SKINIPEDIA - Skin Encyclopedia: What Causes Warts II?

How are warts in the genital area treated?

As mentioned previously, warts on the genital area aren't treated exactly like warts on other parts of the skin. The following are some ways to treat warts on the genitals:

• Applying liquid nitrogen--Warts on the genitals may be frozen with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy). With liquid nitrogen treatment, the doctor applies the liquid nitrogen at a number of different office visits until the warts are completely gone;

• Applying podophyllin--Warts on the genitals may be treated weekly with podophyllin by your doctor. You may also put a medicine called podofilox (brand name: Condylox) on the warts at home twice a day for 3 days, and then rest for 4 days. This process is repeated weekly until the warts are gone;

• Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP)--With this method for removing genital warts, the doctor passes a sharp instrument shaped like a loop underneath the wart, cutting the wart out of the skin;

• CO2 laser surgery--For large warts in the genital area, laser surgery may be needed for complete removal.

• Interferon injections--If genital warts don't go away after they've been treated with different methods, your doctor may try an interferon injection into the warts. Interferon is a chemical that our bodies make. It helps our immune system fight infection. An injection of interferon into the wart may help your body's immune system fight the virus that is causing the wart. Generally, interferon is injected into warts twice a week for up to 8 weeks, or until the warts are gone.

More on Genital Warts can be found here.

Genital warts photos are here.

 

Eager to learn more about Human Skin Anatomy? A fascinating read is HERE.