How to Remove Scalp Warts
Warts are a common skin problem, and are usually caused by HPV, the human papilloma virus 2. Warts are not cancerous and can show up as a single raised bump or in clusters 2. Warts occur when the HPV virus finds its way into your body via a scratch or cut and makes cells multiply quickly 2. Warts can spread to other areas of the body and may end up virtually anywhere, including hands, feet, genitals, elbows, forearms, face and even your scalp 2. Warts on the scalp are typically the filiform type of wart, characterized by pointy, finger-like bumps 12. Attempts to remove scalp warts can range from surgery to home remedies 2.
Visit your doctor to obtain a diagnosis and confirm that the bump on your scalp is a wart 1.
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Schedule a curettage treatment with your doctor to have the wart scraped or cut out, says the University of Michigan Health System. The doctor will use a scalpel or spoon-like cutting tool to scoop the wart out of the skin. The area may or may not be frozen, depending on how deeply embedded the scalp wart is 1.
Agree to have electrosurgery to remove your scalp wart 1. Electrosurgery uses a needle that sends an electrical charge through the wart, burning off the tissue, according to the University of Michigan Health System. The area around the wart must be frozen with a painful injection first. Electrosurgery is not effective on groups of warts 2.
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Cut a clove of garlic, then place it over the wart and cover it with a bandage or wrapping, says the Health Guidance website. Leave it overnight, then remove the dressing in the morning. Leave any blisters that have formed to be reabsorbed. Continue the same procedure each night and the wart may be gone within two weeks. Home remedies are not medically proven and may not show optimum results.
Dip a cloth into apple cider vinegar and cover the wart with the cloth. Wrap or bandage the area and leave it on overnight, removing it in the morning. Continue for one week to see results, says Health Guidance. Home remedies are not medically proven and may not show optimum results.
Tips
Home remedies are not medically proven and may not show optimum results.
Warnings
Cryotherapy or freezing with liquid nitrogen is not an option for scalp warts.
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References
- MedHelp: Wart on Scalp
- Merck: Warts
- InformedHealth.org. Warts: Overview. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). Updated November 7, 2019.
- InformedHealth.org. What are the treatment options for warts? Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). Updated November 7, 2019.
- Al Aboud AM, Nigam PK. Wart (Plantar, Verruca Vulgaris, Verrucae). Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing. Updated September 27, 2019.
- Liu J, Li H, Yang F, et al. Epidemiology and Clinical Profile of Cutaneous Warts in Chinese College Students: A Cross-Sectional and Follow-Up Study. Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):15450. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-33511-x
- Goldman RD. Duct tape for warts in children: Should nature take its course?. Can Fam Physician. 2019;65(5):337-338.
- Cockayne S, Hewitt C, Hicks K, et al. Cryotherapy versus salicylic acid for the treatment of plantar warts (verrucae): a randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2011;342:d3271. doi:10.1136/bmj.d3271
- Baker DA, Ferris DG, Martens MG, et al. Imiquimod 3.75% cream applied daily to treat anogenital warts: combined results from women in two randomized, placebo-controlled studies. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2011;2011:806105. doi:10.1155/2011/806105
- Gaston A, Garry RF. Topical vitamin A treatment of recalcitrant common warts. Virol J. 2012;9:21. doi:10.1186/1743-422X-9-21
- Walczuk I, Eertmans F, Rossel B, et al. Efficacy and safety of three cryotherapy devices for wart treatment: A randomized, controlled, investigator-blinded, comparative study. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2018;8(2):203-16. doi:10.1007/s13555-017-0210-5
- Dalimunthe DA, Siregar R, Tanjung C. Comparative clinical efficacy between electrodesiccation with curettage and application of 80% phenol solution in treatment of common warts. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2018;6(2):326-9. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2018.074
- Chauhan PS, Mahajan VK, Mehta KS, Rawat R, Sharma V. The efficacy and safety of intralesional immunotherapy with measles, mumps, rubella virus vaccine for the treatment of common warts in adults. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2019;10(1):19-26. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_142_18
- Nofal A, Elkot R, Nofal E, Mazen M. Combination therapy versus monotherapy in the treatment of recalcitrant warts: A clinical and immunological study. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2018;2018;12848. doi:10.1111/jocd.12848
- Raghukumar S, Ravikumar BC, Vinay KN, et al. Intralesional vitamin D injection in the treatment of recalcitrant warts: A novel proposition. J Cutan Med Surg. 2017;21(4):320-4. doi:10.1177/1203475417704180
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