Ankara Wart Treatment | Dermatologist Dr. Armin Müştak

What Is a Wart?
Warts are benign, contagious growths caused by various types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) in skin cells. They most commonly appear on the hands, fingers, around the nails, on the soles of the feet, and on the face. Warts occurring in the genital area may be associated with different HPV types and require separate evaluation.

The appearance of warts can vary depending on their location. While warts on the hands may be rough and raised, plantar warts (on the soles of the feet) can grow inward due to pressure and cause pain while walking. Warts with flatter surfaces may be seen on the face and in children.

Not every bump is a wart. Corns, seborrheic keratosis, molluscum contagiosum, and certain skin tumors can be mistaken for warts. Lesions that grow rapidly, bleed, change color, fail to respond to treatment, or have an uncertain diagnosis should be evaluated by a dermatologist.

How Is Wart Treatment Planned?
The choice of treatment is determined by the wart's type, number, size, location, duration, and any previous treatments. The patient's age, immune status, potential for pregnancy, and wound-healing characteristics can also influence the treatment plan.

One or more of the following methods may be used to treat warts:

Topical treatments containing salicylic acid

Cryotherapy

Electrocauterization

Curettage

Laser treatments

Treatments targeting the immune response in suitable patients

Other topical or interventional methods deemed necessary by the dermatologist

It is not appropriate to use the same method for every wart. When selecting a treatment—particularly for areas such as the face, the skin around the nails, and the soles of the feet—the risks of scarring, discoloration, and tissue damage must be taken into account.

Laser Wart Treatment
Laser therapy is an option to consider, especially for thick, deep-seated, or resistant warts that have not responded to previous treatments. The specific laser system and device parameters used should be determined based on the wart's location and thickness, as well as the individual's skin type.

A topical anesthetic cream or local anesthesia may be administered prior to the procedure. Laser energy aims to destroy the wart tissue in a controlled manner or target the blood vessels supplying the wart. After the procedure, wounds, scabbing, tenderness, and pain may occur.

Laser treatment for warts does not always yield results in a single session. Multiple sessions may be required depending on the depth of the wart, its location, and the individual's immune response.

Does Laser Treatment Completely Eliminate the HPV Virus Causing the Wart?
The treatments administered aim to eliminate visible wart tissue; however, complete eradication of the HPV virus present in the surrounding skin cannot be guaranteed. Consequently, even after a successful procedure, new warts may appear in the same area or the immediate vicinity.

A recurrence of the wart does not necessarily mean the procedure was performed incorrectly. The risk of recurrence may depend on the presence of the virus within the skin, the individual's immune status, the location of the wart, and continued exposure to the virus.

Plantar Warts
Plantar warts (warts on the soles of the feet) can sometimes be mistaken for corns. Pain upon pressure, disruption of skin lines, and dark pinpoint areas may be observed. The treatment process may take longer because the thick keratin layer can hinder the treatment from reaching the wart tissue itself.

Laser therapy is not always the first choice for plantar warts (warts on the soles of the feet). Depending on the structure of the wart, treatment plans may involve thinning the keratin layer, topical treatments, cryotherapy, or other methods.

Genital Warts Require Separate Consideration
Warts in the genital area must be evaluated differently from those on the hands and feet. Treatment is planned by taking into account the number, size, and location of the lesions, as well as pregnancy status and the immune system.

For genital warts, laser or surgical methods may be considered for lesions that are large, widespread, or unresponsive to other treatments. Eliminating visible warts does not mean that HPV has been completely cleared from the body or that transmissibility has definitively ended.

What Should Be Considered After the Procedure?
Pain, redness, swelling, scabbing, or sores may occur at the treatment site following the procedure. The area should be kept clean, scabs should not be picked off, and the care regimen recommended by the dermatologist should be followed.

It may be necessary to avoid swimming pools, saunas, and activities that could irritate the area until healing is complete. Warts should not be picked or cut off. Sharing towels, nail clippers, files, or personal care tools can increase the risk of transmission.

Risks of Laser Wart Treatment
Laser treatment for warts is not entirely risk-free. The following conditions may occur after the procedure:

Pain and tenderness

Bleeding or wound formation

Infection

Temporary or permanent discoloration

Scarring

Incomplete removal of the wart

Recurrence after treatment

Therefore, the treatment method should be selected by considering not only the appearance of the wart but also its location and the individual's skin characteristics.

Wart Treatment in Çankaya, Ankara
Wart treatment at Dr. Armin Müştak Dermatology Clinic