Genital Warts
Warts or soft growths that appear in the genital area and cause itching, discomfort, and pain are called genital warts. These may appear singly or in groups and are classed under sexually transmitted infections caused by some forms of the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Out of the more than 100 types of HPV, only some cause genital warts. Others can cause cervical, mouth, throat and anal cancer and cancer of the penis. Texas Surgical Dermatology, led by board certified dermatologist Dr. Tri H. Nguyen, provides advanced skin care treatments to patients in Houston, Katy, Spring, The Woodlands, Texas, and surrounding communities.
Symptoms of Genital Warts
While both men and women may be affected by warts, the latter are more prone to develop complications. In men, genital warts may appear in regions such as the groin, thighs, scrotum, penis, and around or inside the anus. In women, warts can be found within or outside the anus or vagina, and on the cervix.
In some patients, the warts may not be visible, but they experience itching, burning, bleeding or vaginal discharge. Persons who have had oral sex with a person infected with HPV may find genital warts on their mouth, lips, tongue, or throat.
Diagnosis of Genital Warts
If you find an abnormal growth in the genital region, don’t hesitate to see a dermatologist who can diagnose if it is a case of genital warts. If a visual examination does not give an accurate picture, the doctor may remove the wart partly or entirely and send it for laboratory testing to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment of Genital Warts
While some warts resolve on their own even without treatment, dermatologists advise the removal of warts to relieve itching and pain and also to reduce the risk of passing it on to a sexual partner. Removing warts and having them tested can also put to rest any fears of cancer.
Over-the-counter remedies for warts are not advisable for use in treatment of genital warts. It is best to consult a qualified and board-certified dermatologist for genital wart treatment.
Some of the common drugs prescribed for genital warts include Podofilox to prevent growth of wart cells and Imiquimod to activate the body’s immune response to combat HPV infection. Dermatologists also recommend a green tea extract-containing ointment for external application on warts in the anal area.
Procedures for Wart Treatment
Some of the dermatology procedures that specialists may use to eliminate warts include:
- Excision to cut off the wart
- Cryosurgery to freeze the wart with liquid nitrogen
- Laser treatment to destroy the warts with laser light
- Electrocautery to get rid of warts by use of electric current
Results of Wart Treatment
Genital wart treatment with medication or procedures may eliminate visible warts but they do not guarantee destruction of the virus. If the virus continues to exist in the patient’s body, the warts may return. In order to avoid spreading the virus through sex, patients with genital warts must always practice protected sex using a condom.
Board certified dermatologist Dr. Tri H. Nguyen receives patients from Houston, Katy, Spring, The Woodlands, Texas, and nearby areas for safe and proven skin care procedures.
For More Information contact our Board Certified in Dermatologists at Texas Surgical Dermatology in Spring, TX
For more information on procedures and treatments offered at Texas Surgical Dermatology PA please call 832.663.6566 or click here to contact our dermatologists. Helping patients in Houston, The Woodlands, Spring, Katy and other surrounding areas of Texas.
