Re: wart removal suggestions for bottom of the feet????

Posted by Douglas Stockman on March 11, 2002 at 03:22:01 from (63.16.15.56):

In Reply to: wart removal suggestions for bottom of the feet???? posted by LISA ILGEN on March 09, 2002 at 07:33:06:

Lisa:

Sorry to hear about the warts. As stated previously, warts are caused by a virus. You must remove all the virus to completely remove the wart. The most common treatment done today is to freeze the wart using liquid nitrogen. For warts on the feet (plantar warts), a scalpel is often used to remove the dead skin. This just allows the liquid nitrogen to penetrate better (i.e. freeze deeper). Depending on how deep the wart goes, multiple treatments may be required. It does hurt to freeze warts. I have tried it on myself and it hurts about as much as a needle being slowly pushed into the skin. When freezing a wart, it is sometimes difficult to judge just how deep to freeze. If the freeze is too shallow, nothing happens to the wart. If the freeze is too deep, large blood blisters can form. If your son can deal with some pain, freezing is the recommended method. Some derm people will use lasers for really stubborn warts. The concept is still to destroy the skin that is infected.

Other options do exist. You could apply Duoplast (an acid paste) to the wart after a shower. Then you cover the wart with duct tape. When the duct tape is removed on the next day, it pulls off the dead skin. You reapply Duoplast each day. This process can take months and some people develop an irritation to the duct tape.

Your doctor could also apply a strong acid to the wart in the office. This hurts less than freezing, but takes many applications. There are other chemicals that can be used to destroy skin.

Now the disclaimer. I am a family doc and successfully treat warts all the time, but do not go by my advise. Your son should see his doctor and not rely on the above description.

Best of luck.

Douglas Stockman, MD
Penfield, NY

Follow Ups:

• Re: Re: wart removal suggestions for bottom of the feet???? Patrick C Winters 09:00:42 06/30/02 (0)

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