Periungual warts develop around the finger and toenails. As they expand, they can cause discomfort or pain and may disrupt nail growth. Possible treatments include salicylic acid, cryotherapy, laser therapy, and more.
Children and adolescents are most likely to develop periungual warts, especially if they bite their nails.
Treatment can stop or slow down the growth of these warts, but they may still spread or recur.
Periungual warts form around the nails. At first, they may be the size of a pinhead, smooth, shiny, and translucent.
Over several weeks or months, they may grow to the size of a pea and have a cauliflower-like appearance.
Warts can also turn brown, gray, or black. Eventually, they may form in clusters.
Larger periungual warts sometimes cause pain and discomfort.
Certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) cause periungual warts. Other strains have associations with genital warts and cervical cancer.
This virus is contagious, and a person may contract it from contact with skin or items such as towels and toys that contain the virus.
HPV usually enters the skin through a cut or scrape, which is why nail-biters are more likely to develop periungual warts than other people.
Individuals with compromised immune systems or atopic dermatitis are also at increased risk.
Periungual warts can occasionally cause damage to the nail or nail bed.
A wart growing under a nail can raise it from the skin. Also, periungual warts may cause the loss of a cuticle.
A person with these warts may have an increased risk of developing a soft tissue infection called paronychia. Bacteria, yeast, or a combination of both can cause paronychia. If left untreated, the infection may cause pain and permanent deformity of the nail.
Doctors often find periungual warts more challenging to treat than other types of wart. For example, a person may find it difficult to use a topical medication if a wart is growing under the nail.
A doctor may consider the
- the size of the warts
- the number of warts
- the location of the warts
- any accompanying infection
- any pain or discomfort
- the age and gender of the person
- any previous treatments
Potential treatments include:
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is among the most popular treatments for wart removal.
According to earlier research published by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the best available evidence supports its effectiveness.
This acid can destroy the HPV virus. However, it may take up to 3 months of regular applications to eliminate the wart.
Products containing salicylic acid are available over-the-counter (OTC), but it is a good idea to speak with a doctor before using them.
Cryotherapy
In this procedure, a doctor will freeze off warts using liquid nitrogen. Cryotherapy is often a quicker treatment than salicylic acid, but a person may still require three or four treatments spaced 2 to 3 weeks apart.
This treatment has a success rate of 50–70%.
Laser therapy
A doctor may recommend laser therapy if other treatments do not work. The goal is to burn off the wart, but different chemicals may have varying success rates.
A study from 2011 suggests that aminolevulinic acid may be more effective than other chemicals, including the organic dye used in pulsed dye laser therapy.
However, scientists need to carry out more research to determine the best laser treatment for periungual warts.
Antigen injections
A doctor may recommend injecting an antigen to treat stubborn warts. An antigen is a toxin or foreign substance that induces an immune response.
This provoked response should kill the virus and eliminate the growth.
Surgical removal
In severe cases or when the wart is causing complications, a doctor may recommend surgery. However, this may not be an option for all periungual warts.
The surgery takes place in several stages called curettage and cautery. First, the surgeon scrapes or cuts the wart away. Then they use heat to seal the wound.
Although success rates are approximately 65–85%, 30% of people may experience scarring or warts that reappear.
A person can take steps at home to reduce the appearance of periungual warts.
Wait
The AAFP suggest that “watchful waiting” is a remedy, especially for new warts. Most periungual warts eventually disappear without treatment.
Quit biting
Nail-biters should try to quit the habit as quickly as possible. It increases the risk of periungual warts and other skin infections.
Reduce stress
Stress diminishes the response of the immune system. This can make a person more vulnerable to infection or slow healing time.
To manage stress:
- eat a balanced diet
- exercise regularly
- get enough sleep
- try techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation
Apply apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a popular natural remedy for warts, but the evidence that supports it is purely anecdotal. No research has concluded that this is a more effective treatment than watchful waiting.
To treat warts located around the nails, proponents suggest mixing 2 parts vinegar with 1 part water, then soaking a cotton ball in the mixture and affixing it to the area with medical tape or a bandage, and leaving it overnight.
If a person experiences pain or a burning sensation, they should remove the cotton ball and run cool water over the area.
To prevent periungual warts, a person would have to ensure that they do not contract HPV. This may be difficult because the virus is prevalent. To avoid contracting HPV:
- Wash the hands regularly.
- Avoid biting or picking at the fingernails or cuticles.
- Wear protective gloves when washing the dishes.
- Do not share towels, nail polish, or other personal items.
- If a colleague, friend, or loved one has warts, avoid touching them, the surrounding area, and items that have come into contact with them.
- Disinfect nail clippers and similar equipment after each use.
If a person is planning to visit a nail salon, the following tips may help to reduce the risk of contracting periungual warts:
- Ensure that salon workers change their gloves between clients.
- Request that the technician uses a new pumice stone.
- Check that the technician throws away nail files and cuticle sticks after each client and adequately disinfects other tools.
- Do not shave the legs before a salon visit. There is always a risk of breaking the skin, which can allow HPV to enter the wound.
Even while treatment is underway, warts are contagious.
It is difficult to treat periungual warts with any method. The
Every treatment is usually effective within 12 weeks. Scientists need to conduct more research to determine the best treatment method.
Even if left untreated, these warts often resolve on their own. About half disappear within 1 year, and two-thirds within 2 years.
The virus is transmissible even while someone is treating warts, so it is essential to take steps to prevent their spread.