Warticon cream
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What is Warticon?
Warticon is available as either a topical cream (0.15%) or solution (0.5%) and contains the active ingredient podophyllotoxin. It’s used to treat anogenital warts (warts occurring around the genitals and anus area) and is meant to treat external soft warts in a small area only. It will help these warts to shrink and fade, and prevent their spread and growth.
Warticon solution contains the same active ingredient as Warticon cream, podophyllotoxin, and is used to treat genital warts in the same way. The solution can be more effective for treating warts that are easy to see. If the warts are harder to see, for example, if they’re located around the anus or vulva, Warticon cream is recommended.
What is Warticon used for?
Warticon is used to treat genital warts. Genital warts are a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). They’re caused by particular strains of the Human papillomavirus (HPV) and can be caught through any sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, oral or genital-to-genital contact. The warts typically appear as small, raised growths in the genital area and surrounding skin. They can vary in size and may occur individually or in clusters.
You may have heard that HPV can be linked to cancer. Almost all genital warts are caused by ‘low risk’ strains of HPV (HPV 6 and HPV 11). It’s extremely rare for genital warts to become cancerous.
How does Warticon work?
Warticon cream works by targeting and destroying the affected skin cells. The active ingredient, podophyllotoxin, interferes with the growth of the warts, ultimately causing them to shrink and preventing the wart cells from dividing and increasing in number. It’s important to note that Warticon is not a cure for HPV, but it effectively treats the visible symptoms of genital warts.
How to use Warticon cream or solution
Before applying Warticon, ensure that the affected area is clean and dry. Using your fingertip, carefully apply a thin layer of cream or solution directly to each wart. Allow the treatment to dry naturally and wash your hands thoroughly after use. Take care to avoid using the treatment on healthy surrounding skin. A barrier cream or vaseline can be used to protect healthy skin around the wart before applying Warticon to the affected area.
The treatment should be applied twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening, for three consecutive days. After this initial three-day period, allow a break of four days before starting the next round of treatment. Repeat the treatment course (twice a day for three days followed by four days where you don’t use the cream) up to a maximum of four times.
Do not have sex just after you’ve used wart creams or lotions. They will transfer to your partner and can also damage diaphragms and latex condoms.
Warticon dosage
The amount of Warticon you use depends on the number of warts that you need to treat. You should only use enough solution or cream to cover a small area (smaller than 4cm) of soft warts. If you need to treat a larger area, or if your warts are hard, Warticon might not be suitable for you.
Is Warticon effective?
Yes, Warticon cream has been shown to be effective in treating external genital warts. However, results can vary depending on individual circumstances. Some may respond well to Warticon treatment and see significant improvement, while others may require additional or alternative treatment options. You should always use Warticon as directed by your healthcare provider and make sure to check in with them if you have any concerns or need further advice.
The effectiveness of Warticon cream may vary from person to person. Most people should notice an improvement of their warts following four weeks of Warticon treatment, however it’s common for them to come back again. You should follow the prescribed treatment plan and if your anogenital warts don’t improve or continue to recur, you must speak to your healthcare provider.
What are the main side effects of Warticon?
Like with any medicine, some people may experience side effects while using Warticon cream. Common side effects can include itching, burning, redness and skin ulcers where you’ve applied the cream. These side effects should be temporary and resolve themselves but if they’re persistent or severe, seek medical advice.
Try to make sure you only apply the cream directly to the warts themselves and not the healthy surrounding skin. If you do get it on your skin, wash it off with mild soap and water. This, along with using a barrier cream on healthy surrounding skin, should help reduce any burning or itching.
For a complete list of possible side effects, make sure to read the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with the treatment.
What else should I know about Warticon?
We advise that you get tested for other STIs if you’ve been diagnosed with genital warts. It’s common to have more than one STI at the same time and it’s best to ensure you treat all possible infections.
Getting tested has never been easier or more discreet with our at-home STI test kits delivered straight to your door. If you test positive for any STIs, make sure to let recent sexual partners know so they can also be tested and contain the spread of any infection.
What are alternative genital warts treatments?
If you find that Warticon isn’t suitable for you, there are other prescription-only treatments such as Aldara that are available through your GP or local sexual health clinic.
Unfortunately, there are no over-the-counter treatments that can treat genital warts. You should also avoid using any other type of wart cream on genital warts as it won’t be effective and it can irritate or damage the delicate genital skin.
What are the non-drug alternatives to Warticon?
There are non-drug alternatives for the treatment of genital warts, especially if the warts cover a larger area or are hard to the touch. Other options for treatment include having your warts frozen off, burned off, or removed surgically. These treatments can be arranged through local sexual health clinics.
Is Warticon available over the counter?
No, you can’t buy Warticon cream over the counter. It’s a prescription-only medicine. You can get a prescription and buy Warticon online from Boots Online Doctor. Our friendly, expert clinical team is just a few clicks away and you can get treatment conveniently and discreetly delivered direct to your door. You can also get a prescription for genital warts treatment through the NHS.
Does Warticon work on big warts?
Warticon is designed for use on smaller, soft warts. Any warts larger than 4 cm in diameter should be treated directly by a healthcare practitioner and not at home using Warticon or another genital warts treatment. Make sure you talk to your GP or an online healthcare provider before starting any anogenital wart treatment.
How did I get genital warts?
Genital warts are a sexually transmitted infection (STI). They are highly contagious and can be contracted through any sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, oral or genital-to-genital contact. Genital warts can be transmitted even if no warts are visible as the virus can be present on the skin without noticeable symptoms. Using a barrier method of contraception, such as condoms, can help reduce the risk of transmission but will not eliminate it entirely.
What if I don’t want to have treatment?
Genital warts are likely to clear up by themselves over time as your body’s immune system eventually fights off the virus.
But if you don’t get treated, the warts may increase in size and number first and you’ll also be at greater risk of infecting others.
Getting tested for other STIs
As with any STIs, it’s important to get tested in order to rule out any other STI infections that you may not know you have. It’s common to have more than one STI at the same time and it’s important to treat all possible infections so that you can prevent them from spreading to your partner. Make sure to let recent sexual partners also know so they can also be tested and contain the spread of any infection.
