Cantharidin

Cantharidin is a substance derived from the blister beetle Cantharis vesicatoria and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. It was utilized in the US and other Western countries in the 1950s to treat warts but lost FDA approval in 1962 due to new manufacturing regulations. Recently, it has been re-evaluated as a treatment for viral warts and molluscum contagiosum without causing scarring. Cantharidin works as a vesicant, causing blisters that lift the wart off the skin, and is applied topically in a professional setting. It should not be used on moles, birthmarks, undiagnosed skin lesions, or mucous membranes, and should be used with caution in individuals with diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, or circulatory problems. Side effects can include discomfort from the blister, a ring of small satellite warts, and complications if used to treat plantar warts. Cantharidin is also known as Spanish Fly and is sold as an aphrodisiac, but it is ineffective for this purpose and can be poisonous if ingested[1][2][3][6][7][9][12].

Citations:

[1] https://dermnetnz.org/topics/cantharidin

[2] https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/cantharidin-topical-application-route/side-effects/drg-20554208?p=1

[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6415708/

[4] https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Cantharidin

[5] https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB12328

[6] https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/medications/adult/cantharidin

[7] https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/cantharidin-topical-application-route/description/drg-20554208

[8] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/cantharidin

[9] https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a623044.html

[10] https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/cantharidin-topical-application-route/side-effects/drg-20554208

[11] https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef102

[12] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantharidin

[13] https://www.drugs.com/cdi/cantharidin.html

[14] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/478535

[15] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/cantharidin

[16] https://www.drugs.com/sfx/cantharidin-topical-side-effects.html

[17] https://www.britannica.com/topic/cantharides

[18] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7292508/

[19] https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-100465/cantharidin-topical/details

[20] https://www.westlakedermatology.com/blog/cantharidin-wart-treatment/