Warts are common skin growths caused by a
virus called human papillomavirus, or HPV.
Warts can grow anywhere on your skin, but
they’re most common on the hands and feet.
Most warts are grey, brown, or skin-colored
rough bumps that may have little black dots
on them.
People often call these dots “seeds”,
but they are actually small blood vessels.
Other warts are smooth pink bumps, often occurring
on the face.
Since warts are caused by a virus, they can
sometimes spread from person to person, although
this is uncommon.
Since each person’s immune system responds
to the virus differently, not everyone who
comes in contact with the virus develops warts.
To prevent warts from spreading:
- Do not pick or scratch warts, or touch someone
else’s wart.
- Wash your hands after treating warts
- Wear flip-flops in public showers and pool
areas, and
- Keep warts on your feet dry, as moisture
tends to allow warts to spread.
Although most warts are painless and go away
without treatment within 2 years, there are
things you can do to help get rid of warts
more quickly.
Keep in mind, it is not possible to directly
kill the wart virus.
Home treatments are intended to irritate or
inflame the wart area so that your immune
system will fight off the virus.
Home treatment for warts is trial and error:
what works for one person may not work for
you.
Always be consistent with your treatment.
Follow these tips from dermatologists to treat
common warts at home.
Apply a wart treatment product with salicylic
acid to the wart.
Available without prescription, this will
help peel the wart-ridden skin and irritate
the wart, which may trigger the immune system
to respond.
Before applying the product, soak the wart
in warm water and then sand the wart with
a disposable emery board.
Use a new emery board each time you do this.
Keep in mind that it can take several months
to see good results.
Another option is to cover the wart with duct
tape.
Although studies conflict about whether this
gets rid of warts, changing the tape every
few days may peel away layers of the wart-ridden
skin.
To do this, first soak the wart in warm water
and then sand it with an emery board.
Afterwards, apply silver duct tape.
Remove and reapply the duct tape every 5 to
6 days until the wart is gone.
Always stop any home treatment for warts if
the skin around the wart is raw or bleeding.
See a dermatologist if:
- you cannot get rid of the wart
- your wart hurts, itches, burns or bleeds
- you have many warts; or
- you have a wart on your face or genitals.
Dermatologists can treat warts through prescription
medications or in-office procedures.
Remember, there is no cure for the wart virus,
so warts can return at the same site or appear
in a new spot at any time.
See a board-certified dermatologist if you
have a skin growth and are unsure if it’s
a wart or something else.
Some skin cancers can look like warts.
A dermatologist can properly diagnose the
growth and discuss the best treatment options.
To learn more about warts or find a dermatologist
in your area, visit aad.org.
