For a patient with common warts on the hands seeking rapid treatment with minimal scarring, which intervention is most appropriate?

• A. Cryosurgery
• B. Dermabrasion
• C. Electrosurgery
• D. Topical acyclovir

Answer: (A)

Common warts on the hands respond well to destructive, tissue-sparing treatments, and the goal here is rapid clearance with minimal scarring. Cryosurgery uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart tissue, causing cell death and a blistering response that often clears the lesion quickly. It’s typically done in the clinic and may require only one or two sessions, with healing usually leaving little visible scarring compared with more invasive removal methods. Dermabrasion and electrosurgery physically remove tissue and can carry a higher risk of scarring or pigment changes, especially on the hands. Topical acyclovir targets herpes viruses and isn’t effective against HPV, the cause of warts. So cryosurgery best meets the desire for rapid treatment with minimal scarring.