (BCA) 80%–90% solution. * Persons with external anal or perianal warts might also have intra-anal warts. ...

image

Is wart treatment supposed to hurt?

Most people don't feel any pain when the chemical is applied. However, you may experience some pain and blistering of the wart about 3 to 8 hours later. Follow your doctor's instructions for at-home care. When you return to your doctor for your follow-up visit, they will remove the dead skin of the wart.

Why does wart treatment hurt?

Cryotherapy is done in a clinic and involves applying liquid nitrogen to the wart, either with a spray or a cotton swab. This method can be painful, so your health care provider may numb the area first. The freezing causes a blister to form around your wart, and the dead tissue sloughs off within a week or so.

How long does pain last after wart removal?

Most patients experience minimal discomfort during the procedure, although warts in sensitive areas may need topical pain medication. The site may feel mildly tender for up to 2 weeks.

Why is my wart so painful?

Plantar warts will sometimes get better with good home care, but when a wart grows underneath the skin, on the heels or balls of the feet, the pressure causes the wart to grow inward beneath the thick skin, causing pain and discomfort when walked on.

Is wart remover supposed to burn?

Some mild discomfort, burning, skin redness and peeling is expected while using the wart treatment.

What happens if you use too much salicylic acid on a wart?

The higher percentage can cause hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation on the face. Because genital warts appear on delicate areas of the body, you shouldn't use salicylic acid to remove or treat these warts. You could potentially burn and damage the skin, causing infection, discomfort, or scarring.

What should you not do after wart removal?

As mentioned, it is common to experience irritation and soreness after a wart removal procedure. However, you should avoid touching and scratching the wounds. When you scratch the affected areas, you might cause the wounds to bleed, thus contaminating your hands.

How do I know if my wart is infected?

Symptoms of a wart with pus can also include inflammation at the site, redness, pain, and an increase in temperature over the area. Fever, chills, and body aches can also occur if the infection becomes systemic. The colour of pus can vary and can range from a light straw colour to dark brown, or even black.

How do I know when to stop treating a wart?

According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD), people need to keep using wart medication until the wart is no longer visible and looks the same as the surrounding skin. People should not be able to see any black dots or areas of grainy texture.

Can treating warts make them worse?

Warts seem to last longer in older children and adults. If treatment was easy and effective, then no one would wait to get rid of a wart. But the cure can be worse than the condition: any treatment will irritate the healthy skin around it.

Why is my wart burning?

When plantar warts develop, they can cause needle like pain and a burning sensation. The pain is triggered when weight is distributed directly on the wart or sides of the wart. Warts are sometimes mistakenly thought to be a corn or a callus.

How long do you leave salicylic acid on a wart?

For warts:Depending on the product, either: Apply plaster and repeat every 48 hours as needed, or. Apply plaster at bedtime, leave in place for at least 8 hours, remove plaster in the morning, and repeat every 24 hours as needed.Repeat for up to 12 weeks as needed, or as directed by your doctor, until wart is removed.

Contact Your Healthcare Provider If

1. Your wart returns or does not go away after treatment. 2. Your wart grows larger or begins to spread or cluster. 3. You have bleeding or increas...

Prevent Another Plantar Wart

1. Do not touch your wart, or someone else's wart. If you do touch your wart, wash your hands. 2. Do not walk barefoot in public places. Wear showe...

Follow Up With Your Healthcare Provider as Directed

You may need several treatments over weeks to months before your wart disappears. Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your...

What Can You Expect During the Procedure, and How Do You Treat the Area After Wart Removal?

The type of procedure also determines the need for post-treatment activity limitation and repeat sessions. Below, we describe these aspects for the office wart treatments that BHSkin Dermatology specializes in.

How long does it take for a wart to heal after laser surgery?

The site may feel mildly tender for up to 2 weeks. Downtime: The duration of the recovery period after laser surgery depends on the wart’s size, distribution and location. Downtime is minimal if it is small and away from the plantar areas or other frequently compressed sites. Otherwise, recovery will take a few weeks.

How long does it take for a wart to dry up after cantharidin?

The wart will dry up a week after the treatment. Your doctor can clip the dead wart on follow up if it has not fallen off by then. Complications are rare after cantharidin treatment, but call your dermatologist if you experience severe bleeding, itchiness or pain. Resistant warts will require multiple sessions.

How long does it take to get a wart covered?

What to expect: The doctor will apply a chemical on the wart and cover it with non-porous tape. It should take only a few minutes. Cantharidin application does not require any pretreatment preparations.

How long does it take to recover from a wart excision?

