Plantar Warts
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Commonest : Verrucae vulgaris - Hands, Verrucae plantares - feet
- 60% resolve spontaneously in 2 years
Treatment
- Destruction (cryotherapy, photodynamic treatment, pulsed dye laser)
- Keratolysis (salicylic acid) is effective
- Immunostimulation (dinitrochlorobenzene, interferons)
- Antimitotic effects (bleomycin, fluorouracil)
- Combination cryotherapy with another (salicylate) probably most effective Ref
1. Cockayne S, Hewitt C, Hicks K, Jayakody S, Kang’ombe AR, Stamuli E, et al. Cryotherapy versus salicylic acid for the treatment of plantar warts (verrucae): a randomised controlled trial. BMJ2011;342:d3271.
2. Kwok CS, Holland R, Gibbs S. Efficacy of topical treatments for cutaneous warts: a meta-analysis and pooled analysis of randomized controlled trials. Br J Dermatol2011; online 11 January.
3. Boull C, Groth D. Update: treatment of cutaneous viral warts in children. Pediatr Dermatol2011; online 26 April.
Advice
- May leave to resolve
- Try home cryotherapy (available in most pharmacies) or topical salicylate
- GP if symptoms persist
References
1. Cockayne S, Hewitt C, Hicks K, Jayakody S, Kang’ombe AR, Stamuli E, et al. Cryotherapy versus salicylic acid for the treatment of plantar warts (verrucae): a randomised controlled trial. BMJ2011;342:d3271.
2. Kwok CS, Holland R, Gibbs S. Efficacy of topical treatments for cutaneous warts: a meta-analysis and pooled analysis of randomized controlled trials. Br J Dermatol2011; online 11 January.
3. Boull C, Groth D. Update: treatment of cutaneous viral warts in children. Pediatr Dermatol2011; online 26 April.
