Warts are one of the most frustrating foot problems for patients and health professionals alike. This is because they're easy to get and hard to get rid of.
One common cause of frustration relates to a person's expectations about the treatment process. Most of the time, people have done some Googling and self-diagnosed themself with a wart before coming into the clinic. With the diagnosis sorted, most people seem to expect to walk in with a wart and walk out without a wart. If only! We often see a look of horror in the person's eyes as we start explaining to them that, regardless of the treatment option selected, it usually takes multiple treatments and months to get rid of a wart.
Unfortunately, no single treatment is fully effective for all warts. At Fairfield Podiatry, we offer the most effective wart treatment options available. While we do everything in our power to reduce the time to resolution, some aspects of this process are beyond our control.
Below are some of the many factors that can influence the time to resolution.
Wart type
Wart location
How long the wart has been present for
Immune system status
Our job is to consider these factors and select the treatment option that's most likely to work. We then need to monitor how you and the wart responds to treatment and make adjustments to the plan of attack as required.
As warts can resolve spontaneously, you have the option to watch and wait. However, keep in mind that the longer a wart has been present, the more resistant it will be to treatment. If you decide to watch and wait, keep a close eye on the wart and seek assistance if it starts to get larger, spread or become painful.
If you think you have a wart and are ready to do something about it, you need to be prepared to be in it for the long haul. Consider it a pleasant surprise if it resolves quickly, as it takes time, persistence and effort to eliminate most warts. We are here to support you through the journey. Contact us or book online today.
Author: Shaun Bergin