Yes. The immune system can eventually clear the infection, and some warts disappear without treatment. However, this process can take months or even years.
Others persist, spread, or cause discomfort. Plantar warts may be particularly troublesome because pressure from standing and walking can make them painful.
Treatment is often chosen according to the wart's location, size, number, duration, and the person's medical history.
3. Skin Tags vs. Warts: How Are They Different?
Although both can appear as small skin growths, several characteristics may help distinguish them.
Skin tags are usually soft, flexible, and attached by a narrow stalk. They commonly develop in skin folds and are not caused by HPV.
Warts are often firmer or rougher and may have a thickened surface. They are caused by certain HPV types and can spread to other areas or people.
However, these differences are not reliable enough to diagnose every growth at home. Some other skin conditions can resemble either skin tags or warts.
For example, moles, seborrheic keratoses, and certain other lesions may appear raised or irregular. Some skin cancers can also resemble benign growths.
If you are unsure what a lesion is, particularly if it is new or changing, have it examined before attempting removal.
Never use a wart-removal product on a growth simply because it looks like a wart. The wrong treatment can damage healthy skin and delay diagnosis of a more serious condition.
4. Salicylic Acid: A Common Treatment for Certain Warts
Salicylic acid is one of the most widely used nonprescription treatments for common warts and plantar warts.
It works by gradually breaking down the thickened outer layers of skin. With repeated use, treated tissue can be removed little by little, allowing the wart to become smaller.
Depending on the product, treatment may involve a liquid, gel, or medicated patch. The instructions differ, so it is important to follow the specific label rather than applying the product more frequently or in larger amounts than recommended.
How is salicylic acid commonly used?
For suitable common warts, treatment often involves softening the affected area in warm water, carefully removing only loosened dead skin when the product instructions permit, and applying the medication as directed.
Do not cut into the wart or use a sharp blade to remove tissue. Stop treatment and seek advice if significant pain, severe irritation, or unexpected skin damage develops.
Treatment can take several weeks, and results are not guaranteed.
Where should salicylic acid not be used?
Over-the-counter wart products should not be used on skin tags, moles, facial lesions, or genital areas unless a qualified healthcare professional specifically advises otherwise.
The acid can damage healthy skin and may cause chemical burns, especially on sensitive areas.
People with diabetes, poor circulation, reduced sensation in their feet, or other conditions affecting wound healing should consult a healthcare professional before using wart-removal acids, particularly on the feet.
Salicylic acid is intended for certain warts, not for every skin growth.
5. Cryotherapy: Freezing Certain Skin Growths
Cryotherapy is a medical treatment that uses extreme cold to destroy targeted tissue. Liquid nitrogen is commonly used by healthcare professionals to treat appropriate warts and some other skin lesions.
Freezing damages the affected cells, and the treated tissue may blister, form a scab, and gradually heal.
Cryotherapy can be effective for many common warts, although more than one session may be needed. Some warts return even after treatment because the underlying viral infection may not be completely eliminated.
Can skin tags be frozen?
Yes. A clinician may use cryotherapy to remove certain skin tags, depending on their size, location, and appearance.
However, treatment should not begin until the growth has been appropriately identified. Freezing an undiagnosed lesion may cause injury or delay the diagnosis of a condition that needs different care.
What should you expect?
Temporary pain, redness, swelling, blistering, or changes in skin pigmentation can occur. Scarring is possible, particularly if the treatment is aggressive or the area becomes infected.
Over-the-counter freezing products are not necessarily equivalent to medical cryotherapy. Their effectiveness varies, and they may not be suitable for every lesion.
Avoid using freezing kits on eyelids, the face, genital areas, or any growth whose identity is uncertain.
6. Professional Removal of Skin Tags
If a skin tag is irritating, repeatedly catching on clothing, or affecting your confidence, a healthcare professional can discuss removal options.