Warts may look troublesome, but they are not dangerous. Common warts, which usually occur on the fingers, and plantar warts, which appear on the feet, are caused by the human papillomavirus. Warts are contagious, and can be spread to other people or to other areas of the body. If warts are particularly stubborn and do not respond to over-the-counter treatments, consult a doctor, who can use liquid nitrogen or laser surgery to remove the stubborn wart.
Step 1
Wait for it to go away on its own. Most warts will dry up and disappear within about two years, so if you have had a wart for a while, wait a few more months for it to go away on its own. If a wart does not disappear within two years, try an alternate treatment.
Step 2
Try a folk remedy to help remove warts. Rub the wart with a piece of raw potato, suggests "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies." Using a piece of potato to remove a wart is a folk remedy that claims to shrink the wart with the starch of the potato.
Step 3
Purchase an over-the-counter wart removal kit that contains salicylic acid, recommends the Mayo Clinic. Salicylic acid will help dissolve the wart over time, and must be applied to the skin every day until the wart is gone. The Mayo Clinic suggests soaking the wart in warm water for 20 minutes before applying the salicylic acid solution.
Step 4
Apply a small piece of duct tape to the wart to remove it. Wash and dry the wart thoroughly, then place the duct tape over the wart. After one week, remove the duct tape and file the edge of the wart with a nail file. Apply a new piece of tape, and repeat until the wart is gone, suggests the Mayo Clinic.
Step 5
Keep your wart as dry as possible. Warts live in moist environments, and will dry out and disappear if they are not kept moist. If you have plantar warts, dermatologist Marc A. Brenner, D.P.M. suggests changing your socks three times a day to keep your feet dry to get rid of plantar warts.
Tips and Warnings
- To prevent the spread of warts, avoid picking or scratching at the wart and the area around it.
- If you have warts on your genitals, consult a doctor for treatment options and do not attempt to remove them at home.
Things You'll Need
- Potato
- Over-the-counter wart removal kit
- Duct tape
- Nail file
