I have a scab after laser wart removal on arm. What to do?

Question

Hello doctor,

I had a bump on my arm. I thought it was a burn so I broke it and it became more prominent. It was there for almost two months. So I went to a skin doctor, and they said it is a wart from a germ. They gave me three options. Either apply a cream, liquid nitrogen, and laser (C02fl). I chose the third option because they said it is more effective.

After I did it, there was a scab remained which looked like a burn. It has been four days now. I have been asked to apply Bactrocin twice a day for two weeks and Derma V10 rescue oil after that. From the third day, I am seeing like something spreading from the corners of the scab which looks like blood inside and it is red. Is this normal? Please advice.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through your case (attachment removed to protect patient identity). In my opinion, it is posted inflammatory scab or crust. You need not to worry about this lesion. Whenever wart is treated either with lotion or with cautery or with CO2 laser, in the end, it similarly forms scab or crust as you are having right now.

This shows the germ or virus which was the causative factor has been killed or dead by now. The red area which is lying beneath it is a raw area of skin which will heal once this scab will fall off. Bacitracin ointment is fine. Apply this or apply Polyfax (Polymyxin B sulphate, Bacitracin zinc) ointment twice daily for days. Apply petroleum jelly on it at night. Your lesion is fine. Do not get worried about it.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

There are several varieties of HPV (human papillomavirus). Only those warts that are located on the genitalia are acquired through sexual contact. However common warts are seen on arms, face, and beard areas, and on hands are acquired commonly. Such warts are not sexually acquired. They occur in patients as commonly as flu occurs.

Now you might be curious how common warts are acquired. First, you need to understand anyone can get it, and a few causes of getting it are,

1. Zinc deficiency.

2. Any broken area on the skin where the virus gets inoculated from an already infected patient.

3. Immunocompromised states like diabetes or pregnancy.

I hope I have made you understand that your wart is not acquired sexually. Sexual contact is only one of the many routes for acquisition.

Thank you.