Warts and Verrucas: Treatments That Work and When to Leave Them Alone

Most warts disappear on their own, but it can take months or even a couple of years. They’re caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), are very common in children and teenagers, and are usually harmless. If they bother you, a few treatments have good evidence, and patience is one of them.

Imagine your 10-year-old limping after swimming lessons. On the sole of their foot you find a small, hard patch with tiny black dots in it. It hurts when they walk. A pharmacist tells you it’s a verruca, explains that it may go away by itself, and shows you how to treat it at home if you’d rather speed things up.

Warts vs verrucas

• Common warts: rough, raised, firm lumps, often on hands, fingers and knees
• Verrucas (plantar warts): flatter warts on the soles of the feet, pushed inwards by walking, often with tiny black dots (small blood vessels)
• Flat warts: small, smooth and often on the face or legs

Treatments that work

• Salicylic acid gels, paints or plasters from the pharmacy. Soak the area, file the dead skin gently, then apply daily for up to 12 weeks. Protect the healthy skin around it. This has the best evidence for home treatment.
• Freezing (cryotherapy) at a clinic, or with home freezing kits. It may need repeating every few weeks and can blister.
• Duct tape: some people try it, but research results are mixed.
• Specialist treatments for stubborn warts, from a doctor, podiatrist or dermatologist.

Don’t use wart treatments on your face or genitals, and check with a nurse, doctor or podiatrist first if you have diabetes or poor circulation, because foot treatments can damage skin that heals poorly.

Stopping warts spreading

• Don’t pick, bite or scratch warts
• Cover verrucas with a waterproof plaster for swimming, and wear flip-flops in communal showers
• Don’t share towels, socks or shoes
• Use a separate nail file or pumice stone for the wart

But when does a wart need checking?

See a doctor or nurse if a growth bleeds, changes in size, shape or colour, appears in an adult for no clear reason, is on your face or genitals, is very painful, or keeps coming back. Some skin cancers can look like warts, so any changing or unusual lump should be checked. Genital warts need a sexual health clinic.

Sources: NHS (Warts and verrucas), American Academy of Dermatology, British Association of Dermatologists, Cochrane review of topical treatments for skin warts. This guide is for general information and does not replace advice from your own nurse, doctor, podiatrist or pharmacist.