Viral Warts Treatment
Viral warts are caused by a virus multiplying in the skin cells. This virus is cultivated in warm and wet surroundings such as public swimming pools or saunas. The disease is contagious and can be spread to other parts of the body or transferred to other family members.
What do enlarged warts look like?
In the center of the wart are dark dots. These dots are dilated blood vessels which nourish the wart. It protrudes above the surrounding skin and may be painful.
Local Treatment of Viral Warts
- Acid solutions are commonly used; mostly they contain salicylic or lactic acid and are applied directly on the wart. Acids soften the indurated skin where the virus reproduces. Thorough removal of dead tissue by the use of a pumice stone or scissors is very important and best done by a physician once a week.
- Cyostatics or immune modulators can also be used for local treatment of warts. They effect the virus directly and prevent its reproduction in the cells.
Laser Treatment of Viral Warts
Laser treatments of viral warts most often use two types of machines: CO2 or Dye Lasers. CO2 Lasers have been used the past 10 years. They vaporize the infected skin which usually causes a burn that has to be treated with a cream. It heals with a faint scar.
Dye Lasers are the latest invention in wart treatment. They have about a 95% efficacy rating. Dye Lasers emit light, which is then absorbed by small blood vessels that nourish the hyperkeratotic wart papules. When these blood vessels are destroyed, the wart also disappears. Scaring is rare because the surface of the skin remains intact. It is important to remove the calls tissue above the wart with a pumice stone. Multiply sessions are needed to ensure 100% removal.