Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can be spread from one person to another through direct contact or by touching something infected with HPV. The American Academy of Dermatology indicates that common, plantar (foot) and flat warts are nonthreatening as they affect only the outer layer of the skin. Warts can be treated without a prescription, as long as they are not on the genitals or face.
Who Gets Them
Warts can affect anyone, but exposure to the virus that causes them is one factor, as is damaged skin. Children get warts more frequently because they tend to bite or pick at their nails. Those with weakened immune systems also get warts more easily than do others in the general population. Warts tend to eventually disappear in children after several months or years, while they tend to linger longer on adults. The AAD indicates that warts that spread rapidly or those that are painful or cumbersome do require treatment. The Mayo Clinic indicates that warts might be treated at home, as long as you don't have diabetes or a compromised immune system.
Salicylic Acid
One nonprescription wart treatment that can be readily purchased at the drugstore or pharmacy is a product that contains at least 17 percent salicyclic acid, according to the Mayo Clinic. Compound W and Occlusal-HP are two such brands. These can be purchased in the form of topical medication or patches. The Mayo Clinic recommends soaking the skin in warm water for between 15 and 20 minutes and gently filing the wart with an emery board or pumice stone to allow the medication to better take effect. The Mayo Clinic indicates that salicyclic acid might need to be applied daily for several weeks before warts resolve. Avoid this medication to healthy skin around the wart, as it can cause irritation.
Tape Therapy
An extremely low-cost way of removing warts at home is through duct tape therapy. This involves applying duct tape over the wart for several days, removing the tape, soaking the wart in warm water, and filing away the dead skin. The Mayo Clinic indicates that this procedure might take up to two months before warts resolve. However, it might be more appropriate for children who are intolerant of medical procedures.
Duct Tape Debate
The Mayo Clinic cites a 2002 study conducted on duct tape that showed that it treated warts better than cryotherapy (freezing). However, a March 2007 Associated Press article showed that duct tape resolved warts in only 21 percent of older adults, showing that the efficacy of tape therapy is still in the air. As noted by the Mayo Clinic, the theory that duct tape exacerbates warts and causes a response in the body's immune system is cast into doubt by more recent research suggesting that duct tape isn't effective in resolving warts.
Other Wart Treatments
If nonprescription wart removal treatment isn't working, there are medical treatments that can effectively address warts. Cryotherapy (freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen), blistering solutions such as cantharidin and surgical removal are some treatment options available, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, if warts persist, a referral to a dermatologist is recommended before more aggressive treatments are pursued.
