Advertising

Research
Volume 51, Issue 10, October 2022

Destructive therapies for cutaneous warts: A review of the evidence

Kelvin Truong    Joseph Joseph    Beverly Manago    Tevi Wain   
doi: 10.31128/AJGP-01-22-6305   |    Download article
Cite this article    BIBTEX    REFER    RIS

Background and objectives

Non-genital warts are benign cutaneous growths caused by infection with the human papillomavirus. Although warts can resolve spontaneously, patients might seek treatment due to discomfort or social ostracism. This review summarises high-quality studies investigating the efficacy of chemical and physical destructive wart therapies.

Methods

We performed a literature review (up to June 2021) of published articles for wart management from MEDLINE and Embase databases. We considered systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies and case series. We included studies that investigated chemical or physical destructive therapies.

Results

Fifteen therapies were evaluated and included salicylic acid, cryotherapy, silver nitrate, phenol, cantharidin, glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, citric acid, formic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monochloroacetic acid, zinc, laser, surgery and electrocautery. Very few treatment options have been studied through RCTs.

Discussion

To attenuate transmission, hygienic practices need to be adopted in conjunction with any treatment. Important considerations when treating patients with warts include the location of the wart, the evidence supporting the proposed treatment and potential adverse effects of treatment.

 

Common warts (Verruca vulgaris), plantar warts (Verruca plantaris) and flat/plane warts (Verruca plana), collectively known as cutaneous warts, are benign growths of the skin caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). In Australia, up to 24% of children and 5% of adults are affected.1

A break in the epidermal barrier of the skin allows entry of HPV and subsequent infection of basal epithelial cells. HPV replicates alongside the natural lifecycle of epithelial cells, and is eventually released from desquamated keratinocytes on the surface of warts, potentially infecting other sites via direct contact or through fomites.2

Cutaneous warts generally self-resolve. Up to two-thirds of immunocompetent children experience spontaneous clearance of their cutaneous warts by two years of age.3 Adults tend to take longer. Patients might request treatment for their warts when they cause discomfort, functional impairment, social ostracism, are numerous, grow large or raise concerns regarding transmission.4

Treatment for cutaneous warts can be painful, scar, cause pigmentary disturbances and might not be effective.5 Therefore, clinicians should be wary of the evidence behind the efficacy of cutaneous wart treatment. This review summarises high-quality studies investigating the efficacy of chemical and physical destructive wart therapies.

Methods

We performed a literature review (up to June 2021) of published articles for wart management from the MEDLINE and Embase databases. No language restrictions were applied. We considered systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies and case series. Case reports were excluded. For MEDLINE, we used the Boolean operation to combine MeSH terms ‘warts’ AND ‘therapeutics’. For Embase, we used the Boolean operation to combine MeSH terms ‘Verruca vulgaris’ AND ‘therapy’. We included studies that investigated chemical or physical destructive therapies.

Results and discussion

Non-pharmacological therapies

To attenuate transmission, hygienic practices need to be adopted in conjunction with any treatment. This includes not sharing personal items, wearing protective footwear in communal areas and not scratching warts. Checking the soles of feet regularly will help identify early lesions, which are easier to treat.6

Pharmacological therapies

Treatment options can be categorised into chemically destructive, physically destructive, antiproliferative or immunostimulatory. Table 1 provides an overview of the evidence supporting treatment options in the management of cutaneous warts.
 

Table 1. Evidence supporting chemical and physical destructive treatment options in the management of cutaneous warts
Method of destruction of epithelium Evidence to support efficacy
Paediatric Adult
Common wart Plane wart Plantar wart Common wart Plane wart Plantar wart
Salicylic acid Yes7   Yes7 Yes7   Yes7
Cryotherapy Yes8   Yes8 Yes8   Yes8
Silver nitrate Yes9   Yes10 Yes9   Yes10
Phenol Yes11     Yes11    
Cantharidin Yes12,13 Yes12 Yes13 Yes12,13 Yes12 Yes13
Glycolic acid   Yes14        
Pyruvic acid     Yes15     Yes15
Citric acid   Yes16     Yes16  
Formic acid Yes18   Yes18 Yes17   Yes17
Trichloroacetic acid Yes20 Yes19   Yes20 Yes19  
Monochloroacetic acid Yes21   Yes21 Yes21   Yes21
Zinc oxide Yes22,23   Yes22 Yes22,23 Yes23 Yes22
Laser Yes25,26 Yes25,26 Yes24–26 Yes25,26 Yes25,26 Yes24–26
Surgical removal            
Electrosurgery            

Chemical destructive therapies

Damaging or destroying the infected epithelium causes HPV cell death. The subsequent antigen exposure and presentation might also induce an immune response.

