Treatment of Plantar Verrucae Using 2% Sodium Salicylate Iontophoresis

Abstract

Abstract Background and Purpose. Iontophoretic sodium salicylate treatment of plantar warts was studied. Subjects. Twenty patients with 104 plantar verrucae were studied. Methods. Two percent sodium salicylate solution was administered iontophoretically (22.5 mA-minute/electrode, 3 treatments at 6- to 9-day intervals). Results. Nineteen subjects were followed. Verrucae area declined in 15 subjects (78.9%) and increased in 2 subjects (10.5%). One subject (5.3%) no longer had verrucae, and 1 subject (5.3%) exhibited no change. Overall, the number of verrucae and total area decreased. Four of 6 subjects (66.6%) with initial complaints of load-bearing pain reported diminished pain following treatment. Two subjects whose verrucae's size increased reported an increase in pain at the end of the study. Discussion and Conclusion. Sodium salicylate iontophoresis appeared to compare favorably with other office-based interventions in diminishing the size of plantar warts and their associated pain. Application of iontophoresis to weight-bearing surfaces in some subjects appeared to decrease the pain and scarring associated with freezing and electrocautery and the fixation problems associated with medicated patches.