Use of silver nitrate for warts while pregnant?? Anyone shed any light on this?

[LottieB30]

Hi all

I'm 21 weeks pregnant and I've been to a podiatrist this evening who has treated a few warts on my feet with silver nitrate. She assured me it was safe to use but I've suddenly had a panic and googled (a lot) and can't find a definitive it's ok to use while pregnant...

I'm now worrying (hopefully unnecessarily) but wondered if anyone on here knows if it's ok??

Thanks in a fab ace Lx

I don't know but I had a wart come up on my finger when I was pregnant & the GP said she wouldn't remove it till after I'd had the baby 🤷🏼‍♀️- I did have it removed post-Partum by the way & the bastard thing has come back.

I'm sure a podiatrist wouldn't take the risk if she was unsure so she must be confident!

I had something similar during pregnancy and the GP used silver nitrate no issue.

Not quite the same thing but I had silver nitrate to remove a granuloma that formed on my episiotomy scar (ouch!) It really was an incredibly topical treatment - it affected only the tiny precise area where it was applied. It's such a minute quantity and I can't see any way for it to enter the bloodstream or any "internal". I was breastfeeding and my treatment was by a consultant obstetrician and there was no question of it being unsuitable for breastfeeding.

By all means, ring to seek reassurance but I really would be astonished if it weren't perfectly safe in pregnancy.

Best wishes

OP all HCPs and those who do health and beauty treatments, refuse to treat pregnant women if they feel their treatment could possibly cause harm. It is simply not worth it for them.

Thanks so much for the replies! I did ask her about 10 times if it was ok to use she prob thought I was mad! It is stinging a bit today so will give me a reason to call back today to check it's all ok x

Stinging sounds like it is doing exactly what it is supposed to be doing! (As long as it is mildly painful stinging obviously. Full on torture levels are not to be expected. I found paracetamol worked nicely on the stinging pain I had when treated. )

But yes good idea to ring for reassurance if you still worry but the fact you were so clear to the podiatrist that you were pregnant is a really good think.

Silver nitrate is used to cauterise newborns’ umbilical stumps if they haven’t healed properly. I think you’ll be fine.