Duct tape occlusion therapy

Duct tape occlusion therapy (DTOT) is a method of treating warts by covering them with duct tape for prolonged periods.

The manner in which duct tape appears to work is unclear.[1] The tape might create a macerating and keratolytic environment, stimulating an immune response.[1] The type of adhesive in the duct tape may also be important.[2] Side effects are rare, although skin irritation may occur.[3]

There is mixed evidence that occlusive treatment with various types of duct tape is effective.[1] Clinical trials in 2012 concluded that no statistically significant difference between clear duct tape and placebo could be determined within the sample.[1] On health information websites, duct tape is referred to as a treatment with mixed evidence of efficacy, no good evidence or described as alternative medicine.[3][4][5][6][7]

Evidence

In 1978, Jerome Z Litt was the first to suggest that adhesive tape could be used to treat warts on the fingers. He claimed: "My method is safe, easy, simple, painless, inexpensive, and highly effective. It leaves no scarring or deformed nails. The mystery remains: How and why does this method work? I cannot offer any reasonable or logical explanation. It cannot be all 'hypnotic' or 'suggestive.' Could it be that the airtight occlusion and a chemical reaction set up by the adhesive in the tape might combine to release a chemical or 'toxin' causing the formation of antibodies? Whatever it may be, it works. I recommend that you try it."[8]

A 2002 study involved 51 individuals (aged 3–22) treated with either "standard duct tape" (not otherwise specified in the study) or cryotherapy. A piece of duct tape was cut as close to the size of the wart as possible, and applied to the area. The tape was left on for 6 days and replaced with new duct tape if it fell off. After 6 days, the tape was removed, the area soaked in water, and the wart debrided with an emery board or pumice stone. The tape was left off overnight and reapplied on the following morning. This process continued for up to 2 months or until the wart was resolved, whichever occurred first. Progress was monitored every 4 weeks. The researchers found the duct tape treatment significantly more effective than the cryotherapy (P=0.05) with 85% in the duct tape treatment group having a complete resolution of their wart, compared to 60% in the cryotherapy group.[9] The study was criticized due to lack of a placebo control group,[10] and because a number of outcome assessments were done by phone.[11] There was also no reported long term follow up to ensure no recurrence of the warts.[10][9]

Two later studies failed to repeat the results of the 2002 study.[12][13] One compared duct tape with moleskin, finding no statistically significant difference in results reported between the two groups.[13] The other used 3M clear duct tape, again concluding no statistically significant effect on wart resolution.[12] The statistical power of the latter trial has been questioned,[14] and it has been suggested that duct tape occlusion therapy only works with rubber-based adhesives, whereas these studies utilized acrylic-based adhesive.[2]

References
  1. Kwok, CS; Gibbs, S; Bennett, C; Holland, R; Abbott (2012). "Topical treatments for cutaneous warts". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 9 (9): CD001781. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001781.pub3. PMID 22972052.
  2. Samlaska, Curt (2012). "Response to 'Question 3 What is the efficacy of duct tape as a treatment for verruca vulgaris?'". Archives of Disease in Childhood. 96 (9): 897–899. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2011-300533. PMID 21836182.
  3. "Warts and verrucas - Treatment". nhs choices. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  4. "Warts and Verrucas". patient.info. www.patient.info. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  5. "How to get rid of warts". American Academy of Dertmatology. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  6. "Warts and Verrucas". Bupa. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  7. Mayo Clinic Staff. "Plantar Warts". The Mayo Clinic. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  8. Litt, J. Z (1978). "Don't excise--exorcise. Treatment for subungual and periungual warts". Cutis. 22 (6): 673–6. PMID 720133.
  9. Focht DR, Spicer C, Fairchok MP (October 2002). "The efficacy of duct tape vs cryotherapy in the treatment of verruca vulgaris (the common wart)". Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 156 (10): 971–4. doi:10.1001/archpedi.156.10.971. PMID 12361440.
  10. Williams, Hywel (2003). "Commentary on 'Duct tape occlusion treatment increased resolution in common paediatric warts'". Evidence Based Medicine. 8 (2): 58. doi:10.1136/ebm.8.2.58.
  11. Gibbs, S; Harvey, I; Sterling, JC; Stark, R (2003). "Local treatments for cutaneous warts". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (3): CD001781. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001781. PMID 12917913.
  12. de Haen M, Spigt MG, van Uden CJ, van Neer P, Feron FJ, Knottnerus A (November 2006). "Efficacy of duct tape vs placebo in the treatment of verruca vulgaris (warts) in primary school children". Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 160 (11): 1121–5. doi:10.1001/archpedi.160.11.1121. PMID 17088514.
  13. Wenner R, Askari SK, Cham PM, Kedrowski DA, Liu A, Warshaw EM (March 2007). "Duct tape for the treatment of common warts in adults: a double-blind randomized controlled trial". Archives of Dermatology. 143 (3): 309–13. doi:10.1001/archderm.143.3.309. PMID 17372095.
  14. Van Cleave J, Kemper AR, Davis MM (November 2006). "Interpreting negative results from an underpowered clinical trial: warts and all". Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 160 (11): 1126–9. doi:10.1001/archpedi.160.11.1126. PMID 17088515.
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