Genital warts, or Condyloma, are unsightly skin growths caused by HPV, or human papillomavirus. This virus is a sexually transmitted disease, and is also known to cause cervical cancer in women and some kinds of anal cancers in both sexes. Although there is no cure as of now, there are ways to get rid of the warts.

Creams

Some patients prefer genital wart cream. These often contain podophyllotoxin, and are applied by the patients themselves. Imiquimod is another choice for treatment of genital warts, but is a little less popular because it can create the conditions necessary for fungus infections to start. Sinecatechins are in a third class of genital wart cream that contain green tea extracts–many like these because they are less irritating to the tissues surrounding the warts, but they take longer to have an affect on the warts.

Wart Removers

Removers such as are commonly found over the counter are not for use on genital warts. They are used on common warts and those known as plantar warts. A patient will normally get common warts on the feet or hands, and plantar warts are found on the bottom of the foot. Wart removers and wart freeze are for treatment of those warts only, and not for genital warts.

Outpatient Wart Treatments

Although it is not the same as an over-the-counter “wart freeze” a doctor can treat genital warts with cryosurgery, or freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen. However, large warts respond best to surgical treatment where the doctor actually removes the wart from the skin. The doctor will also have access to other solutions and genital wart cream that the patient cannot get from the pharmacy, and he or she should consult a physician before applying anything to the warts.

Online Offers

Of course, the internet has brought sufferers all kinds of new ideas and solutions for genital warts. Although it is tempting to try anything that promises quick relief and cures, a patient should check with a doctor first regarding the ingredients of any genital wart cream or other treatment–the tissues these warts affect are often sensitive and easily damaged. Remember that anyone can say anything on the internet–get proof through patient studies rather than testimonials posted on web pages.

However, remember that the same HPV that causes warts also causes cancers, and those cannot be treated with wart creams and solutions. Cancer is a frightening and dangerous disease, and one should protect oneself from all diseases caused by HPV by choosing partners carefully and forming monogamous, long term relationships.