Corns and warts are unsightly, sometimes uncomfortable and nearly always a nuisance. Some removal treatments are painful, and include freezing of or injection of caustic chemicals into warts, and surgical removal of corns. Thankfully, a viable option exists in the compound salicylic acid. In addition to allowing for painless treatment of the offending area, salicylic acid is also inexpensive and available over the counter.
Corns and Warts
Corns, which occur on the feet, are essentially large calluses. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) states, "The surface layer of the skin thickens and builds up, irritating the tissues underneath." Soft corns may resemble open sores, according to the AAOS. Warts may occur anywhere on the body, and are the result of infection with human papillomavirus, HPV, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Like corns, they can be quite uncomfortable and may bleed if bumped.
History
Salicylic acid is an organic molecule originally derived from willow (Salix alba) bark extract. It was an early analgesic and antipyretic (fever-reducing) drug, but in modern times, it's rarely used for this purpose because it irritates the lining of the stomach. Perhaps most commonly encountered as a constituent of aspirin, salicylic acid has also found application in treatments for several skin disorders, including acne and psoriasis, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Function
The American Academy of Dermatology notes that both foot and flat warts may be treated with salicylic acid. According to the Wart Information Center, while the compound is available over the counter in low concentrations (17 percent), physicians may provide much stronger solutions (up to 70 percent). Salicylic acid is a keratolytic, and its function is described by the Wart Information Center as "softening keratin, the protein in the skin, and encouraging the outer layer of skin to loosen and fall off." In the case of corns, this solves the problem by removing the excess layers of skin forming the callus. With regard to warts, the skin turnover rate exceeds the rate at which the wart can spread into deeper layers of tissue.
Considerations
The AAFP recommends that the skin around warts and corns be cleaned and lightly dried before application of salicylic acid, as the solution absorbs better into damp skin. They further suggest that each day prior to applying new solution, the dead skin be buffed or pumiced away to allow the salicylic acid to penetrate new, living tissue. The Wart Information Center suggests that if a salicylic acid liquid or semi-liquid solution is applied (as opposed to a pre-saturated pad embedded with the compound), a bandage should be placed over the area to protect the wart or corn and keep the medication in place.
Warning
Both the AAFP and the AAD recommend salicylic acid treatment only for warts on the hands, knees and feet. Genital warts should be treated by a doctor, notes the AAFP. The Wart Information Center further cautions that patience is important in attempting to treat warts or corns with salicylic acid---it takes a while to see any improvement in many cases. Despite the time required to treat the condition, however, the AAFP notes, "Most of the time, treatment of warts on the skin is successful, and the warts are gone for good."
