Imiquimod must be prescribed by a doctor. It is expensive, but private health insurance may reimburse you for some of the cost. Imiquimod should not be used by pregnant women. Laser treatment Laser treatment is used when warts are in places that are difficult to reach, very extensive or resistant to other treatments. If a Pap smear reveals evidence of HPV on the cervix, laser treatment may be used to remove the affected cells.
Laser treatment is administered in hospital under a general anaesthetic.
Recurrence after treatment Most of the treatments destroy cells that are infected by the wart virus, but do not remove the virus from the body. Because the virus may persist in the skin, it is possible for warts to return after treatment. If warts reappear, it does not necessarily mean that you have caught the infection again. In most people, warts go away eventually and do not reappear. This is thought to be due to the body s natural defences.