While warts are generally harmless, they can certainly be embarrassing and cause you to feel self-conscious. There are both at home and professional remedies to help you get rid of warts. Taking these steps can help you to get rid of warts and improve the health and appearance of your skin. Our experts at Allen-Taintor Dermatology can help you to remove your warts and protect your skin’s health. Here are a few methods that can help you to get rid of warts.
What are Warts?
Ultimately, warts are benign (non-cancerous) growths that occur on the surface of the skin. The type of wart will depend on the location. For example, plantar warts are the kind of warts that develop on the feet. Warts are caused by a virus and can be spread by touch. For this reason, it is common for warts to develop when your immune system is somewhat compromised.
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is one of the most common treatments for warts. When you decide to use salicylic acid, you will want to start by soaking your wart in warm water. After you have soaked the wart, you will want to apply the acid to the area. Ensure that this is done on a daily basis. This process will often result in dead skin cells building up over the wart. You can use an emery board or pumice stone to file the skin and remove these dead skin cells. When you do so, you will want to use a new fixture daily, as reusing the old one can cause the wart to spread.
Freeze
Freezing warts is another popular method for wart removal. This is most commonly done with products that contain liquid nitrogen to freeze off the warts. Freezing can also often be done in your dermatologist’s office to prevent any damage from impacting your surrounding skin.
Prevent Spreading
If you have a wart, it is important to take the steps to prevent it from spreading. Keeping it covered can help to prevent accidental touching of other areas of your skin. In addition, you will want to ensure that you avoid contact with the wart to prevent the spread of the virus. Preventing spreading is critical in helping to get rid of warts.
Duct Tape
Though this method may seem strange, many people swear by the use of duct tape. By placing the duct tape over the surface of the wart, they cut off contact with the wart’s surface. However, if you intend to try this method, be aware that there is no conclusive evidence that it works. A better bet is to consult with your dermatologist for guidance.
Visit your Dermatologist
Your dermatologist provides superior services for wart removal. In some cases, a laser can be used to help cut the wart away from the skin. Freezing the wart is another common procedure in a dermatologist’s office. Your dermatologist may even opt for minor surgery to remove warts from your skin.
If you have developed warts, it is highly likely that you will want to have them removed as quickly as possible. Our experts at Allen-Taintor Dermatology can help to guide you through the process of doing so. To learn more about wart removal and the services that we can provide, contact us at Allen-Taintor Dermatology today!