Bleomycinis sometimes used to treat persistent warts , especially plantar warts . It is a cytostatic agent , a substance that inhibits cell growth. In the treatment of warts, a very small amount of bleomycin is injected into the wart.
When should you not be treated with bleomycin?
- If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant in the near future.
- If you are breastfeeding.
- If the wart is near the nails, because there is a risk of deforming the nail.
- If you are hypersensitive to bleomycin.
Important:
The amount of bleomycin injected each time is very small. However, we advise both men and women to avoid pregnancy during and for three months after treatment.THE TREATMENTPreparing for treatment:
If there is a thick layer of callus on the wart, remove it two days before the scheduled treatment with a callus scraper or rasp. After the treatment, bandages will be applied; wear loose, comfortable shoes when you go to your appointment. Make sure you have painkillers (paracetamol and ibuprofen) at home. If necessary, take two 500 mg paracetamol tablets 30-60 minutes before the treatment. Avoid excessive activities in the week following the treatment.
Treatment procedure:
A small amount of bleomycin solution is injected directly into the wart(s). Injecting the solution can be painful, especially for warts on the sole of the foot. The solution also contains anesthetic, but this is only partially effective because it only begins to work after injection. It is not always possible to treat all the warts at once because too much bleomycin should not be used at a time. If there are warts on both soles of the feet, usually only one foot is treated at a time, also to minimize pain.
After treatment
: After the bleomycin injection, a plaster is placed on the wart(s). Leave it in place for 24 hours (do not shower for the first 24 hours after treatment). Once the anesthetic wears off, pain or a burning and throbbing sensation may occur, which can last for several days to a week. In case of severe pain, take paracetamol, up to a maximum of 4 x 1000 mg per day (8 tablets of 500 mg). If this is insufficient, take ibuprofen in addition to the paracetamol, up to 4 x 200-400 mg per day. Leave the treated wart alone; do not rub or scratch the painful area.
The treated wart will initially become red and swell. Sometimes a blood blister will develop. After a few days, the wart turns black and dies. This process can take several weeks. Usually, no scars remain.
If you experience severe pain, have any doubts, or are concerned, contact the dermatology outpatient clinic.
Are there any side effects?
There is a small chance that the wart will become infected. In that case, the skin around the wart will become red and warm, and sometimes there will also be a fever, increased pain, or a foul odor. In that case, contact the dermatology outpatient clinic.
What is the effect of the treatment?
Approximately 60 to 75 percent of persistent warts disappear after one to three treatments. Multiple treatments may therefore be necessary. A break of two to six weeks is maintained between treatments. Sometimes a wart can return. In that case, contact your doctor to discuss further treatment options. |
