1. Determine the Type of Wart
There are several different types of warts, and the type of medicine you choose to treat them varies. Common warts are typically found on the hands, fingers and near or under the fingernails. They are generally the simplest type of wart to treat effectively. Plantar warts are a type of common wart, but they are located on the soles of your feet. Genital warts are found growing in, on or around both male and female genitals. People who are susceptible to human papillomavirus, the virus that causes warts, will continue to be susceptible even after effective treatment. It is likely that your warts may return, perhaps in a different location. Most over-the-counter wart removal medicines come in multi-packs so you can treat more than one wart simultaneously or treat wart recurrences in the future. Over-the-counter wart removal treatments are considered a reimbursable medical expense by most flexible spending account plans, so save your receipt.
2. Use Salicylic Acid
Common and plantar warts can most often be treated at home using a topical salicylic acid-based treatment such as CompoundW or DuoFilm Salicylic Acid Wart Remover or their generic equivalents. These over-the-counter salicylic treatments contain about 17 percent salicylic acid. The liquid is usually applied directly to the wart and then covered over with a bandage. This method requires repeated applications and up to several weeks to be effective. The benefit is that the treatment can be done at home, it is affordable, and there is little to no risk of permanent scarring.
3. Freeze the Warts Off
You used to have to go to your doctor to have your warts frozen off, also known as cryotherapy. While you can certainly still have the procedure done by a doctor, today there are several well-known wart freezing home treatments. Two such products are Dr. Scholl's Freeze Away Common & Plantar Wart Remover and CompoundW Freeze Off Wart Removal System. While more expensive than salicylic acid treatments, the freeze off treatments usually remove the wart with a one-time application. The treatment freezes the wart, which then sloughs off within two weeks. The freeze treatments can be safely used by adults and children as young as four to remove both common and plantar warts.
4. Consult with Your Physician
Common and plantar warts that do not respond to home treatment may require prescription strength medicines, in which case you should consult your doctor. There are many prescription topical and oral wart removal treatments available. You will also need to consult your doctor if you have genital warts, which cannot and should not be treated with over-the-counter medicines. A sexually transmitted disease, genital warts are linked to cervical cancer in women. If you suspect you have genital warts, you will need to be tested and possibly treated for other sexually transmitted diseases. The warts will need to be removed by a physician using cryotherapy or laser or surgical removal. You may also need to receive regular cervical cancer screenings and be monitored for recurring genital wart outbreaks.
