ABSTRACT
References Cantharidins are purified active ingredients of dried, powdered, blister beetles known as cantharides. It is a lipid-soluble irritant that has the special ability to disorganize epidermal cells and cause subsequent destruction of warts. The history of cantharides use dates back to Greco-Roman times, when it was used to treat a variety of illnesses. More recently, it has been used as an aphrodisiac, abortifacient, and a diuretic agent in veterinary medicine.1 Interest in the use of this chemical’s vesicobullous properties to treat warts began in the early 1900s. In this chapter, the viability of cantharidin therapy in the treatment of warts is reviewed.