Downtime: Recovery from wart excision depends on the lesion’s size, shape and location. You may be advised to avoid strenuous activities for 2-4 weeks to avoid trauma to the site. You may use crutches to relieve the pressure from plantar excisions.

How long does it take to freeze a wart?

What to expect: In this procedure, the doctor will freeze the wart with liquid nitrogen. It is quick and may be done in a few minutes. Some patients try thinning the wart down beforehand with buffing and salicylic acid, but cryotherapy requires no pretreatment preparation.

Why does weight loss delay healing?

The pressure from one’s weight delays healing because of oxygen depletion. Post-treatment wounds in weight-bearing areas, like the soles of the feet, need to be protected until they heal. Patients who have just undergone plantar wart removal may be advised to wear loose footwear and crutches for a while.

How long does it take for a wart to disappear?

You may need several treatments over weeks to months before your wart disappears. Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.

How to get rid of a wart on a drywall wall?

Duct tape can help dry and remove the wart. Use as directed. You may be directed to leave the duct tape on for 6 days. On day 7, take the tape off and soak the wart in warm water for 5 minutes. Gently scrape the wart with a pumice stone or nail file.

How to remove warts from feet?

Salicylic acid is an over-the-counter peeling agent that comes as a liquid. Soak your foot in warm water for up to 20 minutes. Apply a small amount of salicylic acid directly to your wart. Avoid getting it on other skin areas, because it may irritate healthy skin. Let it dry, and cover the wart as directed. After several hours, use a pumice stone or nail file to gently remove dead skin. Use 2 times each day for as long as directed.

What is a plantar wart?

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: A plantar wart is a thick, rough skin growth on the bottom of your foot. Plantar warts are benign (not cancer) and they are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a germ that spreads through direct contact. It usually enters the skin through cuts or scratches on the bottom of your feet.

How to remove dead skin from warts?

After several hours, use a pumice stone or nail file to gently remove dead skin. Use 2 times each day for as long as directed. A plaster patch is also available over-the-counter. Cut the patch to the size of your wart. Apply the sticky side to the wart. After 1 to 2 days, peel the patch off and apply a fresh patch.

How to prevent a plantar wart?

If you do touch your wart, wash your hands. Do not walk barefoot in public places. Wear shower shoes or sandals in warm, damp areas such as locker rooms, shower stalls, and swimming pool areas. Keep your feet clean and dry.

What is the best way to freeze warts?

Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze your wart. Liquid nitrogen is available over-the-counter but may also be applied at your healthcare provider's office. Liquid nitrogen may cause mild pain for a short time. Use only as directed.

How long does it take for a wart to go away?

Realistic Expectations: A wart is a virus, and like any virus, it is not easy to get rid of. Most recurrences will happen within a year of resolution.

How to get rid of a wart on the bottom of your foot?

You may have heard and even tried the over-the-counter freeze sprays to get rid of your wart. This stuff may penetrate through the smaller superficial warts found on fingers or the top parts of your feet, hands or on the body. The warts on the bottom of the feet run deeper because the skin in this area is thicker and develops callus. Your doctor will use a much stronger freeze therapy (cryotherapy) on those resistant warts and several treatments will be required. Some times additional topical treatment in the form of a mild acid or an anti-viral cream is needed depending on the appearance of the wart.

What to do if you have a wart on your foot?

Should you have a wart removed in a prominent weight bearing area such as the heel or the ball of the foot, you may need the use of crutches. Pain management: Usually, Tylenol or Advil is plenty to allevate the discomfort associated with this prodecure.

Can you take Norco for warts?

Narcotic pain medication may be dispensed, however, depending on the size of the wart. This is usually a codeine based narcotic like Norco or Vicodin. For those patients that are allergic to codeine, Tramadol is commonly used. All narcotics will make you a little sleepy and goofy, or in some cases, actually wired.

What happens if you get a wart on your arm?

Your wart will start to turn black and look very dry. At this stage, the skin that contains the virus starts to die. Once the wart is completely black, your pain is almost completely gone except for some mild irritation in the surrounding area.

Why does my wart swell?

This is because the virus in the skin is irritated by the applied treatment. The wart will occasionally swell up to twice its size or more depending on the type of treatment used.

How to remove warts from skin?

Wash your hands with warm soapy water after every contact with salicylic acid. Removing warts at home by using salicylic acid should be routine and straightforward. Repeat the procedure every night until warts disappear. The acid may cause the skin to discolor to a dark complexion, but that is normal.

How to get rid of a wart that is not working?

If salicylic acid is not working for your warts, then you can try other available options. Cryotherapy is the use of liquid nitrogento freeze away the wart. The doctor sprays the affected area until the wart disappears. Surgical removal using electric currents and laserjets are also frequent. A doctor can also introduce the substance cantharidin to initiate a blister under the wart. The blister eventually pushes the wart to fall from the skin. Some doctors may use a surgical knife to cut out the wart.

