Salicylic Acid
Warts are harmless growths that form on the skin; they are the direct result of the human papillomavirus, also known as HPV. They mainly form on the hands, feet and fingers and resemble the head of a cauliflower. Although not life-threatening, they often cause discomfort and are removed.
Salicylic acid is an over-the-counter treatment that you can use at home. With this treatment, the skin is soaked in warm water for about 15 minutes to soften it. The acid is then applied with a brush and left on. The topical part of the wart dies and is ground off with a pumice stone or nail file. This treatment is done on a daily basis until the wart is completely gone.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy, also known as freezing, is an outpatient procedure done by a doctor. The area of skin around the wart and the wart itself are cleaned before the treatment. Liquid nitrogen is then applied to the wart, either as a fine spray or with a swab. As a result, the cells in the wart freeze and a blister forms under it. Within a week, the dead tissue on the wart falls off.
Surgical Removal
Electrosurgery and curettage are two surgical processes that doctors often use in tandem to treat larger warts. With electrosurgery, a local anesthetic is injected under the skin where the wart lies. Another needle is then injected into the skin where an electrical current gets sent to the tip. The wart tissue gets dried and burnt off. Next, curettage is done to remove the remaining wart tissue. A scalpel or small spoon-shaped tool is used to scrape the tissue away. Be aware that this process often results in the formation of a scar.
Duct Tape
Duct tape is a common household supply used for everything from fixing leaks to holding pipes together. And it can be used to treat warts. With this process, you cover the wart with duct tape and leave it on for six days. At that point, remove the tape, soak the wart in warm water to soften it and grind it down with an emery board. The whole process is repeated for about eight weeks. According to the Mayo Clinic, researchers hypothesize that this therapy works by irritating the wart and triggering your body's immune system to attack it.
