Warts are the bane of many kids and adults, especially when they crop up on a visible area like the fingers or face. They are also annoying on the feet, even if they aren't visible, because they make walking painful when they grow on a pressure point. They can be treated in a variety of ways, most of which can be done at home with widely available products. Salicylic acid is the active ingredient in many of these over-the-counter preparations.
Definition
Warts are small skin growths caused by a virus called the human papillomavirus, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) explains. This virus comes in 100 varieties, all of which can cause wart growth. A wart is actually an area of overgrown skin, which the Mayo Clinic describes as rough, fleshy bumps that range in color from flesh tone to tan, pink or white. They are sometimes dotted with tiny dark spots, which are actually blood vessels.
Function
Salicylic acid functions as a wart treatment by slowly destroying the virus-infected skin growth, researchers from the British Association of Dermatologists explain. They suspect it may also stimulate a person's natural immune function to fight the wart-causing virus. The acid must be applied regularly, as it dissolves the affected skin over a period of many weeks or months.
Use
Salicylic acid for home wart removal comes in several forms. The most common are a liquid that can be applied to the wart before it is bandaged or acid-impregnated adhesive pads that adhere directly to the growth. The Mayo Clinic recommends soaking the wart in warm water for five minutes, then gently drying it, before applying salicylic acid. Each product will have its own directions, but most recommend reapplication once or twice a day. The AAFP advises rubbing away loose dead skin with a pumice stone between each acid application.
Results
British researchers found that salicylic acid is more effective for plantar warts, which grow on the soles of the feet, than for those on the hands. Eighty-four percent of plantar warts were destroyed within 12 weeks of steady treatment as compared to 67 percent of hand warts in a study by Dr. J. C. Sterling, Dr. S. Hanfield-Jones and Dr. P. M. Hudson, three British physicians.
Considerations
Salicylic acid may still be an effective wart treatment even if over-the-counter preparations don't work. The Warts Information Center explains that products made for home application usually contain a 17 percent solution of salicylic acid. This may be too weak for especially stubborn outbreaks. Doctors can prescribe a 70 percent concentration, which may be strong enough to get rid of previously resistant warts.
Warning
The Mayo Clinic warns against using more salicylic acid than the recommended amount on the package because it can be absorbed through the skin and lead to salicylic acid poisoning. This can also be caused by using it for a longer period than what is recommended on the packaging or by your doctor.
