Common warts are growths caused by the human papillomavirus. They are usually harmless, but should be treated to prevent the spread of warts to other parts of the body and to other people. Warts are usually flesh-colored, small and rough to the touch. A person may prefer to first try at-home treatments. A salicylic acid wart remover product or duct tape can help remove common warts.
Salicyclic Acid Removal
Step 1
Buy a bottle of salicylic acid wart remover or salicylic adhesive pads from a local drugstore.
Step 2
Clean the area of skin containing the wart.
Step 3
Apply the adhesive pad to wart daily or apply a small amount of salicylic acid to the wart and cover with an adhesive bandage.
Step 4
File the dead skin off the wart with a pumice stone or emery board before each application of salicylic acid.
Step 5
Continue treatment daily until the wart disappears.
Duct Tape Removal
Step 1
Cover the wart completely with grey duct tape. The Wart Information Center states that 85 percent of participants in a study experienced success with wart removal when they used duct tape.
Step 2
Keep wart covered with duct tape for six days.
Step 3
Remove duct tape and soak affected area in warm water.
Step 4
Scrub the affected area with a pumice stone or emery board.
Step 5
Reapply duct tape to the wart and repeat the process. The wart should disappear within two months.
Tips and Warnings
- Home remedies require patience as most warts take six to ten weeks to completely disappear. Warts may disappear without treatment, but some require multiple and more aggressive treatments.
- Do not use duct tape or salicyclic acid on your face or genitals. Never try to remove a wart by burning, cutting, tearing or picking. Medical attention should be sough if wart becomes red, swollen or bleeds. A wart that produces discharge also should be evaluated by a doctor.
Things You'll Need
- Soap
- Warm water
- Salicylic adhesive removal pads or bottle of salicylic acid wart remover
- Adhesive bandages
- Pumice stone
- Emery board
- Duct tape
