Warts

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How to get rid of a wart at home: Dermatologist tips

Please note: This video is from the American Academy of Dermatology. This condition does not always require evaluation by a dermatologist. Please start with your child's primary care provider first, and we can refer you to a dermatologist if needed.

What are warts?

Small rough bumps that grow on the skin. They might have very small red or black pinpoint dots inside.
They are very common. 1 in 10 children will get them.
They are not dangerous, but can be annoying.
- If bumped or scratched, they can bleed.
- If on the feet, they can be painful.
- They can spread to other parts of the body or to other people.
- Warts around the nails can damage the nails.

Warts can show up anywhere on the body. How they look, depends on where they are:

Location	What They Look Like
Hands	Raised, rough bumps
Bottom of the feet (plantar warts)	Flat from walking pressure; can be painful
Around the nails
Face, arms, and legs	Small and flat
Face (especially around mouth, eyes, or nose)	Finger-like shape

What causes warts?

They are caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV).
- There are over 100 types of HPV.
- The types that cause common warts are NOT the same types that cause genital warts or cancer.
- The HPV vaccine is designed to protect against the types of HPV that cause genital warts and cancer - not the types that cause common skin warts. However, some early research suggests the vaccine may offer some protection against skin warts as well. The HPV vaccine is recommended for all children starting at ages 9 to 11 for cancer prevention, regardless of whether they have skin warts.
It can take anywhere from 1 to 6 months (and sometimes even longer) after being exposed to warts and a wart becoming visible.

How do warts spread?

Through touching, skin-to-skin contact, and sharing towels/shoes/grooming tools.
- Children should not share towels or equipment that touches bare skin.
Some people get warts easily, while others seem to never get them.
There is no evidence that swimming pools are a major source of spreading warts.
- Wearing flip-flops or sandals around the pool and in changing areas is a good habit.
Children in sports like wrestling and gymnastics should cover their warts with a bandage or athletic tape to prevent skin-to-skin spread. Otherwise, your child can continue to participate in sports like normal.
Tips to Help Prevent Spreading
- ✋ Do not pick at or scratch warts
- 🩴 Wear flip-flops or sandals in locker rooms, around pools, and in shared showers
- 🚫 Do not share towels, nail files, or other personal items that touch the skin near a wart
- 🩹 Cover warts with a bandage during contact sports
- 🧼 Wash hands often

Do warts go away on their own?

Most of the time.
In children, 50% will go away within 6 months, and 90% within 2 years.

What are the treatment options?

There is no single treatment that works for every wart.
In general, the treatments help stimulate your child’s immune system to start fighting the virus infection.
Sometimes no treatment is needed at all.

Warts might come back after treatment.

Treatment	How It Works	What to Know
No treatment	Wait for the wart to go away on its own	Best if warts are not bothering your child
Salicylic acid (over-the-counter)	Breaks down the wart slowly over time	Applied daily; takes weeks to months. Done at home.
Duct tape	Irritates the wart and activates the immune system	Can be used alone or with salicylic acid
Freezing (cryotherapy)	Very cold liquid destroys the wart in the office	Can sting; may blister; usually needs repeat visits. Depending on the location of the wart, your CPCMG clinician might be able to do this in the office. Your CPCMG clinician might recommend returning in 2-4 weeks for repeat treatment.
Prescription creams	Helps the skin fight the virus or break down the wart	Options include imiquimod, retinoids, or 5-fluorouracil. Some of these will need to be prescribed by a dermatologist.
In-office injections	Medicine injected into the wart to boost immune response	For older children with stubborn warts; visits every 4–6 weeks. This is done by a dermatologist.

How to Treat Warts at Home

Follow your provider's instructions carefully. Most home treatments are done once a day.

⚠️ Do not use salicylic acid on the face or groin unless your provider tells you to.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1 — Soak

Soak the wart in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes. A bath or shower works too.

Step 2 — File

Gently file the surface of the wart with a nail file or pumice stone. Use this tool only on the wart — not on healthy skin. Stop if it hurts or bleeds.

Step 3 — Apply Medicine

Apply 17% salicylic acid (such as Compound W or Dr. Scholl's) directly to the wart. Try not to get it on the healthy skin around the wart. You can put petroleum jelly on the surrounding skin to protect it.

Step 4 — Wait

Let the medicine dry and turn white.

Step 5 — Cover

Cover the wart with duct tape or a bandage.

Step 6 — Repeat

Do these steps every night. Treatment can take several weeks to months. Be patient and try not to skip days.

What's Normal During Treatment

✅ The wart skin looks white and moist — this is expected

⚠️ If the skin gets very red, sore, or irritated — take a break for 1 to 3 nights, then start again

❄️ After In-Office Freezing Treatment (Cryotherapy) ❄️

If your child's wart was treated with freezing in the office:

The area may be red and swollen.
A blister may form. Do not pop the blister.
Wash the area gently with soap and water each day.
Cover with a bandage and antibiotic ointment if needed.
The blister or scab will fall off on its own in 1 to 3 weeks.
Wait at least 3 to 7 days (or until the blister has healed) before starting any home treatment on that area.
The treated skin may be lighter in color for a while. This usually goes back to normal over time.

Call your child’s CPCMG primary care provider if:

The skin around your child’s wart looks red, swollen, or infected.
Your child has a fever after treatment.
Your child has warts on their face, groin, or genitals.
Warts have not improved after 12 weeks of home treatment.
You have other questions or concerns about your child’s warts.

📚 References

This content was adapted from HealthyChildren.org, The American Academy of Pediatrics Parenting Website, The Society for Pediatric Dermatology Patient Education Handouts, KidsHealth, and DermNet.

Images from DermNet.

Reviewed by AR DO, Patient Education Committee.

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