What to use to file warts?

When the skin becomes tender, file the skin wart surface using a rough surface object. The most common are nail files, pumice stones, or emery boards. The filing removes the dead rough skin and opens the warts outer surface. It is advisable to seclude the filing items. The virus can easily infect another person who uses it.

Where do plantar warts grow?

They manifest on your ankles and soles of your feet. Plantar warts grow inside the feet.

Does salicylic acid remove warts?

The stages of wart removal using salicylic acid are simple if you follow them in detail. But if salicylic acid does not work for your warts, seek medical advice. Doctor, author and fitness enthusiast, Ahmed Zayed, MD, is a surgery resident with a passion for helping people live a happy healthy life.

Why do people get warts?

All of us come into contact with HPV repeatedly — when we shake hands or touch a doorknob, for example — but only some of us develop warts, and that's hard to explain. Children and people with immune system abnormalities are particularly vulnerable. For reasons that aren't entirely clear, so are people in certain occupations, such as meat, fish, and poultry handlers. But the most likely explanation is that some people are simply more prone to warts than others.

What are warts anyway?

Warts occur when skin cells grow faster than normal because they are infected with the human papillomavirus ( HPV ). Among the 150 strains of HPV, about 10 cause cutaneous (skin) warts, including common, plantar, and flat warts (see "Common types of skin warts," below). Certain other strains cause anal warts and genital warts. Some sexually transmitted types of HPV are implicated in cervical and other genital cancers, but the strains that cause skin warts have rarely been linked to cancer.

How to get rid of a wart on the hand?

Freezing. In this treatment, also called cryotherapy, a clinician swabs or sprays liquid nitrogen onto the wart and a small surrounding area. The extreme cold (which may be as low as –321 F) burns the skin, causing pain, redness, and usually a blister. Getting rid of the wart this way usually takes three or four treatments, one every two to three weeks; any more than that probably won't help. After the skin has healed, apply salicylic acid to encourage more skin to peel off. Some individual trials have found salicylic acid and cryotherapy to be equally effective, with cure rates of 50% to 70%, but there is some evidence that cryotherapy is particularly effective for hand warts.

What are clustered plantar warts called?

Found only on the soles of the feet. Clustered plantar warts are called mosaic warts.

How are warts different from strep throat?

A wart virus infection is different from a bacterial infection such as strep throat, which can be caught, treated, and eradicated because it progresses in a distinct, reliable pattern. The ways of warts are much less predictable.

What is the best treatment for genital warts?

The topical immunotherapy drug imiquimod (Aldara), a standard therapy for genital warts, can also be used to treat skin warts. Imiquimod is thought to work by causing an allergic response and irritation at the site of the wart.

How do skin warts spread?

Skin warts aren't highly contagious. They can spread from person to person by direct contact, mainly through breaks in the skin. Theoretically, you can also pick up warts from surfaces such as locker room floors or showers, but there's no way to know how often this occurs.

Why do warts reoccur after treatment?

Wart treatments work by removing the wart rather than curing HPV. Due to this, warts may reoccur after treatment because the virus remains.

Why cover warts?

covering the wart, which helps prevent HPV from passing on to others or spreading to other areas

Why do butcher's warts appear on hands?

Butcher’s warts look like common warts, and they can also appear on the hands, often as multiple warts. However, they occur due to a specific strain of HPV and affect people who live or work in cold, moist environments.

What is a wart?

Treatments. Effectiveness. When to stop. Tips and prevention. When to see a doctor. Summary. Warts are harmless growths that often appear on the hands and feet. Some warts go away by themselves, but others may persist until a person gets treatment.

What is a plane wart?

Plane warts are flat, skin-colored warts that commonly grow on the face, hands, and shins. People usually have multiple plane warts. Shaving may be responsible for spreading the virus on the face or legs.

How long does it take for salicylic acid to remove warts?

Daily treatment with salicylic acid removes warts within 12 weeks in 70% of cases.

How long does it take to remove a wart with duct tape?

The idea behind this approach is that applying new duct tape to a wart every few days may gradually remove layers of the wart.

How to help a wart after it's been removed?

Over-the-Counter Pain Medication: If the pain is unbearable, try an over-the-counter pain medication to help ease your pain. Be sure not to overuse the pain medication and also to drink lots of water to support your kidney’s health. You can also use some pain reliever after your wart is removed if you are feeling any residual pain.

What is the cause of warts on the skin?

