What Kind of Doctor Removes Warts?

A dermatologist is the type of doctor who specializes in wart removal and the treatment of other skin conditions. Most people first visit their GP, or general practitioner doctor, who then refers them to a dermatologist for wart removal.

A GP can remove warts also, but doesn’t have the specialized equipment for wart removal that a dermatologist does. In extremely rural areas which don’t have access to a dermatologist, the local GP might be only doctor available.

If you need to get warts removed, make an appointment directly with a dermatologist if your medical insurance allows you to do that. Some health plans require that the patient get a referral from their primary care physician before they can schedule an appointment with a dermatologist, however.

How does a dermatologist remove warts

Modern medicine is excellent at wart treatment and removal. There are several almost magical methods that a dermatologist can utilize to get rid of warts. The doctor will choose the best type depending on the warts size, location, and other factors.

First, dermatologists can “freeze” warts off of your skin by super cooling them with liquid nitrogen. With this method, the dead wart cells are virtually melted off of your body. Lasers can also be used to remove warts in a similar fashion. Lasers can be aimed with pinpoint accuracy to burn off warts.

Another method a doctor can use to remove warts is to inject a shot into the wart in order to stimulate the body’s immune system. Warts are caused by virus, and sometimes the body’s immune system can successfully fight that virus and eliminate the wart if given a little stimulation.

And finally, another way doctors can get rid of warts is by burning them off with topical creams, ointments, or liquid acids. This is similar to the method used by over-the-counter wart medicines which typically contain salicylic acid, which burns wart cells.

A doctor may not be necessary to remove a wart

If you have good health insurance, I definitely recommend that you let a doctor remove your warts rather than trying to take care of it yourself. But that being said, it is not always necessary to see a dermatologist in order to get rid of warts.

There are many over-the-counter wart removal products that do an excellent job. But the process of wart removal is generally slower, more painful, and not as reliable if you use over-the-counter products. Results will vary. In addition, some warts are stubborn and will continue to grow back even after they are removed. This is much less likely to occur if you get it removed at your dermatologist’s office.

If you do decide to remove the wart yourself, here are the over-the-counter medicines that I recommend: