If your wart is anywhere but on your hands of feet, you should schedule an appointment with a physician. For warts on hands or feet you may come in during "wart clinic" days (Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 to 11:30 am and 1:00 to 4:30pm during regular academic semesters). This is on a walk-in basis. One nurse is designated to treat warts on these days. You may have to wait a short time if there are others ahead of you.

By definition, warts are benign (harmless) growths of skin tissue caused by a number of viruses. They are contagious from person to person and from one area to another on the same person. Planter warts are warts on the soles of the feet. Usually they are curable in 4-10 weeks with treatment. Warts have about a 20% likelihood of recurring no matter which method is used to remove them.

Since warts are caused by viruses, there are no known medications that kill these viruses - your immune system must eliminate them. No matter what treatment is used the goal is the same - cause tissue trauma which in turn encourages your body's immune and healing mechanisms to kill the wart virus.

After liquid nitrogen treatment, one of three things that may happen:

1. within 24-48 hours a clear blood filled blister may form. Leave the blister intact as it serves to protect the healing skin. It is the fluid in the blister which contains the cells that are healing the wound and killing the wart virus. Keep the blister intact for at least 8-10 days.

2. Within 24-48 hours the area treated may become discolored (red, brown, black). No special care is required. A "scab" will form and fall off within 1 to 3 weeks. It is best to let the scabs fall off naturally. Picking at the area with the fingernails can lead to secondary infection and chance of scarring. If signs of increasing local infection develop, return to the Student Health Service to be checked by a nurse.

3. The treated lesion may fall off in several days without changing color or forming a blister.

4. If wart(s) remain unaffected by liquid nitrogen treatment, return to clinic as soon as possible for retreatment.

After Care:

1. Some pain may occur for several hours after Liquid Nitrogen treatment. This discomfort can be controlled by elevating the limb that was treated. Two aspirin (taken with milk of food), Ibuprofen of Tylenol may be taken every 3-4 hours as needed.

2. Wear Band-Aid of moleskin 24 hours a day for the first 8 days. Then take the covering off at night but continue to wear the Band-Aid of moleskin during the day until the scab falls off.

3. If any sign of the wart remains after the scab falls off return to the wart clinic that week for another treatment.

Prevention of Recurrence:

1. Planters warts (soles of feet), are contagious. If you have them, wear thongs in public showers and pools to reduce spreading the virus to others.

2. Do not wear other peoples shoes. Good life advice to follow even if you do not have planters warts.

3. Do not pick, scratch, or rub warts because this tends to spread the virus.

4. Be sure to continue treatment of the wart(s) as scheduled until definitely no longer present.

Genital Warts

Return to regular view	Text-only	Updated: 7/4/2006