What Over The Counter Wart Remedie Should You Consider?

Warts are a fairly common dermatological complaint, and are caused by the human papilloma virus; genital warts are the leading cause of cervical cancer in women, and a new prescription vaccine has been developed for it.

Most warts are the result of the papilloma virus breeding in side the skin, and enclosing itself in repurposed skin cells; this makes the small, hard warts most commonly treated with over the counter remedies.

Over the counter remedies come in three broad categories:  Immune system boosters, cryogenic freezing, and acid burning.  For roughly 30% of people who use them, over the counter remedies don’t permanently get rid of the wart.

Acid burning usually uses salicylic acid to mildly burn away the skin around the wart; the goal is to eventually remove the layers of skin that have built up around the infection, and remove the infection at the same time.  Care must be taken in doing this to do it regularly – it often takes several treatments per day over 12 weeks to fully remove a wart.  Another variation of this is the infamous torture device known as the silver nitrate pencil, which burns skin the same way acid does.

Cryogenic treatments work on the same principle, instead of using an acid burn, they chill the wart so it flakes off naturally when skin grows around it.  They have the benefit of working faster, but are the least likeliest to give a permanent cure.

Immunotherapy boosters attempt to get your body to cleans out the HPV infection by triggering interferon production.  These can be given by doctors (candida treatments) or handled by triggering very mild allergic reactions (usually to latex compounds). 

All of these treatments require a bit of dedication, and a willingness to suffer pain to be free of your wart.  When you’re clearing up your skin in this way, be aware that you’re opening yourself up to some levels of infection, and that it takes a regular course of treatments.

Regardless of which type of treatment you use, it’s important to read the instructions, and read them fully.  Some have advice against use by diabetics (who have trouble feeling burns), children (who can be scarred by them) or women who are pregnant or nursing (who can have complications from immunotherapy treatments).  If you’re not certain, consult with a physician. 

When using an over-the-counter wart remover, you are advised to be on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary, as is the case with any medical treatment.  Persistent pain, especially after the first treatment, may indicate an allergic reaction to one of the agents, as can redness or open sores – which are an avenue to infections. When in doubt, ask for help, and consult your dermatologist.