How to Treat Warts

Be persistent. Warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), so it takes time for the immune system to be able to fight it off naturally. Some warts go away on their own after a while without treatment. However, the term “time” here can range from weeks to years, so you may want to choose a more proactive approach. There are several methods for you to choose from, and their effectiveness also varies. But no matter which method you choose, it will take time for it to work. The fastest way to get rid of warts permanently is to use 100% TCA acid. This method gives results in less than 10 days and will not recur, it is also the least expensive way and will be discussed further below.

Use salicylic acid or 100% TCA acid. ^[1] Salicylic acid is an ingredient in many over-the-counter wart medications, including brands like Compound W and Occlusal. These medications work differently, and it can take several weeks for them to work.

• Wet the skin with water for 5 minutes or so, then use a brush to apply the amount of medicine you want and let it dry naturally. Leave it on for a day, then you can peel or scrape it off, and then grind away the remaining dead skin. Repeat this method every two or three days.

Use fabric tape. There have been many studies focused on evaluating the effectiveness of duct tape in the treatment of warts. Wart taping (DTOT) is used to concentrate medication on the area around the wart, as well as “blocking” its growth. One study found that applying duct tape after applying a 5% cream containing imiquimod effectively removed common warts. However, this method takes a long time (maybe up to 6 months) and many people have not been successful. ^[2]

Apply cantharidin. Talk to your doctor about using cantharidin, which is a fast-acting chemical that can burn off warts. However, this chemical is very expensive, it can cost tens of millions of dong. ^[3] In addition, taking cantharidin will cause pain, but it only takes a day to see results.

• The doctor applies cantharidin directly to the wart, then bandages it. The next day you can remove the bandage and remove the dead skin, if after one treatment it does not go away, you have to use another method. Your doctor will recommend more appropriate solutions for you.

Use liquid nitrogen. Your doctor may use another treatment, which is to use liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart, also known as cryotherapy. ^[4] This is a bit annoying and takes a few tries to get rid of acne completely, but it’s very effective. If unsuccessful, the wart will reappear with an even larger size, along with larger blood vessels, and is almost impossible to treat. ^[5]

• In addition, some drugstores sell cold packs to treat warts without a prescription. If using a wart-freezing product, keep the following in mind:
  • Follow the instructions on the package. After applying the skin will turn from yellow to red in just a few minutes, and a blister will appear below the acne.
  • A few days later, small black spots appear below the acne, this is a sign that the treatment is working. You often feel the urge to pop a pimple, but leave it as it is.
  • You should let the wart go down on its own. If it does not deflate on its own, repeat another treatment after two weeks. After three treatments, if the wart still does not go away, you should see a doctor.

Burn warts. When other methods fail, you may need to burn to get rid of the acne. This will cause pain and scarring, so it is recommended that you let your doctor do it. However, you can still do it at home if you are brave enough.

• See a doctor. They will use a laser to burn off the acne, which sometimes works, but is best used only when other methods have failed.
• Homemade. Light a match and blow it out, touch the pimple with the red-hot end of the match. The heat causes blistering and stimulates a self-healing response, after which you can peel off the infected skin, apply aloe vera, and bandage it. Repeat one more time if needed. You need to accept the risk of doing it yourself as it is quite dangerous.

Have your doctor remove it. If you are not confident, ask your doctor to perform acne removal surgery. This is best left to your doctor to avoid infection, he or she will use a local anesthetic to ease your pain. They will cut using one of the following two methods:

• Electrosurgery and curettage . This is how the doctor will use an electric current to burn off the pimple and then cut it out. Warts can recur because the blood vessels are still there. ^{[6] [7]}
• Laser surgery . With this method, the doctor will burn the acne with a high-intensity laser. ^[7]

Consider immunotherapy. Your doctor will consult with you about applying this method, which is how to use your own antibodies against warts.

Refer to the drug Veregen. This is a new drug used to treat genital warts, as well as other types of warts.

Use imiquimod. This is a topical cream used to treat certain types of warts and even skin cancers. The drug works on the principle of stimulating the response of the immune system, it does not directly treat acne but can support other methods. Ask your doctor for instructions on how to use it.