The best over-the-counter wart remover may depend on the type of wart you have. If you have a common wart or plantar wart, wart removal products that contain salicylic acid may be the best option. You may even find that a home remedy such as duct tape may prove helpful for treating a common wart. In some cases, however, you may choose not to treat a common or plantar wart at all and decide to wait for it to go away on its own, though this may take a long time to occur. Additionally, it is important to note that some warts, such as those that are stubborn and difficult to treat and those that develop on the genitals, may require a doctor’s treatment.
In most cases, the best over-the-counter wart remover is one that contains salicylic acid. In order for this type of treatment to work, you will usually have to apply the wart removal product to the wart every day for weeks. For example, each day, you may use an emery board to gently remove the dead tissue on the surface of the wart. Then, you may bathe or take a shower and dry off — but leave the skin a little damp — and apply the salicylic acid treatment to your wart. The medicine is usually more effective if used on skin that is a little damp.
You may find a salicylic acid wart remover in many different forms. For example, you may find it as a liquid or as a gel. You may also find the treatment in the form of pretreated pads or bandages you can apply to the skin. All of these over-the-counter wart remover treatments may work, so choosing one is usually a matter of preference.
In addition to over-the-counter wart remover options, you may also try using duct tape to get rid of warts without any kind of medication. To use this treatment, you can cut a small piece of duct tape to fit on the affected area and allow it to stay in place for six days. After six days have passed, you may remove the duct tape and soak the part of the skin on which the wart is located in warm water before filing it to remove the dead tissue. Finally, you may apply fresh duct tape the next day and keep it in place for another six days before repeating the soaking and filing. You will have to repeat this six-day-on-one-day-off process until the wart is gone.