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid chemically debrides the wart of excess keratin and induces an inflammatory response. A meta-analysis of six RCTs demonstrated that topical salicylic acid was more effective than placebo for cutaneous warts at all sites (relative risk [RR]: 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20,2.03).7 In the largest study, the investigators pared down the surface of the wart before applying 40% salicylic acid daily for up to 13 weeks.8 Salicylic acid should not be applied to areas of poor healing nor the face due to risk of chemical burns.7

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen causes direct cell damage and subsequent inflammatory response (Figure 1B). A meta-analysis of three RCTs surprisingly found no evidence to suggest that cryotherapy was different to placebo in the treatment of cutaneous warts (RR: 1.45; 95% CI: 0.65, 3.23).7 However, the largest study achieved a cure rate of 39% and an RR of 2.49 (95% CI: 1.41, 4.41) compared with active surveillance.8 The participants received three serial applications of liquid nitrogen in one session every fortnight for up to 13 weeks.8 Side effects included pain, blistering of the affected sites, and post-inflammatory hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation.7 Although not common if performed by a well-trained professional, clinicians should caution their patients that annular recurrence (ring wart) might occur due to damage of surrounding tissue facilitating the spread of HPV (Figure 1C).


Figure 1. Cryotherapy for the treatment of cutaneous warts

Figure 1. Cryotherapy for the treatment of cutaneous warts

A. Plantar wart. B. Four sessions of fortnightly cryotherapy achieving complete remission. C. Ring warts on the elbow after two sessions of cryotherapy.


Silver nitrate

Silver nitrate is a chemical cauteriser.9 A recent RCT investigating weekly applications of 95% silver nitrate for the treatment of Verruca pedis in adults found complete response in 37.5% of participants after 10 weeks.10 In a placebo-controlled randomised trial of 10% silver nitrate solution applied alternate daily for three weeks, complete regression of palmar and plantar lesions was achieved in 63% of adults and children. Participants experienced a mild-to-moderate burning sensation, itching and temporary discolouration of the skin.9

Phenol

Phenol is a caustic agent. In a trial of common warts of the hand comparing 80% phenol solution to cryotherapy in adults and children, weekly intervention demonstrated complete clearance of warts in 82.6% of phenol participants and 70% of cryotherapy patients after six weeks.11 There was no statistically significant difference between the two methods (= 0.14). Pain and pigmentary changes were noted in the phenol group.

Cantharidin

Cantharidin is a vesicant that causes acantholysis and subsequent destruction of epithelial cells (Figure 2). A 2018 systematic review of cantharidin monotherapy for cutaneous warts found four studies evaluating topical cantharidin 0.7% monotherapy treatment of warts in adults and children, including 576 patients with 525 total lesions.12 A 2018 systematic review of topical cantharidin 0.7% for cutaneous warts found complete remission rates of up to 90.8%.12 In a 2019 case series investigating topical application of cantharidin 1% podophyllin 2% salicylic acid 30% solution (CPS1), complete clearance of warts occurred in 86.5% of children and 62.7% of adults treated with CPS1 solution.13 The solution was applied at intervals of 3–4 weeks, and blistering was common.13


Figure 2. A. Before and B. after a single session of cantharidin treatment

Figure 2. A. Before and B. after a single session of cantharidin treatment


Glycolic acid

Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid with keratolytic properties. Topical 15% glycolic acid plus 2% salicylic acid gel applied once daily to recalcitrant facial flat warts in participants aged 7–16 years resulted in complete remission in 13 of 20 patients after eight weeks of treatment.14

Pyruvic acid

Pyruvic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid with strong keratolytic properties. In an RCT investigating plantar warts in participants aged >12 years, pyruvic acid 70% was compared with compound salicylic acid solution (salicylic acid 16.7%, lactic acid 16.7% and collodion 100%) that was topically applied twice a day for four weeks. There was no difference in clearance between therapies; wart number decreased by 13% with pyruvic acid and by 23% with compound salicylic acid (P = 0.16) after treatment.15 Adverse events in both groups included pain, a burning sensation and pigmentary changes post-treatment.

