Warts are simply growths that form on the skin due to direct exposure to certain strains of the human papillomavirus. Often referred to as common warts, these small, coarse bumps develop as the virus triggers the skin cells to grow at an abnormally increased rate. While warts are never malignant in nature, they can become troublesome, especially when they crop up on your fingers. This can make wart removal an important option.
Self-Care Treatment
For many people, a wart can be removed with an over-the-counter wart remover containing salicylic acid. With this form of treatment, look for products containing a concentration of 17 percent salicylic acid. But prior to application, make sure to soak the finger in warm water to help increase the efficacy. Anywhere between 15 to 20 minutes should be sufficient. When applying the salicylic acid solution, brush it directly onto the wart. This should be done once a day until the wart is removed. Between applications, try removing any dead tissue from the wart by lightly rubbing a pumice stone over the growth.
Medical Treatments
When self-care methods don't help to remove a wart, consider heading to your family physician. Medical professionals have more options available. One of the most common is a procedure called cryotherapy. With this form of treatment, liquid nitrogen is applied directly to the wart to essentially freeze it off. Depending on the wart and person, you may need only one application, but many people require follow-up visits.
Sometimes, your doctor may decide to use a solution containing cantharidin, an organic extract. And much like other forms of treatment, it is applied directly to the wart, causing a blister to form and killing the wart. The blister is then removed and the area is inspected to discern whether or not another application is needed.
Your doctor may also prescribe a solution or even a pill containing retinoid. With the cream, simply apply directly to the wart each day to interrupt the cell growth. Over time, this can eventually shrink the wart until it disappears.
Surgical removal is another fairly common treatment for warts, especially on those that have not responded to other treatments. For most people, the wart is simply cut out of the finger right in the doctor's office. For others, it may entail a more aggressive approach, using either a laser or electrodessication. With any surgical procedure, there is a strong possibility your finger will sustain a scar.
Though not as common as other forms of treatment, some warts require the use of bleomycin. With this form of treatment, the medication actually kills the virus causing the wart to form.
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