How a Dermatologist Can Help You With Your Warts

Do your warts still look the same even though you've been using a wart remover every day? Unfortunately, over-the-counter products aren't always helpful. Your Rockville, MD, dermatologists at Shady Grove Dermatology offer several wart treatments that are much more effective than drugstore products.

Why you may still have warts after at-home treatment

Wart removers must completely penetrate the deepest layers of the wart to be effective. Unfortunately, over-the-counter wart removers aren't always strong enough to reach these layers. Have you tried a product that claims it will remove your wart by freezing it? Over-the-counter products designed to freeze skin cells may not actually get cold enough to do the job. Despite following the instructions on the package, you may still have a wart weeks later.

Visiting the dermatologist will help you get rid of your warts

Your skin doctor offers several wart removal methods that work much better than over-the-counter products. During your visit to the Rockville, MD, dermatology office, your dermatologist may recommend one of these wart treatments:

• Salicylic Acid: Although salicylic acid is also found in over-the-counter wart removers, the gel or cream prescribed by your skin doctor offers a stronger concentration of this important ingredient. Salicylic acid removes warts layer-by-layer and is applied to your skin nightly for several months.
• Cantharidin: Also a topical medication, cantharidin triggers the formation of a blister under your wart. The blister loosens the wart, making it easy to remove.
• Freezing: Freezing, also known as cryotherapy, involves spraying your wart with liquid nitrogen. After the treatment, your skin will blister and fall off, taking the wart with it.
• Electrodesiccation and Curettage: Your dermatologist scrapes off the wart, then uses an electric needle to get rid of any lingering wart cells.
• Immunotherapy: During this treatment, your skin doctor injects a chemical into the wart. Your body regards the chemical as an invader and leaps into action to remove it, along with your wart.
• Laser Therapy: Heat generated by laser light kills the virus and cuts off the blood supply to the wart. After the treatment, the wart soon falls off.

Are you ready to say goodbye to your warts? Call (240) 246-7417 to schedule an appointment with your dermatologists in Rockville, MD, at Shady Grove Dermatology.