Some over-the-counter and natural wart treatments can be used to remove warts on lips. Due to the sensitive nature of facial skin, however, treatment of lip warts usually warrants the assistance of a medical professional. A dermatologist will sometimes prescribe a topical ointment for these warts. Freezing or burning the warts can be used to get rid of some warts, and surgical removal may be necessary for stubborn warts.
Warts are typically caused by a virus know as the human papilloma virus (HPV). Although there is no cure for this virus, bothersome warts can be removed. Several over-the-counter wart treatments can be purchased for common warts, but individuals must used caution when trying to get rid of lip warts.
Individuals should never apply a wart remover to the face or lips, unless it is specifically formulated for these areas. Wart removers meant to be used on other parts of the body can irritate the sensitive lip tissue. When removing warts from lips with an over-the-counter ointment, patients should only use products specifically labeled as safe to use on the face and lips.
Many natural wart remedies can also be used to remove lip warts. Apple cider vinegar rubbed on a wart, for example, will sometimes cause it to disappear. This will usually take some time, however, and several applications are usually necessary.
A trip to a dermatologist is usually necessary in order to get rid of lip warts. He may prescribe an ointment or lotion. Many wart ointments contain salicylic acid, which slowly breaks down the wart.
Cryotherapy is one common treatment method to remove lip warts. During this procedure, a doctor carefully applies a small amount of liquid nitrogen. This liquid is around -320 degrees F (-196 degrees C), and when it is applied to the wart, a blister forms underneath. Eventually, both the blister and wart fall off.
Besides being frozen, warts can also be removed by burning them. Electrosurgery, for instance, is a procedure in which wart tissue is burned with an electric current. Sometimes the wart is allowed to fall off on it own, but other times, a doctor may remove it with a curette.
Traditional surgery may also be performed to removed lip warts, but this is somewhat rare. Laser surgery is becoming a popular lip and facial wart treatment, but it is typically more expensive than other methods. During this procedure, a strong beam of intense light is used to destroy the tissue of the wart.