Best Wart Removal Products

There are all sorts of myths and misconceptions about warts. But the truth is that most often, warts are harmless, and can go away by themselves without any treatment. But what if you don’t want to just wait it out? In the meantime, warts can be unsightly and hurt self-esteem, especially in children. Fortunately, you can find many treatments for warts--and many of the best wart removers can be purchased without a prescription!

Types of Professional Treatments

Professional treatments for warts usually fall into two categories:

1. Treatments that aim to destroy the wart

2. Treatments that stimulate the immune system to fight the HPV

Let's look at the most common professional treatments:

• Surgery: If a wart doesn’t go away by itself over time, and it causes substantial suffering, you might have to refer to a dermatologist to remove it by surgery. But, instead of a scalpel, a doctor may use a pulsed-dye laser or an electric needle that essentially burns away the wart, while cauterizing blood vessels so that it doesn’t bleed.

• Cryotherapy: Another option is using liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -321 ℉ to freeze the roots of the wart and create a blister, to keep it from returning. It is applied either with a swab or spray. It’s best for warts on the hands. But there are complaints that it burns the skin and results in redness and blistering. It works in 50-70% of cases, after 3-4 treatments, to completely remove a wart. There are also over-the-counter products using butane spray that also try to achieve the same thing.

• Prescription drugs: There are also prescription drugs that are effective against warts that contain ingredients such as:

  • 5-fluorouracil, a chemotherapy drug applied as a cream,

  • Imiquimod and DCP: Immunotherapy drugs that cause an allergic response and irritation at the site of the wart, stimulating an immune response.

  • Bleomycin: This is an antiviral treatment that is injected into the wart.

  • Cantharidin: When applied to the skin, it causes a blister to form under the wart, thus detaching it from the skin. After extended treatment, the doctor can cut off the remaining wart.

  • Benzoyl peroxide: This dries up warts to the point where they become just a scab that can be peeled off. It is especially effective on genital warts.

We’ll see that many over-the-counter treatments try to mimic professional treatments.

What are some Home Remedies for Getting Rid of Warts?

Background about a Wart’s Lifetime

It’s estimated that 75% of people get warts at some point in their lives. Like many viruses, the body’s own immune response will make them go away. Around 20% of warts disappear in six months, while 66% disappear in 2 years. So, not doing anything might actually be an option.

Duct Tape

There is a theory that covering warts with duct tape might “suffocate” the wart, by depriving it of oxygen and light. Also, removing the duct tape periodically might shed some of the warty cells. This is a low-cost hack that actually sees some success.

The procedure is as follows:

1. Cover the wart with silver duct tape for six days.

2. Soak it in water for 5-10 minutes.

3. Remove dead tissue from the wart with a pumice stone or emery board.

4. Leave wart exposed for 12 hours, to let it dry out.

5. Repeat for another 6 days until the wart is gone. The whole process may take as long as 6 months, although some see success in just 2-3 months.

There may be some unwanted side effects such as redness, itching, bleeding, or even eczema.

You can also try combining this treatment with salicylic acid, before covering the wart with duct tape.

Salicylic Acid

There are numerous OTC treatments that use salicylic acid in various forms, such as liquid, gel, or in an adhesive patch. The acid softens the wart and slowly dissolves it. This allows you to peel off layers of the wart gradually. For example, Compound W and Dr. Scholl’s Wart Remover contain a 17% concentration of salicylic acid. When applied daily for a few weeks, it has an encouraging rate of success. However, you can’t use salicylic acid on sensitive areas such as the face and genitals.

The procedure is as follows:

1. Soak wart for 10-15 minutes in warm water to soften it.

2. Rub the wart with an emery board or pumice stone (if this causes irritation, decrease the frequency of use).

3. Apply the salicylic acid, 1x or 2x daily, for 12 weeks.

4. After the treatment, cover the wart with duct tape, to allow the salicylic acid to penetrate the skin. Layers of the wart should peel off after each treatment.

5. Wash hands after treatment to prevent the spread of the virus. Also, don’t let others use the emery board or pumice stone that you used to file down the wart.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Besides salicylic acid, some home remedies employ apple cider vinegar, especially on periungual warts. But it’s not recommended for use on warts on the face or the genitals. Studies have shown mixed results as to whether it is effective. The treatment is as follows:

Warts on nails: use 2 parts vinegar, 1 part water, soak a cotton ball in the vinegar, and apply to the wart.

