Treatment of warts by keratolysis

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Two viral warts on a middle finger, being treated with a mixture of acids (like salicylic acid, brand name Aporil) to remove them. A white precipitation forms on the area where the product was applied.
Two viral warts on a middle finger, being treated with a mixture of acids (like salicylic acid, brand name Aporil) to remove them. A white precipitation forms on the area where the product was applied.

Keratolysis is the removal of dead surface skin cells and is a treatment for several types of wart. The most common keratolytic treatment of warts available over-the-counter involve salicylic acid. These products are readily available at most drugstores and supermarkets. There are typically two types of products: adhesive pads treated with salicylic acid, or a bottle of concentrated salicylic acid. Removing a wart with this method requires a strict regimen of cleaning the area, applying the salicylic acid, and removing the dead skin with a pumice stone or emery board. It may take up to 12 weeks to remove a stubborn wart.

Contents

[edit] Formulations

Some formulations are:

  • alcoholic solution containing glycerol
  • collodion which dries to a celluloid film / Duofilm
  • simple ointment
  • absorption ointment
  • oil in water cream

The amount of salicylic acid reaching the wart varies substantially depending on the formulation used[1].

[edit] Molecular basis of therapeutic effect

  • Salicylic acid reaches warts; lactic acid and collodion do not[2]. Therefore, these additional components have only an indirect role in therapy.
  • The molecular structure of the skin is altered at the centre of the wart[3].
  • Experiments indicated that salicylic acid bonding within the human papillomavirus-containing verruca tissue is more likely than simple acid dissociation upon dissolution in water within the tissue[4].

[edit] Complications

Some cases of allergic contact dermatitis have been observed when using collodion formulations[5]. This was found to be due to colophony in the collodion.

[edit] References

  1. ^  J Drug Target. 1998;5(5):343-51. PMID 9771616
  2. ^  Int J Pharm. 1999 Oct 25;188(2):145-53. PMID 10518670
  3. ^  Dermatol Clin. 1990 Jan;8(1):143-6. PMID 2302853

[edit] External links

  • List of brand names in US and Canada [6]