Warts and verrucas
Warts are caused by human papillomavirus infecting the surface layer of the skin. They are benign and, in most cases, disappear on their own: about two…
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Medicines commonly prescribed for Warts and verrucas
For informational purposes only. Always consult a doctor before using any medicine.
Dosage form: TOPICAL SOLUTION, 5 mg/mlActive substance: podophyllotoxinManufacturer: Phoenix Labs Unlimited CompanyPrescription requiredDosage form: CREAM, 0.15% podophyllotoxinActive substance: podophyllotoxinManufacturer: Phoenix Labs Unlimited CompanyPrescription required
Warts are caused by human papillomavirus infecting the surface layer of the skin. They are benign and, in most cases, disappear on their own: about two thirds resolve within two years without any intervention. That makes treating them a choice rather than an obligation, and it is worth making that choice knowing that treatments require weeks of persistence.
Types
- common wart: a raised, rough-surfaced growth with black dots that are thrombosed capillaries. Mainly on hands, fingers and around the nails;
- verruca: on the sole of the foot; body weight flattens and pushes it inwards, and it hurts to stand on, like having a stone in your shoe;
- mosaic wart: a group of small verrucas forming a plaque;
- plane wart: small, smooth and barely raised; common on the face and backs of the hands, often in large numbers;
- filiform wart: long and thin, typical of the face, eyelids and neck;
- genital warts: caused by different virus types and managed separately.
Verruca or corn
This is the commonest confusion and it changes the treatment entirely:
- verruca: hurts more when pinched from the sides than when pressed downwards; the skin lines stop at its edge; when pared, black dots appear;
- corn: hurts on downward pressure; the skin lines run across it; when pared, a uniform clear core appears.
How they spread
- direct contact with a wart;
- shared damp floors: swimming pools, changing rooms, showers, gyms;
- shared towels, footwear and socks;
- self-inoculation: scratching, nail biting or shaving spreads them to other areas of your own body;
- they enter through small breaks in the skin and through macerated skin;
- the incubation period can be months;
- the risk is higher with damp skin, with atopic dermatitis and with reduced immunity.
When to see a doctor
- the wart hurts, bleeds or changes appearance;
- there are many or they are spreading quickly;
- it is on the face, the genitals or around a nail;
- it has not responded to three months of correct treatment;
- you have diabetes, neuropathy or circulatory problems: do not use acid treatments on your own;
- your immunity is reduced;
- you are not certain it is a wart;
- it has appeared in an older adult and is growing steadily: other lesions should be excluded;
- it is a young child.
Treatment
No method works in every case and all of them take weeks. The combination of paring, salicylic acid and occlusion offers the best effort-to-result ratio.
- salicylic acid as a solution, gel or plaster at 15–50%: the first-line treatment. Applied daily for 8–12 weeks;
- pare the wart before each application, using a file kept solely for that purpose and never used elsewhere;
- soak in warm water for 5–10 minutes before applying;
- protect the surrounding skin with petroleum jelly or tape: the acid damages healthy skin;
- cover with a dressing after application: occlusion improves the results;
- cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen in clinic, every 2–3 weeks over several sessions; usually combined with the acid;
- cantharidin, applied by a doctor;
- curettage and electrocautery, laser, or intralesional bleomycin for resistant cases;
- topical immunotherapy for multiple persistent warts;
- no treatment: a reasonable option in children whose warts are not troublesome.
How to stop them spreading
- do not scratch, bite or pick at the wart; wash your hands if you do;
- cover it with a dressing, especially at the pool and the gym;
- flip-flops in showers and changing rooms;
- your own towel and your own socks, washed hot;
- do not shave over an area with warts: the fastest way to seed them;
- keep a file and nail clippers solely for the wart;
- keep your feet dry;
- do not share footwear.
Common questions
Do they have roots? No. The black dots are blood vessels, not roots. A wart sits only in the epidermis.
Can I cut it off? Not at home: it bleeds, spreads the virus and can leave a painful scar on the sole.
Are they contagious to other people? Yes, particularly via shared damp floors, though not everyone is susceptible.
Do home remedies work? Occlusive tape has some weak evidence. Garlic and celandine can burn healthy skin.
Can they come back? Yes. The virus can persist in the skin; recurrences are common.
Do they turn cancerous? Common warts and verrucas do not.
Online consultation
In an online consultation the doctor reviews photographs, distinguishes a verruca from a corn — which prevents months of the wrong treatment — explains the paring and application technique step by step, assesses the risk if you have diabetes, and advises when to move on to cryotherapy or other options.
This material is for information only and does not replace a medical consultation.
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Reviewed on Jul 18, 2026
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