Some warts are quite stubborn and may require a trip to the dermatologist to be frozen off, cut out, or otherwise gotten rid of once and for all.
However, many patients find great success in using over the counter products and other home remedies for wart removal.
Over-the-Counter Products
There are a number of products for treating warts that you can find in your local pharmacy. These include:
Salicylic Acid: Both patches and liquids are available containing salicylic acid, which is a great way to remove warts at home. The salicylic acid solution should have a 17% concentration, while the patches need only 15%. Experts recommend using either product daily for several weeks. Soak the wart for about fifteen minutes before treatment, and scrape off dead surrounding skin cells with a disposable emery board between uses to allow the medicine to really get into the area around the wart.
Liquid Nitrogen: Both liquid and sprays of liquid nitrogen are available over the counter. Plantar warts (those on the feet) may have slightly different directions from other warts and require soaking the skin before use, since the skin on the feet can be so tough. Additionally, while most of the warts on hands can be seen above the skin, warts on the feet are generally more below than above the skin. In either case, the instructions generally involve applying the product directly to the wart, again over the course of many weeks. Each product is different, so it is important to follow the instructions exactly.
Duct Tape: It’s no longer just for fixing things and holding boxes shut. Although studies have shown no definitive results when used alone or in tandem with other wart removal products, one option is to apply a piece of duct tape to the wart for about a week. Remove the tape, soak and file away dead tissue, leave it alone for twelve hours, and then reapply the tape, repeating until the wart disappears.
Alternative Medicine
Most studies show that over-the-counter products only have about a 50% success rate in treating and curing warts, and alternative medicines such as these show no more efficaciousness. However, many patients have had great personal luck with these alternatives:
Zinc: Applying a zinc ointment to the wart may help it go away. Additionally, it can be taken as an oral supplement, which is a bonus for those who have a zinc deficiency. Either way, many people are turning to zinc as a homeopathic alternative to over-the-counter products.
Silver Nitrate: This works similar to salicylic acid. Using either an ointment or a solution, apply the silver nitrate to the wart, keeping dead skin clear so it can actually get to the “root” of the problem. It may take several weeks for efficaciousness.
Populus Euphratica Smoke: Another alternative treatment many people have found great luck with is filling a box with the smoke of the leaves from the populus euphratica tree.
