How Do I Choose the Best Treatment for Facial Warts?

Warts can be present anywhere on your body, including your face. When on your face, warts can be difficult to treat because the skin there is more delicate than that on many other areas of your body. Ideally, you want a treatment that removes the warts effectively without damaging your healthy skin. When choosing the best treatment for facial warts, you need to consider a variety of options, including creams, cryotherapy, and natural treatments. There are also treatments that you may want to avoid.

Creams, gels, and ointments purchased over the counter at the drugstore are the most popular treatments for facial warts. Many people choose this method because it is affordable, they can do it at home, and it is usually quite effective. If you choose this method to treat your warts, look for topical applications that use salicylic acid as their active ingredient. This concentrated acid works by dissolving the warts. Follow the instructions carefully if you choose this method because healthy skin around the wart can become damaged.

Cryotherapy is also a very effective treatment for facial warts. Although more expensive, this method carries less of a risk for damaging healthy skin. Choose this method if you are not confident of treating your warts yourself or if the creams have not worked for you. This treatment involves the application, by a professional, of liquid nitrogen to the wart, which kills the cells by freezing them.

The skin under the wart blisters, and the wart peels off, leaving a scab. Many people choose this option because the wart is removed in a short period of time, usually about 10 to 15 minutes. When choosing this method, be aware that it may take more than one treatment and may cause changes in the pigmentation of your skin where the wart was.

If you do not like the idea of either of these two methods, there are several natural forms of treatment for facial warts to choose from. You can apply apple cider vinegar onto the warts, or tea tree oil, potatoes, and onions, until they dry up and come off. Though these methods may take longer and not be as effective as creams or cryotherapy, they may be a better choice for you if you have sensitive skin. These methods are also good if your skin is prone to scarring.

Surgery is not a recommended treatment for facial warts due to the increased risk of scarring and because warts often reoccur. Avoid sprays that contain dimethyl-ether/propane, along with applications that include formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, and podophyllin, because these can be damaging to both your skin and your eyes. Whatever treatment you choose, make sure that you wash your hands carefully — this will help to prevent warts from spreading.