1. Make a solution using 2 parts vinegar and 1 part water.

2. Soak a cotton ball in the solution, and apply it to the wart.

3. Place bandage onto the cotton ball, and leave in place overnight, or for 24 hours.

4. Replace the cotton ball every night, and repeat the procedure daily for up to 1-2 weeks.

You may experience side effects such as feeling the area of the wart swell or throb, or that it may turn black. Even after the wart falls off, it’s recommended to continue the apple cider treatment, to make sure there’s no spread of the wart virus.

What Over-the-Counter Treatments are There Against Warts?

We can classify items in the MSN list of the 10 best wart removal products by their principal mode of action:

Salicylic Acid Treatment

Salicylic acid is effective against common warts in around 50% of the cases. But there are several ways of applying it. Let’s look at some popular products that utilize salicylic acid against warts.

• Stick form: The WartStick Common and Plantar Wart Remover comes in a stick that contains 40% salicylic acid in a waxy base. It is designed for application on warts on the hands, feet, and skin. It is the highest concentration allowed in a non-prescription medicine. This is a treatment for common and plantar warts.

WartStick Common and Plantar Wart Remover

You first soak the site of the wart for up to 5 minutes and then rub the WartStick onto the wart. You only need to apply a thin layer of the medication. Then cover the wart with a bandage. For a small wart, it is sufficient to cover the wart with a Band-Aid. For larger warts, and for plantar warts, it’s recommended to use medical tape to cover the wart.

After 24 hours, you can remove the bandage or medical tape. It will cause the top layers of the wart to peel away and turn white. The top white layers of the wart can be removed by means of an emery board or pumice stone.

Dry the wart thoroughly before putting another application of the WartStick.

You can use WartStick daily until the wart disappears entirely. Because it is painless, odorless, and will not scar, it’s ideal for children.

• Gel: The Compound W Fast Acting Gel works on common and plantar warts. It is in the form of a non-drip liquid salicylic acid formula that you apply from a tube.

Compound W Fast Acting Gel

• Cream: There is also salicylic acid in cream, such as Reejoys Skin Tag Remover Cream. It removes skin tags and warts so that they fall off by themselves in 7-15 days, without any scarring. You apply it 3 times a day, for 7-15 days.

Reejoys Skin Tag Remover Cream

• Patch: There is also salicylic acid in a patch, such as Dr. Scholl's ClearAway Wart Remover. It is effective for warts on fingers and toes, as well as on the soles of feet (plantar warts) where the skin is thicker. It is recommended to continue treatment for a week or two after the wart goes away, to prevent any recurrence.

Dr. Scholl's ClearAway Wart Remover

Cryotherapy

The Compound W Freeze Off has a foam-tipped applicator that freezes the wart to approximately -20 ℉. It causes a blister to form underneath the wart so that it will fall off in 10-14 days. It is effective for removing common warts and plantar warts. You apply the medication to common warts for 20 seconds, and to plantar warts for 40 seconds. The manufacturer recommends not treating any particular wart more than three times with the medication. Also, if you use it on skin not affected by warts, it can cause serious burns or even scarring.

Compound W Freeze Off

Another such product, the Compound W Nitrofreeze Wart Remover Pen is capable of freezing a wart to a temperature of -117 F. It contains nitrous oxide under high pressure. When activated, the tip of the pen gets a frosty appearance to effectively freeze the wart. It boasts of a 34% success rate, after a single application!

Compound W Nitrofreeze Wart Remover Pen

Cryotherapy and Salicylic Acid:

There are also products that combine the success of cryotherapy with salicylic acid.

Dr. Scholl's FreezeAway Wart Remover Dual Action

Dr. Scholl's FreezeAway Wart Remover Dual Action is one of the strongest wart removers on the market without a prescription. It utilizes freeze therapy and salicylic acid, which together is twice as effective as just freezing. It’s suitable for both common and plantar warts and is safe for use in children ages 4 and up. It has an applicator that freezes the area of the wart. After 24 hours, you then apply Dr. Schools Fast Acting Liquid once a day for two weeks. There are also pads to cushion the area of the wart so that you’re able to walk on it without discomfort.
 

Constriction

Some products apply an elastic band around the wart, thus cutting off its blood supply until it dies. One such product is the Micro Tag Band Skin Tag Removal Kit. It is effective on warts that are 2-5 mm in diameter. It can even be used on warts on the face, except for around the eyes, where the skin is too sensitive.

