A female patient with common warts desires a quick treatment with minimal scarring. What is the most appropriate intervention?

Cryosurgery is a well-established treatment for common warts (verrucae vulgaris) that utilizes extreme cold to destroy the wart tissue. It is particularly appealing to patients seeking a rapid intervention with minimal scarring. Cryotherapy works by applying liquid nitrogen to the wart, causing the cells to freeze and ultimately leading to the destruction of the wart.

This method is often favored because it typically results in minimal discomfort and allows for quick recovery. The surrounding healthy skin is usually spared, reducing the potential for scarring compared to other methods that may disrupt deeper layers of skin or involve excision.

In contrast, dermabrasion involves sanding the skin and can lead to more significant healing time, potentially leaving scars. Electrosurgery, while effective, can also lead to scarring due to the heat involved and is more invasive. Topical acyclovir is an antiviral medication that is ineffective against warts as they are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and not a viral infection that acyclovir treats.

Therefore, cryosurgery is the most appropriate choice for treating common warts in a manner that satisfies the patient’s desire for quick treatment with minimal scarring.