How does plantar wart remover work

Filiform warts look like threads or fronds coming from the skin. They appear on the face, particularly around the eyes, nose, or mouth, and usually grow quickly. However, they occur due to a specific strain of HPV and affect people who live or work in cold, moist environments. Wart treatments work by removing the wart rather than curing HPV.

Due to this, warts may reoccur after treatment because the virus remains. However, if this is not the case, or a person wishes to remove warts quickly, various treatment options are available.

People can choose from many over-the-counter products containing salicylic acid that they can apply topically to a common wart. There is no clear evidence that duct tape wart removal is effective and no guidance on how long it might take. The idea behind this approach is that applying new duct tape to a wart every few days may gradually remove layers of the wart. A person can try this method easily at home, but it is important to note that it may not work and that some people may experience side effects, such as skin reactions and bleeding.

Cryotherapy uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart, which causes the surface layers to peel off. However, cryotherapy can cause blistering, which can last up to several days or weeks.

It can also cause permanent white marks on the skin and may lead to temporary numbness in the treatment area. Electrosurgery and curettage use heat to burn away the base of the wart. This type of treatment can treat large warts that have not responded to other treatments, but there are some downsides :.

Wart medications, such as salicylic acid, gradually peel away layers of a wart until it reaches the same level as the skin. People may notice the wart becoming flatter over time. When a doctor performs a procedure to treat a wart, its removal may be much quicker.

For instance, the doctor may apply cantharidin Cantharone to the wart, which causes a blister to form underneath it. About 1 week after treatment, the doctor can cut away the dead wart. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology AOCD , people need to keep using wart medication until the wart is no longer visible and looks the same as the surrounding skin.

People should not be able to see any black dots or areas of grainy texture. If people with diabetes try to remove a wart on their feet, it could damage their nerves. Salicylic acid may not work for everyone. Different factors can affect the success of wart treatment, such as the thickness of the wart, its location on the body, and individual immune systems.

If a person has used salicylic acid consistently for 12 weeks or longer and seen no improvement, they should see their doctor to discuss other treatment options. We list other treatment options below that can help remove warts if salicylic acid is not sufficient. Cryotherapy uses liquid nitrogen to freeze off the wart.

A doctor may spray or swab a small amount of liquid nitrogen onto the wart. People may need repeat treatments before the wart disappears. Studies have found cryotherapy to be effective in removing warts in 50—70 percent of cases where the person had 3 or 4 treatments.

Electrosurgery uses an electrical current to burn the wart off. A doctor may use electrosurgery to remove common warts on the hands, feet, and face. A doctor may apply a substance called cantharidin to the wart.

This causes a blister to form underneath the wart, lifting the wart away from the skin. The wart will fall off as the blister pushes it away. A doctor can use a special instrument or knife to scrape or cut away the wart.

Curettage may leave scarring and is not a good technique to remove warts on the soles of the feet. Cover the wart with duct tape after applying salicylic acid and letting it dry.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommend reapplying duct tape every 5—6 days. A doctor may prescribe an immunotherapy drug, such as imiquimod or diphencyprone DCP , to remove warts. These drugs stimulate the immune system to respond and treat the wart. People can apply these medicated creams directly to their wart. These drugs can trigger the immune system to fight the wart. People should discuss the side effects of these medications with their doctor. Need help finding a Primary Care provider?

Our Patient Communication Coordinators can help you find the right fit. Call Skip the home remedies for wart removal. Proper treatment of plantar warts requires the expertise of your healthcare provider.

Nose, fingers, toes and everywhere in between, warts can show up anywhere on your skin. They are one of the most common skin conditions. Warts are more than an abnormal growth. HPV enters your body through a cut or break in your skin. Then, it forms that ugly, rough bump. Since warts are caused by a viral infection, they are easily spread through contact. Anything that has had contact with a wart — your hand, a towel, a sock, the floor — can spread it. They are on your skin until they go away on their own or by removal.

Warts on the bottom of your feet, known as plantar warts, are the most likely type to give you any other trouble or symptoms. Because of their location — the soles, heels, toes and balls of your feet — plantar warts send you a painful reminder of their presence with every single step.

All that pressure also flattens the plantar wart. It ends up looking less like a wart and more like a callus. A plantar wart is painful when squeezed; a callus is not. Many people rub calluses with abrasive objects like pumice stones, nail files and emery boards to remove the thick, rough skin. And that is not recommended for removal of plantar warts.

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