How do you get rid of warts?

Most common warts go away without treatment, though it may take a year or two and new ones may develop nearby.

Some people choose to have their warts treated by a doctor because home treatment isn't working and the warts are bothersome, spreading or a cosmetic concern.

Your doctor may suggest one of the following approaches, based on the location of your warts, your symptoms and your preferences. These methods are sometimes used in combination with home treatments, such as salicylic acid.

The goals of treatment are to destroy the wart, stimulate an immune system response to fight the virus, or both. Treatment may take weeks or months. Even with treatment, warts tend to recur or spread. Doctors generally start with the least painful methods, especially when treating young children.

- Stronger peeling medicine (salicylic acid). Prescription-strength wart medications with salicylic acid work by removing layers of a wart a little bit at a time. Studies show that salicylic acid is more effective when combined with freezing.

- Freezing (cryotherapy). Freezing therapy done at a doctor's office involves applying liquid nitrogen to your wart. Freezing works by causing a blister to form under and around your wart. Then, the dead tissue sloughs off within a week or so. This method may also stimulate your immune system to fight viral warts. You may need repeat treatments. Side effects of cryotherapy include pain, blistering and discolored skin in the treated area.

- Other acids. If salicylic acid or freezing isn't working, your doctor may try bichloroacetic or trichloroacetic acid. With this method, the doctor first shaves the surface of the wart and then applies the acid with a wooden toothpick. It requires repeat treatments every week or so. Side effects are burning and stinging.

- Laser treatment. Pulsed-dye laser treatment burns (cauterizes) tiny blood vessels. The infected tissue eventually dies, and the wart falls off. The evidence for the effectiveness of this method is limited, and it can cause pain and scarring.


See your doctor for common warts if:

- The growths are painful or change in appearance or color
- You've tried treating the warts, but they persist, spread or recur
- The growths are bothersome and interfere with activities
- You also have a weakened immune system because of immune-suppressing drugs, HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders
- You aren't sure whether the growths are warts

1

I had one on my hand for about 2 years. I used the acid liquid that they sell in shops. (there are many different brands it depends where you are. Ask the pharmacist). They're easy to find but not very effective. The best thing to do is to use that and scrape at it a lot. I also used the scholl spray bottle. Its a very cold substance that you put the wart for a few seconds. It weakens it. No treatment works on its own really. You really have to rub the wart with something like a nail file. Dont give up when you think its gone. You have to keep going for a while or it will fight back.

Duct tape (I wish I were kidding, but it s the only thing I ve found that works)

Simple, inexpensive , treatment from any pharmacy.