Page content

Page breadcrumb

13.12 Warts and calluses

First line drugs Second line drugs Specialist drugs Secondary care drugs

Traffic light status (TLS) explained:

  • Green: Routine prescribing within licensed indication
  • Amber 1: specialist recommendation followed by GP initiation and continuation
  • Amber 2: specialist or GP initiation in line with local guideline after 1st line failure followed by GP continuation
  • Amber 3: specialist initiation and stabilisation followed by GP continuation
  • Amber SCG: specialist initiation and stabilisation followed by GP continuation in line with an agreed shared care guideline
  • Red: Hospital or specialist prescribing only

 

Viral warts and verrucas are benign and self-limiting and can be managed within primary care.

Many of these products are cheap to buy and are readily available, along with advice, from pharmacies. Some self-care medicines are available in shops and supermarkets

 

Salicylates 

Salicylic acid 

  • Salactol® Paint; 16.7% salicylic acid, 16.7% lactic acid 

Notes: 

  • Should not be prescribed in Primary Care or at Discharge
  • Advise patient to purchase, unless prescription is for long-term regular use

 

Antimitotics  

Podophyllum (TLS: Amber 1)

  • Podophyllin paint, compound, BP  

 

Podophyllotoxin (TLS: Amber 1)

  • Warticon® Cream 0.15%  

 

 

Caustic drugs 

Silver nitrate

  • Silver nitrate 95%
  • Applicator 75%   

 

 

Immune response modifiers 

Imiquimod (TLS: Amber 2)

  • Aldara® Cream 5%

Notes: Indications include     

  • Warts – external genital and perianal
  • Superficial basal cell carcinoma
  • Actinic keratosis 

 

 

Trichloroacetic acid 

  • Trichloroacetic acid 10%, 20%, 35% and 80% solution

 

 

Traffic light status (TLS) explained:

  • Green: Routine prescribing within licensed indication
  • Amber 1: specialist recommendation followed by GP initiation and continuation
  • Amber 2: specialist or GP initiation in line with local guideline after 1st line failure followed by GP continuation
  • Amber 3: specialist initiation and stabilisation followed by GP continuation
  • Amber SCG: specialist initiation and stabilisation followed by GP continuation in line with an agreed shared care guideline
  • Red: Hospital or specialist prescribing only

Return to Chapter: 13. Skin

Last updated by: on 17-01-2018 15:02