What Are Warts?
Warts are benign (non cancerous) skin lesions caused by a skin infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), of which there are many types. They can occur on the skin (cutaneous) or mucosa, such as the mouth or anogenital region. Treatment of mucosal warts is not offered at Glasgow Skin Specialists. Cutaneous warts can occur anywhere on the skin, but are most commonly seen on the hands and feet. They can occur at any age, and are particularly prevalent in school-age children. The majority of warts are self-limiting and will resolve spontaneously, but some persist and may benefit from treatment. Unfortunately, warts can be difficult to treat, and the recurrence rate is high.
Over-the-counter treatment with wart paints containing salicylic acid is recommended as a first-line treatment. This is a slow process, usually resolving in around 12 weeks. Following the product instructions and persistence with treatment is essential in order to maximise the chance of full removal. If this fails, then surgery may be considered.
Wart Removal
What to expect:
1 / Consultation
When you attend for your consultation, you will be seen by a specialist dermatologist or plastic surgeon, who will take a short medical history from you and some photographs of the lesion for your medical records. They will discuss with you your options for treatment, which will usually be a wart removal operation under local anaesthetic. The recurrence rate following surgical removal of a wart is about 20% (one in five). Following this discussion, if you are happy to proceed, you will be offered a further appointment to return for your surgery.
2 / Surgical Procedure
The wart removal operation is carried out under local anaesthetic. These are skin-numbing injections, similar to that used at a dentist. Once the skin is numbed, the wart is scraped off and the base of the wound is burned with a cautery machine. The wound will heal in a week or two, leaving a small scar, which will continue to mature over a period of months. Wart removal usually takes about 30 minutes, but depends on the number to be treated.
3 / Postoperative Care
Following your surgery, you will be given some aftercare information and offered a follow-up appointment free of charge, to ensure your wounds have healed satisfactorily and to take some post-operative photographs.