As there are more than 100 different types of the human papillomavirus (HPV), there are a number of treatments available. Although treatments for HPV exist and may help symptoms clear up, there is no cure for the virus. Treatments for HPV include salicylic acid ointment, freezing the warts, surgical removal and topical creams. In some cases, no treatment may be needed, and the HPV will clear up on its own.
HPV can cause common warts on a person's hands or face, plantar warts on the feet, and genital warts. More dangerous strains of the virus can lead to certain types of cancers, such as cervical cancer. Early signs of cancer from HPV include pre-malignant lesions on the genitals and abnormal PAP smear results. Treatments for one type of HPV should not be used to treat another type of HPV, as they will not be effective and may even cause harm.
Common over-the-counter treatments for HPV, such as common warts and plantar warts, include a 40-percent salicylic acid ointment. The ointment is applied to the wart once or twice a day. The salicylic acid treatments for HPV are also available in gel form or on a pad. The acid eats away at the keratin, or protein, of the wart, along with the dead skin around it.
Other treatments for plantar and common warts include cryotherapy, which is performed at a doctor's office and involves freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen. Over-the-counter freezing treatments are available as well, but are usually not as effective as the ones performed in the doctor's office. Some patients have had luck treating warts by covering them with duct tape.
Treatments designed for common and plantar warts shouldn't be used on genital warts caused by HPV, as the skin around the genital area is much more sensitive than the skin on the feet or hands. Instead, a person should treat genital warts with specially designed topical creams which either boost the body's immune response or damage the tissue of the wart. Trichloroacetic acid can be used to destroy the warts but should only be applied by a physician. Other treatments for genital warts include freezing the warts, laser removal or general surgery to excise the warts.
If the HPV has the potential to cause cell damage and lead to cancer, a doctor has several treatment options. She may remove the pre-malignant lesions with surgery, cryotherapy or laser removal, as she would for genital warts. She can also perform a procedure known as Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP), which uses an electrical current to cut away the cells.