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Warts! Any over-the-counter cures?

This is the sort of area where I will place my trust in medical professionals and forego amateur dramatics on the grounds that 1) I don't really know what I am doing, and 2) my uneducated interventions under such conditions might run the risk of making matters worse.
 
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I've had something on the knuckle of my forefinger that all most looks like a wart, but it is not as pronounced as a planters wart and is not that annoying. I've used the OTC freeze treatment, but that has not removed it. I'll probably try the wart drops and if that does not work, ask the doctor at my next physical.
 
I don't believe I've ever had a wart. The closest I've gotten to one is a bubble of fluid after I burnt my wrist on a scalding hot cast iron pan eons ago. I popped it with a sterile needle a week later.
 
I know this is an older thread, but trichloroacetic acid (TCA) works well in removing warts, moles, some scars, and several other kinds of skin imperfections that do not respond to other treatments. There are several major considerations before using it given the risks and discomfort - for me, I decided it was worth the risks and have used it for acne scaring with very satisfactory results, initially having it done professionally and later doing it at home with a neutralizing solution readily available. IIRC wart removal requires a higher concentration than is used for some other blemishes - and carries a higher risk for chemical burns.
 
My suggestion is it's always best to see a medical professional unless this is a common issue for you. This is especially important if the wart is in an sensitive or cosmetically important area- face, genitals, sole of feet, palms, finger/toenails.

These are the common OTC treatments
- Salicylic Acid, available in various forms- gels, patches, etc
- Cryotherapy - OTC freeze off product
- Taping, which involves putting duck tape on the wart and changing the tape every day. The adhesive may gradually peel away layers of the wart.

It's also worth noting these methods should not be used over a widespread area (i.e. You had clusters of warts).

There are some other options you could discuss with your doctor such as lasers, more sophisticated cryotherapy, and various prescription meds depending on your situation.
 
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And maybe some Tylenol.
 
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See a dermatologist. I can't remember the exact treatment plan I was on for plantar warts, but it involved soaking the area in very hot water, applying an ointment of some kind and a bandage, and removing dead skin with a very sharp knife. It worked eventually, but it took awhile, and they came back. Tried again and, with patience, they disappeared. Salicylic acid is the active ingredient in many wart removal medications. Seems like the bandages I was using had the medication in them.

A little searching helped. Curad Mediplast is what you want.
 
I had a few warts that tried freezing, cutting, Salicylic Acid, liquid and band-aid types. They always came back within a few months. About 6 months ago I had a cold sore and I happened to have a doctors appointment. Told the doctor that I get them every now and then, and when I was a kid I used to get them often. He gave me some antiviral medication, which seemed to shorten the time I had a cold sore. Maybe this is a coincidence, but during one of my warts is completely gone and the others are almost gone. I have another doctors appointment coming up in a couple of weeks and I was thinking of bringing it up to him.
 
TheAppleFairy said:
About 6 months ago I had a cold sore and I happened to have a doctors appointment. Told the doctor that I get them every now and then, and when I was a kid I used to get them often. He gave me some antiviral medication, which seemed to shorten the time I had a cold sore.
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I use an over-the-counter supplement called L-Lysine for that. Feel one coming on, take one pill a day for a few days, usually nips it in the bud.
 
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I went for the super aggressive route.
Clipped off with toenail clipper and soaked it in 100% acetone. Then covered it for the night with a bandaid.
I am planning on leaving the bandaid on in the morning too but likely will change bandaids in the afternoon and clean it again.
But this will probably be unpleasant.
I only did it because I was sick and tired of it hanging around on my thumb all the time. It's small and no one can tell it's there, really. But it bothers me. A lot.
So yeah. Hoping this works.
 
ravenvii said:
I got some of dem warts on my big toe. It's those tiny, cauliflower-like warts. I got 4 of 'em.

I was going to wait to go to the dermatologist to have them frozen off, but I want them gone now.

Is there any over-the-counter stuff that can kill them good?
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Maybe you can find some answers in here:

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warts.org warts.org
 
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