Electrosurgery and curettage for warts

Content provided by Healthwise

Electrosurgery and curettage for warts

Electrosurgery is a procedure that involves burning the skin that contains a wart. This is done with an electrical charge sent through the tip of a needle, drying and burning off the wart tissue. The skin around the wart must first be numbed with a painful local anesthetic injection.

Electrosurgery can be used for a single wart or a few warts but not for large areas of warts. It often leaves a scar, and warts can return after treatment.

Curettage is the surgical removal (scraping or cutting) of wart tissue using a scalpel or a small, sharp, spoon-shaped tool. This procedure may be painful and can cause scarring. Curettage usually requires local anesthetic, except in the case of filiform warts, which have only a small connection to the skin. Curettage is a quick treatment to remove warts, but recurrence of warts is common.

Electrosurgery and curettage are sometimes used together to treat large warts and increase the chance of successful wart removal.

Credits

Author	Sabra L. Katz-Wise
Author	Ralph Poore
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Randall D. Burr, MD - Dermatology
Last Updated	October 20, 2006

Last updated:	October 20, 2006
Author:	Ralph Poore
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Randall D. Burr, MD - Dermatology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. By using AOL Body, you indicate that you have read, understood, and agreed to our Terms of Service, and AOL Body Advertising Policy. Read more about our content partners.