Genital Wart Scarring

[thedude21]

It's been quite a few years since I was diagnosed with genital warts and the doc prescribed an acid treatment.  I worked pretty well and got rid of my warts after about a month.  I belive i did get some scar tissue on the underside of my penis near the tip where i was circumsized.  I went to a doctor about a month ago to see if i was getting another outbreak but she believed it was just scar tissue but prescribed a cream just in case.  It didn't work and I believe that it is now just scar tissue and not overly bad but still is a little disconcerning especially when trying to date.  My question is is there any treatment to help reduce or eliminate the tissue.  Again it's not really bad but still a little noticeable.  I've heard of laser treatment but I don't know how expensive that is and if medical insureance covers that.  Any help would be great.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I should have added that if any doubt remains in your mind or that of your primary care provider, you could see a dermatologist for further reassurance.  Honestly, I see no need -- but if you do that, you can rely 100% on a dermatologist's opinion and advice about it.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Most HPV infections clear up entirely, even without treatment.  Therefore, it is uncommon for genital warts to persist for more than a few months, and it is rare for previously resolved warts to reappear.  Therefore, if your doctor believed the irregularities in your skin were due to scar tissue, that's almost certainly what is going on.  My guess is that the "cream" was imiquimod (trade name Aldara).  From what you say, I wouldn't have prescribed it.  However, the fact that it "didn't work" is evidence that there was no active wart infection.

At this point, you should just go on without concern, secure in the knowledge that you don't still have genital warts, won't get them again, and have no persisting HPV infection, i.e. nothing you can transmit to a sex partner.  Laser treatment is not indicated in situations like this.  There is no laboratory test to reliably check for the virus.  But you really don't need it.  No worries here.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD