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Treatment

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The kindest treatment if it is painless is to leave it hoping that it will resolve spontaneously. Treatment may be indicated:

  • for a painful plantar wart
  • in immunosuppressed
  • in resistant cases
  • if the patient prefers when they understand the natural history of the plantar wart

Options include:

  • first-line treatments
    • salicylic acid as plasters, colloidon, gel, paint or combined with podophyllum resin. The addition of lactic acid theoretically makes it more effective. Often takes as long as 8 weeks to work and surrounding skin needs protection - need a dextrous well motivated patient
    • formaldehyde and gluteraldehyde are not used much as they produce sensitisation, desiccation, and are unpleasant
  • second-line treatments
    • cryotherapy is generally effective. It usually needs at least 2 treatments, 4 in resistant cases.
  • third-line treatments
    • options include surgical excision or curettage and bleomycin injections, topical immunotherapy, pulsed dye laser, CO2 laser, photodynamic therapy, and retinoids (1).

Reference:


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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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