Warts grow and appear when a virus infects the top layer of the skin. They can be unsightly and sometimes painful especially on the foot, but they are not cancerous at all. They are usually skin-toned color but can also be dark brown or grayish black.
They are commonly rough but can also be flat and smooth sometimes. While warts can occur anywhere on the body, they are most common to appear on hands or on soles of the feet.
Warts have 9 different types. These various types were identified by its shape, the side it is affected, and the type of human papillomavirus involved.
- Common warts – found on hands
- Plantar warts – located at the soles of the feet
- Filiform warts – seen on face commonly near the eyelids and lips
- Mosaic wart – clustered plantar-type warts that can be on hands or feet
- Periungual wart – clustered warts around the nail
- Flat- small, smooth, flattened and flesh-colored wart which commonly seen on face, neck, hands, wrists or knees
- Genital warts – occurs on the genitalia and often transmitted sexually
Human papillomavirus or HPV is the virus that causes warts. Damaged skin or having your skin get cut may also result in acquiring the virus. HPV is contagious and can be spread through contact with the wart or something that have touched the wart.
Warts may disappear on their own. Most people develop an immune response that causes warts to clear itself. Some warts may be cleared within six months but commonly, it takes 2 years to disappear completely. It takes a matter of time to fully go away. So, to remove it faster, you may try to treat it yourself with wart removers.
When you have decided to treat your wart on your own, the first-choice remedy should be an over-the-counter wart remover. Here is some information about the different types of wart removers.
Liquid, gel, pad, or ointment – most of these products contain salicylic acid which softens the abnormal skin cells and dissolves them.
To use this, soak the wart in water for five minutes. This will help the medication to penetrate deep down on the skin. Gently rub off dead skin cells with a washcloth or pumice stone. The area infected should be covered after applying the medication. Covering it will help to adhere and penetrating the salicylic acid into the skin.
These treatments require a daily application for several weeks. Do not use the same washcloth or pumice stone every day. It would keep your skin infected with HPV.
Freezing spray – it generally contains liquid butane. Its temperature can reach as low as -100 degrees.
It should be sprayed directly onto the wart to freeze and kill the tissue. Blisters may develop around the wart after the freezing. Keep the infected area clean with an antiseptic or anti-bacterial medicine.
It might be much convenient than the other forms of treatments but it might not be as effective as them. It may not freeze deep enough the wart and can also be painful when the spray needs to be applied longer. If the medicine is an effective one, the blister and the wart should disappear in just a few days.
Treating warts would take only some time to heal if the product you are using is effective and reliable. It would be best to know that the brand is a trusted medicine that will aid your warts. To help you, we listed some of the best over-the-counter wart removers you can easily find.
Product
Visual
Where to Buy
Wart Stick Max Strength Wart Remover
Compound W One Step Pad
Dr. Scholl’s Freeze Away Wart Remover
Bazuka Extra Strength 6G
Compound W Maximum Strength Fast Acting Gel Wart Remover
1. Wart Stick Max Strength Wart Remover
Wart stick is painless and odorless stick wart remover. It contains 40% salicylic acid for maximum strength and faster result. It is easy to use and goes dry after application. Best for removing common or plantar warts.
2. Compound W One Step Pad
Compound W one step pad conceals the wart while treating it. This pad is waterproof to protect the affected area while healing. It gets rids of warts fast and helps the skin to retain its health. It is safe and effective to easily and painlessly remove common and plantar warts. It has an extra cushion for added comfort.
3. Dr. Scholl’s Freeze Away Wart Remover
Dr. Scholl’s Freeze Away Wart Remover is a treatment to rapidly freeze the wart and helps to remove it away. The result can be as fast as applying it for the first time. It is safe for kids who are 4 years and up.
This freezing spray is based on the doctor’s proven method for people that suffers from common and plantar warts. when the wart is removed, the body will replace the wart tissues with new and healthy tissue.
4. Bazuka Extra Strength 6G
Bazuka Extra Strength 6G is a gel wart remover. It has 26% salicylic acid that acts as the active ingredient. It also contains camphor povidone, pyroxylin, ethanol, acetone, and isopropyl alcohol. The ingredients work together to break down and remove warts, corns, verrucas, and calluses. It softens the skin growth that helps to remove the excess skin with a washcloth or pumice stone. It also helps in killing the virus within the wart or verruca.
5. Compound W Maximum Strength Fast Acting Gel Wart Remover
Compound W Maximum Strength Fast Acting Gel Wart Remover quickly penetrates the skin to remove plantar warts for good. Aside from its fast-acting formula, this gel wart remover also features a no-spill liquid salicylic acid formula packed in an on-the-go tube container.
This gel wart remover is approved and trusted by expert dermatologists and earned the most recommended wart removal spot as confirmed by IQVIA Claim Substantiation Validation Statement, 12/11/18 – 11/30/19 and National Consumer Panel 52 Week from 2018-2020.
What’s best about this wart remover is that it doesn’t require a prescription- you can buy and use this anytime and anywhere without worrying about any adverse effects. This product is recommended for adults and children from 3 years old and up.
Treating warts takes time. Patience and being persistent is the key to a faster and much effective result. Warts might not be a big issue for some, but it can be painful for others depending on the area where it is formed. It can also lessen our self-confidence due to its unattractive appearance and may affect our daily activities as well.
To prevent having one, always take into consideration cleanliness and proper hygiene. Avoid sharing personal belongings or foods with anyone. We hope the list helps you in looking for the best treatment for warts.