1. Home Treatments for Warts
Hand warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). In most cases, they can be easily treated with simple over-the-counter wart treatments you can find at any drugstore. These treatments use either salicylic acid or low-strength cryotherapy. You can purchase non-prescription salicylic acid treatments in a variety of preparations, including creams, paints and patches. Patches are popular because they come in flesh-colored tint and can hide your wart from view while treating it inconspicuously. This treatment can take weeks or even months to dissolve your wart, however. Over-the-counter cryotherapy treatments may work quicker than salicylic acid treatments. To make this treatment work, you have to combine two chemicals and then apply them to your wart. You will probably need to repeat the process several times before the wart falls off.
2. In-Office Removal Procedures
If your wart doesn't respond to home treatment or you want a faster result, consider having your doctor treat it in the office. A stronger version of cryotherapy can freeze off your wart faster than home-use kits, with little risk of scarring. These treatments may have to be repeated as well, however. Alternatively, medication called cantharidin can be injected into the wart. This causes the wart to lift off the skin, but can be an uncomfortable process. BCA, bichloracetic acid, is another option. This acid is applied directly to warts on your palms or the soles of your feet and works to erode them. It's applied once a week by a medical professional until the warts are gone. If you have a wart that is resistant to these treatments, immunotherapy may be your only other option. Immunotherapy works to boost your immune system enough to fight the virus causing the wart. It's expensive and can be dangerous, however.
3. Surgical Options
If none of the medical options get rid of your wart, you can always consider surgery. There are two main ways that you can surgically remove a wart--laser surgery and curettage. Laser surgery burns the wart off your hand while curettage cuts it off. Curettage is sometimes combined with electrocautery. The problem with curettage is that it can leave behind a scar on your hand. Talk to your doctor about which treatment is most appropriate in your situation. Generally, the less invasive treatments are best because they will leave no scarring.
