Human papillomavirus is the cause of periungual warts. They can appear on toenails or fingernails. If you bite your fingernails, you may be at a greater risk of getting periungual warts.
Although there are several treatments for HPV warts on fingernails and toenails, they may reappear after a while. So let us provide you with a list of five common treatments for periungual warts.
1. Cryotherapy
If you undergo cryotherapy, a doctor will apply liquid nitrogen to the warts to freeze them. This is usually a very quick way to get rid of periungual warts. Over a period of two or three weeks, the liquid nitrogen is applied up to four times to the affected area.
2. Laser Therapy
Laser therapy involves burning off the warts using laser beams. This therapy may help you if other treatments don’t. But the results can be unsatisfactory if other chemicals are included in the therapy. The optimal laser therapy is yet to be determined.
3. Salicylic Acid
This is one of the most popular treatments for HPV warts on fingernails and toenails. Salicylic acid eliminates the virus in the infected area. However, the treatment can be lengthy. In some cases, you may need to apply salicylic acid for three months before it’s effective.
4. Surgical Removal
If there are complications with periungual warts, you may need to undergo surgery. The surgery is done in two stages. The first stage is curettage, which cuts off the warts. The second one is cautery, which closes the wound.
5. Antigen Injections
Antigen injections trigger your immune system. They start a reaction which may kill HPV and stop the growth of warts. Doctors might recommend this treatment if periungual warts don’t respond to any other treatment.
Conclusion
Periungual warts are not aesthetically pleasing and can be very stubborn. Though there are some effective treatments for HPV warts on fingernails and toenails, you should know that it might take some time before you get rid of them.
