Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis or EV is a rare hereditary skin disorder, which causes wart-like lesions on the skin. It also makes the affected person susceptible to the human papillomavirus. The condition is so rare that till date only around 600 cases of the same have been reported since it was first discovered in 1922.

Although, the symptoms for the disease can appear at any point of time in life, the greatest risk lies between the ages of 5 and 11 years. The condition may also show signs during puberty. The lesions appear all over the body, but exposure to the sun further alleviates the condition. The wart-like lesions appear on exposed areas such as the feet, hands, ear lobes and even on the face. The lesions that look similar to plaque appear on body areas such as legs, arms, trunk and neck. Some of the lesions will also resemble a tree bark or a tree root. This is why, the disease is often known as a tree-man disease.

EV is very rare, as the disease can only be caused if an abnormal EV gene is passed on to the child by both parents. Doctors have found that most people with the disease usually have parents who share a common ancestor.

Diagnosing the disease is quite difficult, similar to most other rare conditions. If the warts or lesions appear on the skin, people should visit a dermatologist to get it checked out. The doctors will enquire about your medical history and will inspect the skin lesions by eye. If the doctor suspects EV, he/she will extract a small sample from the lesion and conduct a skin biopsy. Such a test may allow the doctor to diagnose the condition.

There is no cure for the disease and the treatment mainly looks to reduce the symptoms of the condition. Surgery can be used to remove the lesions, but in most cases, this is a temporary solution. Lesions may come back after a few months, but in rare cases the warts may never reappear.

Apart from the surgery, patients may try out chemical treatments with liquid nitrogen, topical ointments and cryotherapy. People with EV are at a greater risk of developing skin cancer. People suffering from EV should also make a point of using sunscreen lotions while going outside. However, only 50 percent of the people with EV will develop squamous cell carcinoma, while the remaining patients will lead relatively healthier lifestyle.

People suffering from skin lesion and warts that have been diagnosed as EV, should seek treatment for the same. The dermatologist will determine the form of treatment suitable for a particular patient. For instance, if the symptoms are mild, topical creams may be enough to reduce the warts and lesions. However, if the patient is suffering from an acute form of EV, the doctor may recommend undergoing treatment with liquid nitrogen or surgery to remove the warts in question.

People who suffer from warts or lesions, which results from a different condition does not require treatment related to EV. In such a case, the patient’s condition will need to be diagnosed before any treatment can be started.

Since topical creams, such as Verrugon, are commonly used for the treatment of the lesions, people may experience some side effects. For instance, the cream often causes itchiness or peeling of the skin, while it may also result in hives and redness of the skin. However, these side effects are neither common nor particularly severe.

Furthermore, the surgery related to removing the lesions may also cause some side effects. For instance, bleeding and infection are some of the common side effects from such an operation.

The treatment will likely continue throughout the life of a patient. However, aside from the medication and surgery, patients also need to take protective measures against overexposure to the sun. Patients are generally advised to use sunscreen lotion when they step out of their homes. This is mainly needed to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer.

Depending on the treatment, the recovery may take a few weeks or a month. However, there is no cure for the genetic disorder, which means that in most patients, the warts and lesions will recur at some point of time or another.

Price of treatment may depend from one place to the other. If the medication and ointments are the only form of treatment required, the treatment cost may be under Rs. 10,000. However, if the surgery is required, the cost of treatment will go up substantially and may be anywhere between Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 1 Lakh.

Results of the treatment are not permanent. Often the treatment must be continued throughout life for the best effects. In rare cases, a single surgery may get rid of the lesions permanently, while in most of the situations the lesions will recur.

Apart from surgery and treatment with topical creams or liquid nitrogen, some patients have also been treated with photodynamic therapy and oral retinoids.