Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2025
Author Spotlight: Dermatopathology and the Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Published on: November 8, 2024
Energy-Based Devices for the Treatment of Cutaneous Verrucae: A Systematic Review
Michelle Le1, Santina Conte2, Jeffrey T S Hsu3,4
1Division of Dermatology, McGill University, Québec, Canada.
Background:
Warts are one of the most common benign neoplasms caused by human papillomavirus infection and often pose a therapeutic challenge.
Objective:
To summarize the current evidence on the safety and efficacy of laser and energy-based devices for the treatment of cutaneous verrucae.
Methods:
A comprehensive systematic review of the literature on laser and energy-based devices for the treatment of cutaneous verrucae was performed.
Results:
A total of 904 unique studies were identified, of which 109 were included in this review. The most commonly used lasers as a single treatment modality for verrucae included the long-pulsed Nd:Yag (n = 20) and pulsed dye (n = 18) lasers. Other modalities included the CO2 ablative laser (n = 10), photodynamic therapy (n = 11), local hyperthermia (n = 11), microwave therapy (n = 2), and nanopulse stimulation (n = 1). Other studies combined energy-based modalities with additional treatments, such as retinoids, imiquimod, and intralesional bleomycin. Overall, such devices were generally well-tolerated, with only a mild side effect profile.
Conclusion:
Overall, the use of laser and energy-based devices is a safe and well-tolerated option for cutaneous verrucae that is relatively less invasive than surgical interventions. Future studies using more consistent outcome assessment tools will be valuable to help clinicians develop device-specific protocols and treatment regimens to ensure replicable and effective outcomes.
