I have a question for someone with a medical background of some kind. I had two warts removed from the top of my foot last week. They just numbed me and used a razor to cut them off. The docs were very quick about it and didn't give me any info on how to continue treating it, they just sealed it up with some liquid bandage. What I need to know is what is the best way to continue treating it so it will heal quickly? I have called the office to ask but they are REALLY bad about getting back to me so I thought I'd try my luck here. It had scabbed over and was drying out, so I was leaving it open to the air at times, and other times covering it up with a band-aid but not putting neosporin on it (I had an allergic reaction to it the first time I used it). So it had been healing nicely. I went swimming yesterday and the scab that was there came off, it was like it just soaked through and the skin came loose. So now it's back to being open and wet again, weeping a bit. Is it best to let these things dry out in the air? Or is it best to keep them moist with medication and keep it covered? I have a prescription for another antibiotic ointment from the Dr. that hopefully won't give me a reaction that the doc said I could put on if I WANT to. Am I better off doing that? It seems the more moist it is, the longer it takes to heal. Anyone have an expert opinion on this one? I know for one thing, I'm staying out of the pool from now on. I don't want to start all over again if it opens back up!

Also, what is the best way to clean something like this? Soap and water? Peroxide? I keep hearing different answers everywhere I go. I just want to keep it clean and get it healed up ASAP. I can't wear sneaks until it's healed a lot more.

Don't use peroxide...it delays wound healing. Soap and water if necessary to clean, or use a saline rinse. You can buy Saline solution at any pharmacy. Wet wound healing is what is typically recommended. This would mean keeping an ointment and dressing over it. Air drying it may seem to heal it faster, but it may not heal it in the best way.
Having said that, we often still leave certain things open to air for a few hours at a time and then go back to wet wound healing for the rest of the day.
Please check with your physician as they know exactly what your wound looks like and how deep the removal was. They may need to see you again if you have delayed wound healing, if you are a diabetic this is a great concern.
Best wishes,
Karla

Thanks. I do have saline solution at home, so I'll use that in addition to soap when I shower. I will certainly talk to my doc if he ever gets back to me. As for now I'll use the ointment he prescribed most of the day and let it air out for a bit each day as well. Thanks again!

I'm a nurse's aid, and I have had a lot of experience with foot wounds. It seems to me that wounds do best with soap and water, fresh air, and circulation, for the most part. If you have to wear shoes for awhile (or you need to protect your wound from something dirty), apply a tiny bit of the new ointment, just enough so the bandage doesn't stick. When you get home, take the bandage off and air it out, you can leave the little bit of ointment on it. Also, circulation helps it heal. so don't put your foot up too long. I had one client (quadriplegic) who cured several nasty sores on his feet by using fresh air, soap and water, and not raising his feet while he was asleep (which was to drain puffiness in ankles). This was after years of doctors giving him everything under the sun, which was expensive.
Of course, if the site becomes red, puffy, or really warm, seek medical attention!
I hope that helped.

Thanks. I guess I'll use a combination of ointment and airing it out. I'm definitely using the foot a lot, although I can't get back to vigorous exercise until I can wear sneaks again. It's not at all painful, which is helpful.

This is so frustrating. It was healing so well and it seemed to have a nice red scab over the top and now that it came off it just seems to not be drying out like it did before. I'm alternating antibiotic ointment with just letting the air get at it. The ointment seems to dry out and get kind of crusty and gross looking. The sore still weeps a bit so the area won't dry out properly. I'm hoping that will stop soon. It's in such an annoying spot!

Again, wet wound healing is still the current recommendation. It won't completly heal overnight anyway...healing takes time. See your doctor if you are still concerned. If he/she is non-responsive...find another doctor.
Here are two brief articles that might help:
Surgical wounds were once thought to require dryness to heal — in part, to ensure that the wound seals properly and to prevent deep infection or peritonitis. In reality, the coagulum seals the wounds in hours. So, there's no risk that bacteria would penetrate the wound. Back in the 1960s, experiments conducted by G.D. Winter found that wounds that are kept moist heal much faster than those that are desiccated. The wound fluid contains many growth factors and nutrients that assist in the proper healing of superficial wounds. Keratinocytes prefer to swim rather than dig through a dry eschar. The scab acts as a foreign body and impairs wound closure.

Wounds that are kept moist have fewer pathogenic bacteria than overwet wounds. Neutrophils and macrophages protect against infections and work best in moist environments. Most modern wound dressings are designed to optimize a moist wound environment and have become very good at this task. While a discussion on wound dressings is beyond this arena, remember that if it's wet, dry it; and if it's dry, wet it.

Wound Healing
Understanding the Process
Wound healing is usually natural and uneventful, but sometimes it becomes a complicated process requiring unique treatment and care. The clinic's staff assess wounds and determine treatment based upon advanced medical technology, and coordinate the care of other primary or underlying medical conditions. Family and patient education is provided as an important part of the healing process.

The causes of poor wound healing are varied but may include one of the following:

Pressure
Prolonged external pressure placed against soft tissue and bony areas may contribute to a wound or hinder wound healing.

Trauma & Edema
Wounds that are constantly injured heal either very slowly or not at all. Tissue swelling (edema) reduces the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the wound area and delays healing.

Infection
Certain bacterial organisms may cause either a local (at the wound site) or systemic (total body) infection that can delay the healing process.

Incontinence
The inability to control bowel and bladder function contributes to delayed wound healing by introducing moisture and irritants to the wound site.

Inappropriate Local Wound Environment
Wounds left open to air heal slowly, whereas a moist—not wet—wound environment encourages the healing process. Research also has shown that dead tissue (necrotic material) must be removed to improve healing.

Systemic Factors
Other systemic factors that affect the body's response to wound healing are listed below:

Age
Development of wounds occurs more frequently in the elderly due to a variety of reasons including improper nutrition.

Body Build
A person who is obese may not have proper blood supply as fat tissue may be unable to deliver the nutrients needed for wound healing. People who are thin or emaciated may not have the nutritional elements needed for wound healing.

Chronic Diseases
Various disease processes, e.g. diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and respiratory conditions may negatively impact the wound healing process by decreasing oxygen or blood flow to the area. Careful management of any disease is important to maximize wound healing.

Drug Therapies
Various types of medications impact the wound healing process.

Nutrition
Nutrients and fluids are essential to provide the body with energy for cellular repair and healing.

Thanks, that's really helpful.