Common Warts: Removal Options and When to See a GP

For wart removal on the hands and feet, the first choice is salicylic acid from the pharmacy, used every day for weeks, or freezing (cryotherapy) at the clinic. Many warts go away on their own within months or years. Do not cut, scrape or burn them at home. This guide is by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, a GP licensed in Spain (Colegiado No. 484814280).

What is a common wart?

It is a small, hard, rough lump on the skin, often with tiny black dots. The dots are small blood vessels. Warts grow most on the fingers, the backs of the hands, around the nails and on the knees. On the sole of the foot they are called verrucas, or plantar warts.

The cause is the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are over 100 types. The ones that cause warts on the hands are not the ones that cause genital warts. Genital warts are treated in a different way: see our guide to genital warts and HPV.

Are warts contagious?

Yes, a little. The virus spreads by skin contact or from things like towels, shower floors and pool sides. It gets in more easily through wet or broken skin. Biting your nails or picking at the skin helps it spread across the fingers.

To avoid spreading it: do not touch or pick the wart, cover it at the pool, wear flip-flops in shared showers, and do not share towels, nail files or clippers.

Do warts go away on their own?

Many do. The immune system clears the virus in the end, above all in children. It can take months or even a couple of years. If the wart does not bother you, waiting is a fair choice. Treat it if it hurts, gets in the way, spreads or you dislike how it looks.

How do you remove a wart at home?

Spanish pharmacies sell two kinds of product with no prescription:

• Salicylic acid (ácido salicílico) as a liquid, gel or plaster. It softens the wart and removes it layer by layer. It is the home treatment with the best evidence. It works if you keep at it, often for several weeks and up to about three months.
• Pharmacy freeze sprays (crioterapia or congelador de verrugas). They use a gas and do not get as cold as the liquid nitrogen a doctor uses.

Tips to use them well:

• Follow the leaflet. Each product says how to apply it and for how long.
• First soak the area in warm water for a few minutes. Then gently file off dead skin with a file you use only for the wart.
• Protect the skin around it, for example with petroleum jelly.
• Stop if the skin gets very red, sore or broken, and see a doctor.

What can a doctor do?

• Freezing with liquid nitrogen: this kills the wart tissue. It can sting and leave a blister. You often need a few sessions, a few weeks apart.
• Stronger creams or liquids on prescription, for warts that do not respond.
• A skin specialist (dermatologist) can treat large, many or stubborn warts in other ways, such as laser or minor surgery. A podiatrist (podólogo) also treats painful verrucas.

No treatment works every time, and warts can come back.

What about verrucas on the feet?

Verrucas grow on the sole and get pushed inwards by your weight. That is why they hurt when you walk and look like a corn. Unlike a corn, they often have black dots and hurt more when squeezed from the sides than when pressed. They are treated the same way, but they are harder to clear. If you think it may be fungus instead, see our guide to toenail fungus.

Which home remedies should you avoid?

Cutting, scraping with a blade or burning a wart can cause infection and scars, and can spread the virus. Garlic, vinegar and home-made acids can burn healthy skin, and there is no proof they work. Studies on duct tape give mixed results.

Who should not treat warts at home?

• Anyone with a wart on the face or genitals.
• People with diabetes, poor blood flow or numb feet. A small wound can turn into a bigger problem.
• People with a weak immune system, from an illness or from medicines.
• Anyone who is not sure it is a wart.

When to see a doctor

• The wart bleeds, changes colour or shape, or grows fast.
• It hurts a lot, or stops you walking or using your hand.
• You have many, they spread, or they come back after treatment.
• After treatment the skin is red, hot, has pus, or you have a fever.
• You are over 40 and a new lump that looks like a wart appears. A doctor should check it.

When to go to A&E

A wart is not an emergency. Go to A&E (urgencias) or call 112 if, after a treatment, redness spreads fast with a high fever, or you have a large chemical burn.

Frequently asked questions about wart removal

Getting a medical assessment

If you have a wart that bothers or worries you, you can book a video consultation with Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, a physician registered in Spain. You can also read about rashes and skin problems and genital warts. A prescription is never guaranteed: it is issued only where clinically appropriate after a genuine evaluation, as a private electronic prescription under Spanish law. This service is for urgent, non-emergency care. In an emergency, call 112.

This guide is general information. It does not replace the package leaflet or the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.