Citric acid

Citric acid has keratolytic and disinfecting properties.16 In a blinded intraparticipant study investigating plane warts on the body, 50% citric acid aqueous solution was compared with tretinoin lotion applied twice daily.16 After six weeks, the authors found a clinically significant improvement of 64.45% in the citric acid side compared with 53.7% in the tretinoin side of the patient (P <0.05).16 Adverse events included burning or stinging sensation, erythema and pruritus.16

Formic acid

Formic acid acts similarly to formalin by dehydrating and finally destroying the infected tissue. A case series of adults with recalcitrant Verruca vulgaris treated with a proprietary product, in which the pen was applied on each wart for 30 seconds twice weekly for six weeks, reported that 42.8% of participants achieved complete remission.17 In a study of paediatric patients with common warts located on the scalp, hands, trunk and feet, 85% formic acid was applied on alternate days for up to four weeks. Complete remission was achieved in 81% of participants after the study period.18

It should be noted that chemical burns have occurred from the application of topical acid-based products, including formic acid, salicylic acid, monochloroacetic acid and glutaraldehyde. Most of these occur in the paediatric population.5

Trichloroacetic acid

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is a caustic agent that destroys warts by chemical coagulation of proteins. In an RCT investigating Verruca plana in children and adults, weekly applications of TCA were compared with weekly cryotherapy sessions over an eight-week period. The investigators observed total remission in 85.7% of participants treated with 10% TCA, 92.6% of participants treated with 25% TCA and 92% of participants treated with cryotherapy.19 There was no evidence to suggest a difference in treatment outcomes between the three groups. Adverse events in the TCA group included itch, pain, erythema, erosions, bullae and hyperpigmentation.

Pezeshkpoor et al compared the efficacies of 80% TCA and 35% TCA in the treatment of common warts. At the end of the six-week study, 46.7% of participants achieved a good response (>75% of lesions cleared) in the 80% TCA group compared with 12% in the 35% TCA group.20

Monochloroacetic acid

Monochloroacetic acid (MCA) is a caustic agent that destroys warts by chemical coagulation of proteins.

In an RCT investigating Verruca vulgaris and Verruca plantaris in individuals aged six years and over, 76% MCA was used every two weeks in a 13-week study. For the treatment of Verruca vulgaris, MCA achieved complete remission in 43% of patients compared with cryotherapy (54%), with no evidence to suggest a difference. In the treatment of plantar warts, MCA achieved a cure rate of 46% compared with combination therapy with salicylic acid (39%), which again demonstrated no difference.21 Blistering and irritation were common adverse events associated with MCA.21

Zinc oxide and nitric–zinc complex solution

Zinc oxide and nitric–zinc complex solution (NZCS) is a topically applied solution that induces a painless caustic effect.22 In a small case series of palmoplantar or periungual wart in children and adults, NZCS was applied every two weeks for a median of six applications. The investigators found complete resolution in 83.9% of the warts treated with NZCS with six treatment sessions with no adverse effects.22

A 2007 RCT investigating 20% zinc oxide ointment compared with salicylic acid 15% and lactic acid 15% ointment twice daily for up to three months for patients >12 years of age with cutaneous warts demonstrated 50% complete remission.23 The authors reported ‘mild and local’ side effects.

Physical destructive therapies
Laser

CO2 lasers emit infrared light at 10,600 nm and act to destroy the epidermis. A recent small RCT comparing CO2 laser with cryotherapy demonstrated no significant difference in the resolution of warts in both groups; remission rate was 89.7% in the laser group and 70.4% in the cryotherapy group (P = 0.069).24 Scarring, hypopigmentation, postoperative pain and prolonged wound healing are adverse effects of CO2.25

The erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Er:YAG) laser emits a wavelength of 2940 nm and causes direct ablation of the epidermis. In four non-randomised trials, Er:YAG lasers achieved a resolution rate of 72–100% for cutaneous warts.25 Adverse effects were limited to discomfort during treatment and erythema.25

The neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser emits a wavelength of 1064 nm and destroys wart dermal blood vessels. Complete response rates of 46–100% have been reported for simple and recalcitrant common, palmoplantar, periungual and subungual warts.25 Adverse events included hematoma, secondary bacterial infection and severe pain.25

Newer modalities of laser therapy, such as pulsed dye lasers (PDL), are more subtle and can destroy the dilated superficial capillaries, rather than the tissue itself, and reduce complications.25 PDL therapy has been used to treat simple and recalcitrant common, palmar, plantar and flat warts, with variable remission rates ranging from 47% to 100%.25 Complications are uncommon, but include topical discomfort and erythema.26

