Several treatments can be used to treat warts, including Laser treatment. There are a few different types of lasers that can be used, such as pulsed dye, CO2 and holmium.
Holmium laser treatment
Various approaches are commonly used to treat warts. They include cryosurgery, traditional therapy, and medical treatment. These methods have their advantages and disadvantages, and their effectiveness is also different.
Holmium laser treatment for treating warts is an alternative to cryosurgery. It can reduce the risk of bleeding and the amount of tissue that needs to be removed. It also guarantees quick functional recovery. Nevertheless, it may cause side effects.
In addition, recurrence rates are high. In previous studies, recurrences were reported to occur in 8%-35% of patients. In addition, recurrences occurred in different morphological types of warts, with cauliflower-like lesions being more likely to relapse.
Holmium laser treatment for treating genital warts has been described in few studies. The aim of this study was to compare the success rate of holmium laser with other treatments for genital warts. The following factors were analyzed: the number of patients treated, the duration of the follow-up, the location of the warts, the number of lesions, the size of the lesions, and the recurrence rate.
This study included 1706 patients with genital warts who sought treatment in our department from August 2002 to June 2005. The patients were males who were over 18 years old. They were enrolled in three hospitals. They were excluded from the study if they had sexually transmitted diseases or immunocompromised status.
The size of the lesions ranged from pinhead to adult fist. Among the 1706 patients, 123 patients had very large lesions. The average diameter of the lesion was 3 mm. The operative time was 22.8 minutes. The surface of the wound healed in about three to 28 days. The wounds were cleaned with gauze. During the treatment, a 1-mm margin of healthy tissue was left.
The recurrence rate was 14.3%. Recurrence was highest in the warts around the anus. The recurrence rate in other areas was lower. However, there were occasional bleeding points.
The results showed that recurrence was lowest in the group that received holmium laser treatment. This is because the laser treatment used a high-energy YAG pulsed dye laser, with a maximum energy of 0.8-1.0 J.
CO2 laser treatment
Several mucosal lesions are caused by human papilloma virus (HPV). These infections are most common among women aged under 25 years. They affect the genital area, and cause complications.
CO2 laser treatment is a non-invasive, painless, and effective method of treating warts and genital lesions. The procedure provides high clearance rates and minimal instances of recurrence. It also has excellent cosmetic prognosis. It is an ideal choice for patients with thick, extensive warts.
Before undergoing CO2 laser resurfacing, be sure to avoid sun exposure for four weeks. In addition, you should wear liberal amounts of sunscreen before and after the procedure. It is advisable to avoid all forms of sunburn during the pre-treatment period.
The primary endpoints included blinded scoring of before and after photographs. Investigators also evaluated the safety of CO2 laser therapy. The study was conducted at the University Hospital of Bordeaux. A total of 23 healthy adults with large hypertrophic scars were enrolled. A total of four treatment sessions were administered. The duration of each treatment session was determined based on the clinical depth of the warts. In addition, patients underwent follow-up visits at 1, 3, and 6 months after the last treatment session.
The investigators noted that a significant decrease in both the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and the POSAS observer scores was observed. The vascularity of the scars also decreased. The authors concluded that fractional CO2 laser treatment was effective in treating hypertrophic scars.
The investigators reported that the patient was cured of the VVA after the first course of CO2 laser treatment. The patient reported no recurrence at the six-month follow-up visit. However, she was recommended to undergo a HPV vaccine.
The investigators suggested that accurate follow-up is necessary for monitoring the recovery of the recurrence. They also recommended that standardized definitions of recurrence are used for inter-study comparisons. In order to increase the statistical power of the study, a multi-center study is needed.
Although the outcomes of this study are promising, the study design is retrospective. Therefore, it is not an ideal way to evaluate the effect of different treatments. It is important to talk to your doctor about the best option for you.
Pulsed dye laser treatment
Using a pulsed dye laser for treating warts is a safe and effective method to eliminate the lesions. However, the effectiveness and safety of the treatment is dependent on the type of laser used, the amount of energy delivered, and the type of skin. Depending on the skin type, patients will experience mild to severe side effects.
The laser targets blood vessels in the wart, but it does not damage the surrounding tissue. The damage is limited to the targeted structure, and the body absorbs the damaged blood vessels. This allows the blood to flow through healthier vessels.
Because of this, it is possible to treat most parts of the body with a pulsed dye laser. The most common areas treated with the device include the face, neck, and lower extremities. The downtime after a treatment session is minimal. Most patients resume daily routines immediately.
The most effective wavelength of the laser is 585 nm. The wavelength of the laser determines the effectiveness of the treatment. The lower the wavelength, the less discomfort it may cause. It is recommended to use a high-speed dye solution to reduce degradation of the dye. This helps to minimize triplet absorption.
Researchers found that port-wine stains treated with 585-nm pulsed dye laser had a better response than those treated with 595-nm pulsed dye laser. They found that after 8-10 treatments, the stains were 80% faded. This is a positive indication of the efficacy of the treatment.
The Cynosure PhotoGenica V is a pulsed dye laser that uses a 585-nm wavelength. This laser is effective in the treatment of recalcitrant warts. The fluencies were 6.0-9.0 J/cm2. It was also effective in the treatment of simple viral warts.
The results of the study are encouraging, and show that the use of the pulsed dye laser for treating warts was safe and effective. The treatment can also be applied to areas that are cosmetically sensitive.
Compared to the CO2 laser, which has a higher degree of scarring, the pulsed dye laser has a low rate of adverse effects. It is also safer, since it does not burn the surrounding skin.
Unusual wart treatments
Various unconventional wart treatments by laser treatment are available. However, scientific studies have yet to prove their effectiveness. The main aim of these treatments is to destroy the wart. Other methods include electrosurgery, cryosurgery, and curettage.
A wart is a common skin growth that can be located on any part of the body. It is usually raised, rough, and grayish-brown in color. It can range in size from 2 to 10 millimeters in diameter. It is caused by the human papillomavirus, a virus that consists of 150 types. Some types of HPV are known to cause cervical cancer.
Many warts disappear on their own. If they are painful, you may want to visit a doctor to have them removed. They will examine your skin and determine the best way to treat the wart.
Depending on the type of wart, you may need to use topical medication to treat the wart. The provider can apply it or you can administer it yourself. The medications can be over-the-counter products or prescription drugs. Some of them contain salicylic acid, podophyllum resin, or cantharidin.
Some people have recurrent warts. You may need to repeat treatments. Some people have a weakened immune system, which can make them less likely to clear up warts on their own. Taking an HPV vaccine is one way to prevent some genital warts.
If you are diagnosed with genital warts, you may have a high risk of spreading the virus to other parts of your body. Taking a Pap smear is another option. Getting a 9-valent HPV vaccine is also recommended.
If you have warts on sensitive areas of your body, they are likely to cause pain, scabbing, or bleeding. They may change in color. You may need to wear gloves or bandages to protect the affected area. You should avoid shaving, soaking, or brushing the affected area. You should wash your hands after touching the area to prevent the spread of infection.
Some traditional treatments involve a doctor putting in an anesthetic shot. Other traditional treatments include trichloroacetic acid, podophyllin, and cryosurgery.
Some of these treatments have reported clearance rates of 65% to 78% in children at 2 months and 50% to 70% at 1 year. Compared to conventional CO2 lasers, the pulsed dye laser causes less tissue damage.
