Warts
Rough skin growths from a common virus (HPV). Harmless, and most vanish on their own: about half within a year in children, most within 2 years. Treatment just speeds things up.
The warts ladder
Doing nothing is a legitimate first step. Whatever you choose, give it 12 weeks before calling it a failure.
- Step 1 · Self-careLeave it aloneMost warts go away without treatment, especially in children.
- Works
- About half clear within a year in children, and about two-thirds within 2 years
- Cost
- Free
- How long
- Months
- Watch for
- Picking or biting: spreads warts
The cheapest treatment with the best side-effect profile.
- Step 2 · PharmacySalicylic acid paint or gelSoak, file off the dead skin, dry, apply, cover. Protect nearby skin with petroleum jelly.
- Works
- About half clear with daily use for 12 weeks, versus about a quarter with nothing
- Cost
- About $10–20
- How long
- Daily for up to 12 weeks
- Watch for
- Sore, red skin: stop for a few days, then restart. Not on the face
Consistency beats strength. Daily, boringly, for weeks.
- Step 3 · PharmacyPharmacy freezing sprayA home freezing kit. Not as cold as a doctor’s liquid nitrogen.
- Works
- No good evidence it works
- Cost
- About $25–40
- How long
- A few applications, weeks apart
- Watch for
- Blisters, pain. Keep away from healthy skin
Cold, yes. Cold enough, often not.
- Step 4 · ProcedureFreezing by a GP or podiatristLiquid nitrogen every 2 to 3 weeks, often several sessions.
- Works
- Hand warts: about half clear in 13 weeks vs 1 in 12 waiting. Foot warts: no better than salicylic acid
- Cost
- GP: often bulk-billed or about $40–90 out of pocket. Podiatrist: about $80–120 a session
- How long
- 2–4 sessions or more
- Watch for
- Pain, blisters, and sometimes a pale or dark mark
Hurts more than the paint. Works about the same. Choose your pain.
- Step 5 · SpecialistDermatologist treatmentsFor stubborn warts: scraping and burning, laser, or other prescription treatments.
- Works
- Small trials, mixed results; helps some stubborn warts, but they can return
- Cost
- About $150–300 a visit with a Medicare rebate when referred
- How long
- One to several visits
- Watch for
- Scarring, pain, and warts that come back anyway
For warts that have outstayed their welcome by years, not weeks.
Save your money
Popular, heavily marketed or often asked about, but the evidence is weak or says no.
- Duct tapeNo better than a dummy treatment in larger trials. Your toolbox can stay in the shed.
- Apple cider vinegarNo trials, and there are reports of chemical burns. The wart may leave; a scar may move in.
- Garlic, banana peel and other kitchen curesNo good evidence, and garlic can burn the skin. Save them for dinner.
- Homeopathic wart remediesNo better than a dummy treatment in a trial. Very dilute, very expensive water.
What you can do
- Wear thongs in shared showers and don’t share towels or nail files.
- Don’t cut or burn warts at home: infection and scarring aren’t worth it.
- Most treatments take 6 to 12 weeks. Patience is part of the treatment.
See your GP if
- Warts are on the face, genitals or around the nails
- You have diabetes, poor circulation or numb feet (don’t self-treat foot warts)
- A growth bleeds, changes quickly or you’re not sure it’s a wart
- You have a weakened immune system
See a doctor promptly if a treated area becomes hot, swollen and increasingly painful, or you develop a fever.
Common questions
Do warts go away on their own?
Most do. In children, about half clear within a year, and most within 2 years.
What is the best treatment for warts?
Salicylic acid paint or gel from the pharmacy, daily for up to 12 weeks, clears about half of warts. Freezing by a doctor works about as well but hurts more.
Does duct tape work on warts?
It was no better than a dummy treatment in larger trials.
Should I treat foot warts myself if I have diabetes?
No. If you have diabetes, poor circulation or numb feet, see your GP rather than self-treating foot warts.
Are warts contagious?
Yes, mildly. Warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) and spread by skin contact or wet surfaces such as pool decks and showers. Wearing thongs in shared showers and not picking warts helps stop spread.
Is it a wart or a corn?
Plantar warts often have tiny black dots, break up the skin’s normal lines and hurt more when squeezed from the sides. Corns form over pressure points, keep the skin lines running through them and hurt when pressed directly.
How long do warts last?
Many go away without treatment: about half of warts in children clear within a year and about two-thirds within 2 years. Warts in adults tend to last longer.
Helpful resources
- Find a podiatrist (Australian Podiatry Association)Search for a podiatrist near you for stubborn foot warts. Free to search, Australia.
- NI Direct: Warts and verrucasClear NHS-based guide to home and pharmacy treatment, and when to see someone. Free.
Evidence and more information
- Healthdirect: How to treat warts
- Cochrane: Topical treatments for skin warts
- Bruggink et al, Ann Fam Med 2013: natural course of warts in children
- Bruggink et al, CMAJ 2010: freezing vs salicylic acid vs wait and see
maladywise.com/warts/