The number of laser passes used depends on the depth of the lesion, but studies have reported using 2–4 passes per wart.25

Surgical removal

Excisional surgery is used in certain cases, but it is generally avoided because of its invasive nature, potential for significant scarring and recurrence of lesions in up to 30% of cases.27 The primary surgical excision of a wart is not recommended.28

Electrosurgery

Removal of warts by curettage, followed by cautery, has been reported to have success rates of 65–85%, but scarring and recurrence occur in up to 30% of patients.29 To the best of our knowledge, there are no published RCTs for this treatment.7 Clinicians should be cautious while operating electrocoagulation, as HPV DNA has been demonstrated in vapours.30

Conclusion

Very few of the treatment options discussed here have been tested by RCTs. Clinicians should consider the location and type of cutaneous wart, the evidence supporting the proposed treatment, potential adverse effects of treatment, as well as patient comorbidities when considering treatment options. Appropriate and effective treatments in primary care generally include salicylic acid and cryotherapy. Resistant cases may require referral for the more specialised options summarised in this article.

Competing interests: None.
Provenance and peer review: Not commissioned, externally peer reviewed.
Funding: None.
Correspondence to:
kelvin.truong@sydney.edu.au
This event attracts CPD points and can be self recorded

Did you know you can now log your CPD with a click of a button?

Create Quick log
References
  1. Kilkenny M, Merlin K, Young R, Marks R. The prevalence of common skin conditions in Australian school students: 1. Common, plane and plantar viral warts. Br J Dermatol 1998;138(5):840–45. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1998.02222.x. Search PubMed
  2. Sanclemente G, Gill DK. Human papillomavirus molecular biology and pathogenesis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2002;16(3):231–40. doi: 10.1046/j.1473-2165.2002.00419.x. Search PubMed
  3. Bruggink SC, Eekhof JA, Egberts PF, van Blijswijk SC, Assendelft WJ, Gussekloo J. Natural course of cutaneous warts among primary schoolchildren: A prospective cohort study. Ann Fam Med 2013;11(5):437–41. doi: 10.1370/afm.1508. Search PubMed
  4. Sterling JC, Gibbs S, Haque Hussain SS, Mohd Mustapa MF, Handfield-Jones SE. British Association of Dermatologists’ guidelines for the management of cutaneous warts 2014. Br J Dermatol 2014;171(4):696–712. doi: 10.1111/bjd.13310. Search PubMed
  5. Friedman PC. Management of difficult-to-treat warts: Traditional and new approaches. Am J Clin Dermatol 2021;22(3):379–94. doi: 10.1007/s40257-020-00582-4. Search PubMed
  6. Witchey DJ, Witchey NB, Roth-Kauffman MM, Kauffman MK. Plantar warts: Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical management. J Am Osteopath Assoc 2018;118(2):92–105. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2018.024. Search PubMed
  7. Kwok CS, Gibbs S, Bennett C, Holland R, Abbott R. Topical treatments for cutaneous warts. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012;2012(9):CD001781. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001781.pub3. Search PubMed
  8. Bruggink SC, Gussekloo J, Berger MY, et al. Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen versus topical salicylic acid application for cutaneous warts in primary care: Randomized controlled trial. CMAJ 2010;182(15):1624–30. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.092194. Search PubMed
  9. Ebrahimi S, Dabiri N, Jamshidnejad E, Sarkari B. Efficacy of 10% silver nitrate solution in the treatment of common warts: a placebo-controlled, randomized, clinical trial. Int J Dermatol 2007;46(2):215–17. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2007.02955.x. Search PubMed
  10. Concannon M, Keogh L, Stephenson J, Parfitt G, Forrest J. A randomized comparative evaluation of clinical and home application to investigate the effectiveness of silver nitrate (AgNO3) (95%) for the treatment of verruca pedis. International J Pharm Pract 2017;25(6):421–28. doi: 10.1111/ijpp.12345. Search PubMed
  11. Banihashemi M, Pezeshkpoor F, Yazdanpanah MJ, Family S. Efficacy of 80% phenol solution in comparison with cryotherapy in the treatment of common warts of hands. Singapore Med J 2008;49(12):1035–37. Search PubMed
  12. Vakharia PP, Chopra R, Silverberg NB, Silverberg JI. Efficacy and safety of topical cantharidin treatment for molluscum contagiosum and warts: A systematic review. Am J Clin Dermatol 2018;19(6):791–803. doi: 10.1007/s40257-018-0375-4. Search PubMed
  13. Nguyen AL, Quint KD, Bouwes Bavinck JN, Erceg A, de Kort WJA, Körver JEM. Real-life treatment of cutaneous warts with cantharidin podophyllin salicylic acid solution. Dermatol Ther 2019;32(6):e13143. doi: 10.1111/dth.13143. Search PubMed
  14. Rodríguez-Cerdeira C, Sánchez-Blanco E. Glycolic acid 15% plus salicylic acid 2%: A new therapeutic pearl for facial flat warts. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2011;4(9):62–64. Search PubMed
  15. Shahmoradi Z, Assaf F, Al Said H, Khosravani P, Hosseini SM. Topical pyruvic acid (70%) versus topical salicylic acid (16.7%) compound in treatment of plantar warts: A randomized controlled trial. Adv Biomed Res 2015;4:113. doi: 10.4103/2277-9175.157833. Search PubMed
  16. Vali A, Ferdowsi F. Evaluation of the efficacy of 50% citric acid solution in plane wart treatment. Indian J Derm 2007;52(2):96–98. doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.33287. Search PubMed
  17. Schianchi R, Brena M, Veraldi S. Treatment of common recalcitrant warts with topical formic acid. Int J Dermatol 2018;57(2):e3–e4. doi: 10.1111/ijd.13811. Search PubMed
  18. Shamsadini S, Baghery MH. Treatment of warts with topical formic acid. Iran J Med Sci 2005;30(4):199. Search PubMed
  19. Cengiz FP, Emiroglu N. An open, comparative clinical study on the efficacy and safety of 10% trichloroacetic acid, 25% trichloroacetic acid and cryotherapy for verruca plana. Cutan Ocul Toxicol 2015;34(2):144–48. doi: 10.3109/15569527.2014.924961. Search PubMed
  20. Pezeshkpoor F, Banihashemi M, Yazdanpanah MJ, Yousefzadeh H, Sharghi M, Hoseinzadeh H. Comparative study of topical 80% trichloroacetic acid with 35% trichloroacetic acid in the treatment of the common wart. J Drugs Dermatol 2012;11(11):e66–69. Search PubMed
  21. Bruggink SC, Gussekloo J, Egberts PF, et al. Monochloroacetic acid application is an effective alternative to cryotherapy for common and plantar warts in primary care: A randomized controlled trial. J Invest Dermatol 2015;135(5):1261–67. doi: 10.1038/jid.2015.1. Search PubMed
  22. Giacaman A, Granger C, Aladren S, et al. Use of topical nitric-zinc complex solution to treat palmoplantar and periungual warts in a pediatric population. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 2019;9(4):755–60. doi: 10.1007/s13555-019-00330-5. Search PubMed
  23. Khattar JA, Musharrafieh UM, Tamim H, Hamadeh GN. Topical zinc oxide vs. salicylic acid-lactic acid combination in the treatment of warts. Int J Dermatol 2007;46(4):427–30. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2006.03138.x. Search PubMed
  24. Boroujeni NH, Handjani F. Cryotherapy versus CO2 laser in the treatment of plantar warts: A randomized controlled trial. Dermatol Pract Concept 2018;8(3):168–73. doi: 10.5826/dpc.0803a03. Search PubMed
  25. Nguyen J, Korta DZ, Chapman LW, Kelly KM. Laser treatment of nongenital verrucae: A systematic review. JAMA Dermatol 2016;152(9):1025–34. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.0826. Search PubMed
  26. Veitch D, Kravvas G, Al-Niaimi F. Pulsed dye laser therapy in the treatment of warts: A review of the literature. Dermatol Surg 2017;43(4):485–93. doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000001023. Search PubMed
  27. Tosti A, Piraccini BM. Warts of the nail unit: Surgical and nonsurgical approaches. Dermatol Surg 2001;27(3):235-39. Search PubMed
  28. Miller DJ, Strauch RJ. Management of cutaneous warts of the hand. J Hand Surg Am 2015;40(11):2274–76. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2015.07.020. Search PubMed
  29. Lipke MM. An armamentarium of wart treatments. Clin Med Res 2006;4(4):273–93. doi: 10.3121/cmr.4.4.273. Search PubMed
  30. Sawchuk WS, Weber PJ, Lowy DR, Dzubow LM. Infectious papillomavirus in the vapor of warts treated with carbon dioxide laser or electrocoagulation: Detection and protection. J Am Acad Dermatol 1989;21(1):41–49. doi: 10.1016/s0190-9622(89)70146-8. Search PubMed

DermatologyWarts

Download article