Topical wart removal treatments provide an effective way to remove warts at home. Warts, harmless growths that appear on the skin, occur as a result of an infection by one of many types of human papilloma viruses, according to Family Doctor.org. While home topical treatments can be helpful in removing warts, warts on the genital area require special care and should be treated by a doctor.
Identification
The viral infection that causes warts affects the top layer of the skin and causes a growth to form at the site of the infection. Warts may be the same color as your skin or may appear darker. Common warts often appear on the fingers and hands, while plantar warts grow on the bottoms of your feet. Both types of warts may have black dots at the center of the warts produced by the blood vessels that supply the warts with blood. Flat warts don't protrude the way other warts do and grow in clusters. Flat warts are most common in the facial area in children, on the legs in women and on the face in the beard area in men. The American Academy of Dermatology reports that irritation from shaving may cause the appearance of warts in the beard area or legs.
Topical Treatment
Over-the-counter wart removal medication contains salicylic acid. Salicylic acid works by causing the top layers of the skin to peel away. Peeling is a slow process that requires regular treatment for several weeks or months before you notice results.
Using a Topical Treatment
Topical salicylic acid is available in liquid, gel and pad forms. The topical medication is applied directly to the wart once or more per day, depending on package instructions. FamilyDoctor.org recommends applying the medication after showering or bathing because the acid sinks in deeper and works better when applied to damp skin. Wash your hands thoroughly after using the medication.
Prescription Topical Treatment
If salicylic acid doesn't help remove your wart, your doctor may recommend treatment with cantharidin, a prescription-strength topical medication. Cantharidin causes the wart to blister three or more hours after your doctor applies the medication to your wart. The blister lifts the wart off your skin, allowing your doctor to remove the dead part of your wart, according to MayoClinic.com.
Other Treatments
Your doctor may recommend other treatments to remove your wart if topical treatments aren't helpful. The American Academy of Dermatology reports that freezing, also called cryotherapy, is generally preferred to treat warts in adults and older children. Other options include burning off the warts with electrosurgery or using laser therapy to treat stubborn warts. Doctors may also use injections of interferon to spur rejection of warts or may use a topical immunotherapy agent to cause rejection of warts.
