HPV Treatment

Daily Health Solutions, Women's Health
on February 13, 2012

HPV (human papilloma virus) causes warts that, depending upon the type of HPV, can occur anywhere on the body. While warts are not pleasant, the good news is they usually go away all by themselves, states the Mayo Clinic. If this is not the case and you have HPV warts that are lingering, painful or otherwise unpleasant, you should speak with your doctor about treatment options. Effective HPV treatment depends upon finding the right approach to treat the type of wart you have. Partner with your doctor to develop an HPV treatment plan that will work for you.

Medication options for HPV treatment. If your doctor has diagnosed you with HPV, you have several options for treatment. Medicine can be applied directly on the affected area. This process usually requires repeated treatment before the wart is completely gone. Some medication options include:

  • Salicylic acid — Non-prescription, salicylic acid-based wart medicine removes thin layers of the wart. Over time, the repeated application can eradicate the wart. This treatment is not appropriate for genital warts.
  • Imiquimod — Prescription imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara) is an HPV treatment that comes in a cream form. Applied per your doctor’s instructions, imiquimod may enhance the body’s immune response to better fight the HPV virus.
  • Podofilox — This medication is a cream that destroys genital wart tissue. It is only available by prescription. It should be applied only where the doctor recommends and not on unaffected skin.
  • Trichloroacetic acid — This is a chemical HPV treatment. The chemical is applied to the wart and burns it off. Multiple treatments may be necessary.

Other HPV treatment options. If the medication option is not successful in removing your warts, you may wish to discuss other options with your doctor.

  • Cryotherapy — Liquid nitrogen is incredibly cold. Your doctor carefully applies the liquid to the wart, freezing it off.
  • Electrocautery — An electrical current is applied to the wart directly. The electrical current burns the lesion or wart off.
  • Laser surgery — A high-powered laser removes the wart.
  • Surgical removal — If necessary, the wart can be surgically removed.