Characterized by small, grainy bumps that are rough to the touch, warts that develop on your hands and fingers are skin growths caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). This virus passes from one person to the next through direct contact or by touching something used by someone with HPV. The virus causes a rapid growth of cells on the outer layer of your skin. Although physicians consider warts harmless, several treatment options are available.
Step 1
Wait for the wart to go away. To prevent the virus from spreading to other parts of your body, don't brush, clip, comb or shave areas of the skin where you have warts or bite your fingernails if you have warts near them. Consider covering your wart with an adhesive bandage.
Step 2
Purchase an over-the-counter medicated wart treatment patch or solution that features 17 percent salicylic acid, which is designed to encourage skin peeling. Start the treatment by soaking the wart in warm water for 10 to 20 minutes. Apply the wart treatment according to the manufacturer's instructions. Use a nail file or pumice stone to file away dead skin between treatments. Apply the treatment daily until the wart peels away.
Step 3
Seek treatment from a dermatologist if home treatment doesn't work. Based on its location, a dermatologist may freeze the wart with liquid nitrogen, apply a chemical solution to the wart or remove the wart tissue with an electric needle or via laser surgery.
Tips and Warnings
- It may take up to two years for a wart to disappear on its own. Getting treated by a dermatologist may decrease the chance that the wart will spread to other areas of your body or to other people.
- The acid in over-the-counter wart removal products can irritate or damage healthy skin around the wart.