You place the device’s cone over the skin tag or mole and press down hard. You then slide the elastic band onto the skin tag. It cuts off circulation on the skin tag, until it falls off.

Micro Tag Band Skin Tag Removal Kit

Homeopathic

Aidance Terrasil Wart Removal Ointment is a homeopathic treatment that uses an extract from Thuja Occidentalis, which is used in herbal medicine. The ointment also has silver oxide, zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, and volcanic clay. Since it doesn’t use freezing or salicylic acid, it can even be used on sensitive areas, such as facial warts and genital warts. You apply the ointment 2-3 times a day until the wart dries up and flakes away.

Aidance Terrasil Wart Removal Ointment

How Can I Prevent Warts from Spreading?

Since there are several types of warts, there are a number of ways of getting infected. But, there are also a number of ways to prevent infection:

• Hygiene: If you come in contact with warts, it’s best to wash your hands properly. Frequent hand washing is especially important for children since their immature immune system makes them more vulnerable to catching HPV. Also, don’t pick at existing warts, since that can also cause them to spread.

• Prevent chapped and cracked skin: As we mentioned, HPV enters through broken skin. It’s important to keep your hands moisturized in dry weather so that the skin doesn’t become dry and chapped. That will make the skin vulnerable to the virus.

• No biting fingernails: Don’t bite or chew fingernails or cuticles (this can cause the surrounding skin to be susceptible to infection).

• Keep wart area dry: Moist skin allows the virus to spread, so it’s advised to keep the skin around warts clean and dry. Also, keep warts covered with a bandage, to keep them localized.

• Foot protection: To prevent plantar warts, wear extra-absorbent socks to prevent your feet from being constantly wet. Also, wear sandals or flip-flops when attending public pools, showers, or locker rooms.

• Don’t share personal items: People can carry HPV, even if they don’t have any visible warts themselves. It’s best not to share towels, brushes, combs, and other personal hygiene and grooming products.

• Preventing genital warts: There are two main methods of preventing the spread of genital warts:

  • Condoms: Using a condom can prevent the spread of HPV to different sexual partners.

  • Vaccine: There is the Gardasil vaccine, which is used to prevent genital warts in particular (owing to the connection between genital warts and certain forms of cancer of the genital area and the anus).

When Should You Seek Professional Help?

Warts are typically benign growths. But there are instances where you should consult a doctor. If the wart shows

• Bleeding

• Cracked skin

• Soreness, pain, or irritation

• Swelling

• A change in shape, color, or size to the wart

• If it appears in someone over age 60

it’s preferable to seek professional advice. They could be symptoms of skin cancer, mistaken for being “just a wart”.

Do Wart Removal Products Really Work?

As we mentioned, warts can disappear on themselves in 20% of cases, if you’re willing to wait. Some products that use salicylic acid have a success rate of around 50%. The products that try to imitate cryotherapy by freezing the wart are around 40-50% successful. Products that combine both treatments see better success rates, as in Dr. Scholl’s FreezeAway Wart Remover. It is recommended for common and plantar warts.

However, some OTC treatments might not work because of a number of factors:

• The thickness of the wart,

• Where they are located on the body. For example, customers say that the effectiveness of Dr. Scholl’s Freeze Away Wart Remover on plantar warts is not as good, since the skin of a plantar wart tends to be harder.

• A weak immune response, or

• If warts tend to spread more rapidly than the treatment succeeds in eliminating them.

What Risks are there to Home Wart Removal Products?

There are some people who should not try OTC wart removers without consulting a doctor first. For example:

• Diabetics: If a diabetic has plantar warts, it might be dangerous to try treating it by themselves. Diabetics may have a loss of feeling in the feet, so an injury will go unnoticed.

• People with circulatory problems: Also, people with circulatory problems might cause nerve damage if they try to remove warts on their feet.

• Sufferers from immunodeficiency: People with a weak immune system might be more susceptible to human papillomavirus. As they treat one wart, they may notice more developing elsewhere.

• When not to use salicylic acid formulas: Manufacturers of products using salicylic acid say not to use their product on irritated or infected skin, moles, birthmarks, warts with hair growing on them, genital warts, or warts on the mucus membranes. The wart treatment can make the skin more irritated.

Wrap Up

As you can see, there’s no reason to suffer from a wart problem. There are many options among the MSN list of the best wart removers from which you can choose. What you decide upon will depend on the location of the wart, the severity of the wart problem, the side effects, and the level of effectiveness.