How to Treat and Remove Warts Safely and Effectively

Warts are common skin growths caused by certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). Although many warts may disappear on their own, you don’t have to wait—Medallus Urgent Care offers several safe and effective wart treatment options for those seeking faster results or relief from discomfort.

Most effective methods include:

● Topical Salicylic Acid: We often recommend salicylic acid as a first-line, over-the-counter treatment. Our providers can instruct you on proper application and follow-up, ensuring consistent use for the best results.

● Cryotherapy: Cryotherapy is one of our most popular in-office procedures for wart removal. This technique involves applying liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart, causing it to blister and fall off. Multiple sessions may be needed for larger or persistent warts, and our experienced clinicians will ensure your comfort throughout the process.

● Prescription Treatments: For warts that do not respond to standard therapies, our medical team may prescribe topical immunotherapy agents, such as imiquimod, to help stimulate your body’s immune response and target the wart.

The best wart removal method depends on the type, location, and size of the wart, as well as your overall health and preferences. At Medallus Urgent Care, our experienced healthcare professionals are ready to evaluate your condition, provide an accurate diagnosis, and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan.

Over-the-counter (OTC) treatments are a common first step for removing warts, especially those found on the hands or feet. Most OTC products, such as those containing salicylic acid, work by gradually peeling away infected skin and helping your body’s immune system fight the wart virus. For best results, these treatments need to be applied consistently every day, often for several weeks or months. Some OTC options use at-home cryotherapy (freezing), but these are typically less effective than the advanced freezing treatments available at a medical clinic like Medallus Urgent Care.

The success of OTC wart treatments can depend on factors like the type, size, and location of the wart, as well as how closely you follow the instructions. Children and healthy adults often respond well, but warts near the nails or on the face or in people with weakened immune systems may not improve as easily.

If you’ve tried at-home treatments and your wart is still painful, rapidly growing, bleeding, or not improving after several weeks, it’s important to seek professional care. Our experienced medical providers can offer stronger, more effective options, prescription medications, or minor surgical removal. We can also help if you’re unsure whether your skin growth is truly a wart.

At Medallus Urgent Care, we provide safe and effective wart removal treatments for patients of all ages. The best treatment approach can vary depending on factors such as age, skin sensitivity, and overall health, so our experienced healthcare providers tailor each plan to the individual.

For older children, teenagers, and adults, over-the-counter treatments like topical salicylic acid are often recommended and generally safe. However, these options are not always suitable for very young children due to their sensitive skin and lower tolerance for discomfort. Our providers will thoroughly assess younger patients and suggest alternatives if needed.

Cryotherapy (freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen) is another highly effective treatment performed at our clinic. This procedure is ideal for older children and adults, but it may not be well-tolerated by younger children. Our team will discuss the benefits and potential discomfort of this treatment, especially with parents of young children, and may propose less invasive options when appropriate.

For infants and toddlers, our providers generally recommend a conservative approach. Many warts in young children resolve on their own, so we often monitor the wart rather than pursue aggressive treatments. If removal becomes necessary due to pain, spreading, or cosmetic reasons, we will carefully select the safest and most comfortable method for your child.

Adults can typically undergo all standard wart treatments unless they have certain health conditions, such as diabetes or immune system issues, that may affect healing. Older adults with delicate skin may also benefit from gentler or specially modified therapies. Our providers will review your medical history to ensure your treatment is both safe and effective.

Before the procedure, we’ll review any previous treatments you may have tried and discuss your overall health to ensure the safest approach. Depending on the method chosen, we may numb the area with a local anesthetic to minimize discomfort during the procedure.

Common Wart Removal Techniques at Medallus Urgent Care:
● Cryotherapy (freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen)
● Surgical removal (using a scalpel or curette)
● Topical treatments (applied directly to destroy wart tissue)
● Laser therapy (in select cases)

Cryotherapy is one of the most common methods we use, and you may feel a cold sensation, followed by mild stinging or discomfort. Surgical removal is quick and efficient, especially when the area is numbed, so you should feel little to no pain—just some pressure. If laser therapy is recommended, you might notice a mild burning sensation and some discomfort.

Aftercare and Recovery
Following your treatment at Medallus Urgent Care, we’ll provide detailed aftercare instructions to help your skin heal properly. This typically includes keeping the area clean, watching for signs of infection, and possibly applying a bandage or ointment. Mild swelling, redness, or tenderness is normal for a few days. Depending on the wart and the treatment used, more than one session may be needed for complete removal.

At Medallus Urgent Care, our experienced wart removal doctor is dedicated to providing safe and effective wart treatment using the latest evidence-based methods. If you are concerned about a wart or skin growth, our providers begin with a thorough evaluation to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other skin conditions that may look similar to warts.

Once a wart is diagnosed, our clinicians discuss the most suitable treatment options with you, considering factors such as the wart’s type, size, location, and your overall health history. We commonly offer cryotherapy—a quick, in-office procedure where the wart is frozen with liquid nitrogen to destroy the abnormal tissue. This treatment is performed in our clean, controlled clinical environment to maximize your comfort and reduce the risk of complications.

In addition to cryotherapy, we may recommend topical treatments containing salicylic acid or other keratolytic agents to help gradually remove the wart. For stubborn or painful warts, our providers can perform minor surgical procedures, such as excision under local anesthesia, to remove the wart while preserving the surrounding healthy skin.

At Medallus Urgent Care, we strive to offer a range of safe, effective options so you can get back to feeling your best. For more information, please contact us or see our business hours online. We have convenient locations to serve you in Jamestown ND, Fargo ND, and Mandan, ND. We serve patients from Jamestown ND, Valley City ND, Devils Lake ND, Fargo ND, Mapleton ND, Horace ND, Mandan ND, Bismarck ND, Lincoln ND and surrounding areas.