The Most Effective Treatment for Plantar Warts
The plantar verrucae also known as the plantar wart is caused by human papillomavirus. The infections appear on weight-bearing points of the foot causing pain besides embarrassment due to cosmetic appearance. Some plantar wart causes resistance to treatments but with conservative management, they can resolve. Topical treatments are the best plantar wart removal with high success rates with salicylic acid and show evidence of efficacy. They are most prevalent in children and adolescents. Warts undergo a malignant transformation when there is aprolonged duration or for immunosuppressedpeople.
Effective Plantar Warts Treatment
Some people experience the resolution of plantar warts in two ears without intervention. However, most people will attempt plantar warts treatment to get rid of plantar warts soone. Best plantar wart removal treatments have variable success rates with the different management methods used. Treatments containing salicylic acid have evidence of efficacy.
- Wait and watch
It simply means not attempting to get rid of plantar warts and it resolves within some years. When the wart becomes uncomfortable use an abraded emery board or nail file to file it down. After using the items ensure that you sterilize them to reduce the risk of viral transmission.
- Topical ointments and creams
Most topical treatments are applied daily until the wart resolves. The efficacy of this treatment has not been reviewed but the treatment is more effective when the patient files down the wart to improve the absorption of the topical creams and ointments.
- Salicylic acid
Most health professionals administer a topical treatment with salicylic acid as the first approach for plantar warts treatment. Salicylic acid works by debriding the skin and is applied carefully once daily. When using salicylic acid medications, you need to protect the skin around the wart by using soft paraffin or a specially designed plaster. Gently file with a pumice stone or file once a week and continue applying salicylic acid. The treatment increases the cure rate by 29% and overuse of the topical salicylic acid may cause irritation and ulceration.
- Silver nitrate
It is applied directly to the wart for approximately two minutes once daily. Silver nitrate is in a stick form that is moistened with distilled water during application. Protect the skin around and use it for a maximum of six applications. The efficacy has shown a 30% success rate. There can be stains around the skin surrounding the plantar wart or the clothing that comes into contact with the application area.
- Occlusive treatments
This involves the use of adhesive plaster or tape to treat plantar warts. However, studies have not ruled the efficacy of this treatment duct tape, corn cap, or moleskin seem to bring in the same results.
- Cryotherapy
It has been used in the treatment of plantar warts and has been reported to cause significant pain and blistering. Cryotherapy is used to freeze cutaneous warts on the feet. The effectiveness of this treatment is affected by the thickness of the stratum corneum.
