How To Treat Plantar Warts

Laser Therapy

The first lines of treatment are typically medications and cryotherapy. However, if these treatments don't work, there are other options available, one of which is laser therapy. During a laser therapy treatment, the pulsed-dye laser will cauterize small blood vessels by burning them shut. The burned tissue dies when it doesn't receive a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients from the blood. When the tissue dies, the wart falls off. To use this method, a doctor will need to give patients repeated treatments every three or four weeks. However, this isn't a very popular treatment method.

Though cauterizing wounds can sometimes be effective at getting unwanted tissue to die, the method hasn't been proven highly effective at managing warts. In addition, laser therapy can sometimes cause pain, and the burns can scar. Scarring doesn't tend to be extensive, but it can be noticeable. If individuals are concerned about the pain this treatment might cause, they can use other acids or immune therapy instead.

Curettage

Curettage is a surgical procedure used to remove wart tissue. During a curettage procedure, the doctor will cut or scrape wart tissue away by using either a scalpel or another sharp tool. This is a surgical procedure that can cause pain and scarring around the area of the plantar wart. To have a curettage procedure done, patients will typically need to have local anesthetic administered. This anesthetic will numb the site of the wart so patients don't feel the pain from the scalpel.

If individuals need to get rid of plantar warts quickly, this is one of the fastest treatments available. However, it's common for the warts to recur, especially if the doctor isn't able to completely remove the tissue. Surgery isn't often used for the treatment of plantar warts unless patients have tried other treatments that have failed. If the wart is causing serious discomfort, and they want it removed as soon as possible, surgery may be an option. However, warts that cause serious pain should be evaluated by a doctor to make sure they aren't a sign of another serious medical condition.