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Treatment for Black Warts

Black warts are noncancerous tumors of the skin that contain blood vessels lying close to the surface and are caused by infection with a human papilloma virus (HPV), which is spread by contact. Several forms of treatment are available.

  1. Salicylic Acid

    • Salicylic acid is available in a variety of forms--liquids, gels and impregnated plasters--and is available at your pharmacy. The wart is reduced in size with a sandpaper file and then the treatment applied daily for up to six weeks until healthy skin tissue has grown through.

    Cryosurgery

    • Cryosurgery uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and kill the cells, causing your wart to fall off after a few weeks to reveal healthy skin underneath. Cryosurgery is carried out by a qualified practitioner, and a single treatment is usually sufficient.

    Dimethyl Ether and Propane

    • Dimethyl ether and propane are available in home-treatment preparations that partially freeze the wart in much the same way as cryosurgery. Repeat treatments are necessary.

    Surgery

    • Warts may be removed surgically under local anesthetic by your health care provider. The wound is glued or sealed with small sterile strips so that scarring is minimal. Healing is complete after 14 days.

    Bleomycin

    • Bleomycin is a chemotherapeutic agent that kills the multiplying cells of the wart. It is injected into your wart by a qualified hospital practitioner. You may have side effects; therefore, bleomycin is used in severe cases only.

    Other Treatments

    • For persistent warts your practitioner may prescribe creams or gels containing formaldehyde, lactic acid, Retin-A, or podophyllin, which work more quickly than salicylic acid.

      There are many herbal, faith and homeopathic remedies available, but none have been medically tested; therefore, there is no evidence of their efficacy.

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