Knott Street Dermatology’s medical services include a wide array of diagnostic procedures and treatments for numerous skin conditions. These include procedures for both warts and actinic keratosis. For those looking for medical skin treatment in Portland, Oregon, look no further than Knott Street Dermatology. Our team of skin, hair, and nail care specialists incorporate current medical and surgical practices to keep our patients in optimal dermatological health.
Wart Treatment in Portland, Oregon
Knott Street Dermatology provides multiple forms of wart treatment for our patients.
Warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). The virus can be spread easily by human contact. Warts are typically located on the soles of the feet (plantar warts), the hands, and the genital region (condyloma). When they occur under a fingernail or toenail, they are called periungual warts.
There are several treatments: cryotherapy (applying liquid nitrogen with very cold temperatures), surgery, or electrocautery. Another way to treat warts is with an injection of a common type of yeast called Candida. A prepared version of the yeast is injected into the wart which causes the skin to turn red in a few days. It stimulates the immune system to become active in the treated area and, in turn, attack the virus causing the wart.
Another type of wart treatment involves Cantharidin. Diluted cantharidin is applied with a cotton swab directly to the warts or molluscum lesions and triggers the body’s immune system to fight the virus. Several treatments may be required to clear the skin.
What is Actinic Keratosis? What Are Its Treatments?
Rough, scaly patches on the skin that develop from years of exposure to the sun, actinic keratosis is most commonly found on the face, lips, ears, back of the hands, forearms, scalp, or neck.
Also known as a solar keratosis, an actinic keratosis enlarges slowly and usually causes no signs or symptoms other than a patch or small spot on the skin. These patches take years to develop, usually first appearing in people over 40. Risk of actinic keratoses can be reduced by minimizing sun exposure and protecting the skin from ultraviolet (UV) rays. If left untreated, some of these spots may progress to squamous cell carcinoma. If treated early, most actinic keratoses can be cleared or removed before they develop into skin cancer. Actinic keratoses are typically treated with liquid nitrogen sprayed directly on the area.
This form of treatment is known as cryosurgery, sometimes called cryotherapy, which does not involve cutting of the skin but uses extreme cold produced by liquid nitrogen to destroy abnormal tissue. Cryosurgery is typically used to treat precancerous lesions like actinic keratoses as well as warts. The liquid nitrogen can be applied directly to the skin with a spraying device or a cotton swab. Mild blistering and tenderness are expected results and part of the normal process for destruction of abnormal tissue.
Wrap Up
Got questions or concerns about medical skin conditions and procedures? Interested in treatment? Please contact us to schedule a consultation. Knott Street Dermatology in Portland also meets the needs of patients from nearby Lake Oswego, West Linn, Beaverton and Clackamas.
