Warts

Prescribing Notes:

• These preparations are suitable for all cutaneous warts except facial and genital warts.
• The wart surface should be rubbed with a file or pumice stone, and the surrounding skin protected, before each application. If application becomes painful, treatment should be withheld for a few days then recommenced.
• Wart removing preparations are keratolytic. They can cause irritation and application to normal or broken skin should be avoided. Surrounding skin to the wart can be protected by applying soft paraffin.
• Treatment should be continued for at least 3 months and then reviewed.
• In exceptional circumstances dermatology specialists may recommend formaldehyde 4% solution for plantar warts. For more information see the Primary Care Dermatology Society guidance on warts.
• Warts may regress on their own and treatment is required only if the warts are painful, unsightly, persistent, or cause distress.

Prescribing Notes:

• Treatments are available via pharmacy first. Helpful information for patients can be found on the NHS website.
• These preparations are suitable for all cutaneous warts except facial or genital warts.
• The wart surface should be rubbed with a file or pumice stone, and the surrounding skin protected, before each application. If application becomes painful, treatment should be withheld for a few days then recommenced.
• Wart removing preparations are keratolytic. They can cause irritation and application to normal or broken skin should be avoided. Surrounding skin to the wart can be protected by applying soft paraffin.
• Treatment should be continued for at least 3 months and then reviewed.
• In exceptional circumstances dermatology specialists may recommend formaldehyde 4% solution for plantar warts. For more information see the Primary Care Dermatology Society guidance on warts.
• Warts may regress on their own and treatment is required only if the warts are painful, unsightly, persistent, or cause distress.

Prescribing Notes:

• These preparations are contra-indicated in facial or genital warts.
• The skin surface should be rubbed with a file or pumice stone and the surrounding skin protected before each application. If application becomes painful treatment should be withheld for a few days, then recommenced.
• Avoid application to broken skin.
• Molluscum contagiosum usually resolve spontaneously – refer if concerned.
• Current practice is to encourage self-care.
• Helpful information for patients can be found on the NHS website.

Examples of Counselling Points
Treatment may be required for up to 3 months.

When to advise patient to contact GP
Changed appearance of lesions: size, colour.
Bleeding.
Itching.
Genital warts.
Facial warts.
Immunocompromised patients.
Diabetics.
Peripheral Neuropathy.