How to Freeze Plantar Warts Safely During a Pregnancy
Plantar warts are warts caused by the HPV virus that appear on the soles of the feet. They look similar to other viral warts in that they're white, bumpy and dry on top. Because they are pressed into the skin while walking, they can become quite painful. Plantar warts are relatively harmless, but highly contagious. The best way to get rid of them is by freezing them with liquid nitrogen, which is also the safest method for pregnant women. Freezing plantar warts while pregnant carries some slight risks (just as using any other kind of medication), but most pregnant women should be able to treat plantar warts as easily as they would if they weren't pregnant.
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Things You'll Need
- Liquid nitrogen
- Over-the-counter wart freezing medication (such as Freeze Away)
Instructions
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Talk to your OB/GYN before having warts frozen or freezing them yourself with over-the-counter medications. She will know the risks, if any, associated with a medication and will advise you on whether the need to remove the wart outweighs the risks to your baby.
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Avoid any kind of medication to treat plantar warts in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Any topically applied medications are absorbed into the skin and the developing fetus is most at-risk for developing birth defects in the first trimester.
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Use over-the-counter wart freezing medications only in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy,. Because these contain dimethyl ether and propane, there may be some risks to the babies of pregnant and breast-feeding women, so be sure to check with your doctor first.
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Have a doctor freeze the plantar wart with liquid nitrogen. Liquid nitrogen is the safest method for freezing a wart during a pregnancy and it's the most effective. You may have to have repeated treatments every 2 to 4 weeks to make sure the wart doesn't come back.
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Have your partner or a friend apply over-the-counter wart freezing medication if you're in the last trimester of pregnancy. You might find it difficult to reach your foot over the bump, and you risk falling and hurting yourself or the baby.
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Tips & Warnings
As long as it is safe for you to do so, treat plantar warts as soon as possible to prevent them from spreading on yourself and to other people.
Resources
- Photo Credit Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons
