How long wart

However, they occur due to a specific strain of HPV and affect people who live or work in cold, moist environments. Wart treatments work by removing the wart rather than curing HPV. Due to this, warts may reoccur after treatment because the virus remains. However, if this is not the case, or a person wishes to remove warts quickly, various treatment options are available.

People can choose from many over-the-counter products containing salicylic acid that they can apply topically to a common wart. There is no clear evidence that duct tape wart removal is effective and no guidance on how long it might take.

The idea behind this approach is that applying new duct tape to a wart every few days may gradually remove layers of the wart. A person can try this method easily at home, but it is important to note that it may not work and that some people may experience side effects, such as skin reactions and bleeding. Cryotherapy uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart, which causes the surface layers to peel off. However, cryotherapy can cause blistering, which can last up to several days or weeks.

It can also cause permanent white marks on the skin and may lead to temporary numbness in the treatment area. Electrosurgery and curettage use heat to burn away the base of the wart. This type of treatment can treat large warts that have not responded to other treatments, but there are some downsides :. Wart medications, such as salicylic acid, gradually peel away layers of a wart until it reaches the same level as the skin. People may notice the wart becoming flatter over time.

When a doctor performs a procedure to treat a wart, its removal may be much quicker. For instance, the doctor may apply cantharidin Cantharone to the wart, which causes a blister to form underneath it. About 1 week after treatment, the doctor can cut away the dead wart. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology AOCD , people need to keep using wart medication until the wart is no longer visible and looks the same as the surrounding skin.

People should not be able to see any black dots or areas of grainy texture. The AOCD also recommends pausing treatment if the wart or surrounding area becomes sore or bleeds.

People may need to miss a day of treatment and continue the following day or once irritation stops. Some strains of HPV are acquired through sexual contact. Most forms, however, are spread by casual skin contact or through shared objects, such as towels or washcloths. The virus usually spreads through breaks in your skin, such as a hangnail or a scrape.

Biting your nails also can cause warts to spread on your fingertips and around your nails. Each person's immune system responds to the HPV virus differently, so not everyone who comes in contact with HPV develops warts. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Common warts Open pop-up dialog box Close. Common warts Common warts can grow on your hands or fingers. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Goldstein BG, et al. Avoid contact with the fluid, which may contain the wart virus.

The blister will dry up over the next few days, and the wart may fall off. Multiple treatments may be needed to get rid of the wart. Why It Is Done Cryotherapy is usually used if salicylic acid treatment has not eliminated a wart or if quick treatment is desired. How Well It Works Cryotherapy can destroy warts. Risks If done carefully, cryotherapy poses little risk of scarring. Some signs of infection include: Increased pain, swelling, redness, tenderness, or heat.

Red streaks extending from the area. Discharge of pus. What To Think About If you can tolerate moderate, short-term pain, cryotherapy may be a reasonable treatment option for you. Cryotherapy: Can be painful and expensive but usually does not scar. Is most painful where the skin is thicker palms and soles. Often takes multiple treatments, especially for thick, larger warts.

Is quick and can be done in a doctor's office or at home. Related Information Warts and Plantar Warts. References Citations Habif TP, et al. Viral infections. In Skin Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment , 3rd ed. Edinburgh: Saunders. Credits Current as of: July 2,