Warts are skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus (also referred to as HPV). There are more than 60 strains of HPV and a few of them cause warts. HPV is also the most common virus of the skin. Warts are caused through direct contact with HPV as it is contagious.

How to avoid warts?

Avoiding Warts in the Future 1 Cover your feet in public places by at least wearing sandals. Public showers, pools, saunas, or even locker rooms are usually hotbeds for germs and viruses. 2 Keep clothing and towels dry. 3 If you come into contact with someone who has a wart, do not touch the wart, their clothing, or anything their wart has possibly come into contact with.

How do warts get in your body?

It can be through person-to person contact or through the use of an object that was used by a person with the virus. HPV stimulates your cell’s growth on the outer layer of your skin, and it can grow very quickly.

What to do if you have a wart?

Public showers, pools, saunas, or even locker rooms are usually hotbeds for germs and viruses. Keep clothing and towels dry. If you come into contact with someone who has a wart, do not touch the wart, their clothing, or anything their wart has possibly come into contact with.

What is the best way to remove a wart?

Below you will find some of the treatment options for removing your wart. Salicylic Acid: This is a topical liquid that you can get at most convenience stores. It essentially burns off the wart, but it is not painful. Liquid Nitrogen: This is administered by a medical professional and freezes off the wart.

How to prevent warts?

While there is no way to prevent warts entirely, you can take steps to try and avoid them in the future. The virus that causes warts enjoys warm and humid environments. Below you will find some options to reduce your risk of getting a wart. Cover your feet in public places by at least wearing sandals.

How to get rid of warts on skin?

Over-the-counter gels, liquids, and pads with salicylic acid work by peeling away the dead skin cells of the wart to gradually dissolve it. For better results, soak the wart in warm water, then gently sand it with a disposable emery board before you apply the product. Be sure to use a new emery board each time.

How long does it take for warts to go away?

Over time, your body will often build up a resistance and fight warts off. But it may take months or as many as 2 years for them to disappear. In adults, warts often stick around even longer, perhaps several years or more. Some warts won't ever go away. Doctors aren't sure why some do and others don't.

How do warts spread?

How They Spread. Warts are highly contagious and are mainly passed by direct skin contact, such as when you pick at your warts and then touch another area of your body. You can also spread them with things like towels or razors that have touched a wart on your body or on someone else's.

Why do kids get warts?

Your Body Plays Defense. Kids and teens get more warts than adults because their immune systems haven't built up defenses against the many types of HPV.

What is the best way to burn a wart?

Electrosurgery burns the wart with an electric charge through the tip of a needle. It's good for common warts, filiform warts, and foot warts. Your doctor could also use a laser.

What to use on a wart?

These usually aren't the first things your doctor will try, and you may need to use salicylic acid or duct tape on your wart, too.

What is the best treatment for genital warts?

Bleomycin, a cancer drug, may stop infected cells from making more. Interferon boosts your immune system to better fight the HPV, typically for genital warts. These usually aren't the first things your doctor will try, and you may need to use salicylic acid or duct tape on your wart, too. Stop the Spread.

How to treat warts at home?

These kits use a mixture of propane mixed in dimethyl ether. Typically, a foam applicator is soaked with this mixture. You apply the applicator directly to your wart. Remember to follow all instructions carefully for optimal results and minimal pain.

What causes warts to freeze off?

During treatment, a doctor directly applies liquid nitrogen, a very cold substance, to the warts. This causes the warts to freeze off. Read on to learn about cryotherapy, including how it compares to other treatments for warts, what the procedure is like, and the recovery process.

How to freeze warts?

Cryotherapy can usually be done at your doctor’s office. During the procedure, your doctor cuts your wart with a small, sharp knife. Then they apply the freezing substance with a cotton swab or spray. Liquid nitrogen is usually used as the freezing substance, though carbon dioxide may also be used.

How long does it take for a wart to go away?

This will minimize the spread of virus from the wart. In most cases, the blister and wart will disappear within a few days. If the blister is still giving you pain or still contains fluid after this, call your doctor for a second evaluation.

Can duct tape be used for warts?

Duct tape occlusion therapy should only be performed by a certified professional. More research is needed to better understand the efficacy of cryotherapy in the treatment of warts.

Does cryotherapy hurt?

Cryotherapy may hurt. In some cases, your doctor may apply a local anesthetic to your wart to avoid causing pain during the treatment. The procedure doesn’t take much time. For larger warts, you may need follow-up sessions to reapply cryotherapy to those warts.

Can you use salicylic acid on warts?

You may be a good candidate if over-the-counter (OTC) treatments like salicylic acid haven’t successfully treated your warts. Cryotherapy may also be a good option if you want to quickly treat your wart.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9