Warts can develop on your hands, feet, and body, and while generally harmless, they can be unsightly and uncomfortable. Though warts often go away on their own, persistent warts may require treatment to eliminate the pesky protrusions effectively.

At Advanced Dermatology and Mohs Surgery in Batavia, IL, our dermatologists can help you find an at-home or in-office treatment for your warts. It may take up to a few months before your warts are eliminated, as treatments work to both destroy the wart and help the immune system attack the virus which caused the development of warts. While warts may re-emerge or spread, treatments can effectively eliminate existing warts.

Home treatment options

The most common at-home remedy for eliminating warts is a topical salicylic acid solution, which may be available in patch, liquid, or ointment form from your drugstore. These products generally need to be applied daily and can take several weeks to show results.

Nonprescription freezing sprays are also available over the counter for wart removal. Applied directly to the wart, it may take one or several treatments to fully destroy the wart.

Ask your dermatologist at our Batavia, IL office for product recommendations that will best suit your needs.

In-office treatments

Your dermatologist may prescribe a professional-strength salicylic acid treatment to remove the wart layer by layer. Another acid treatment is trichloroacetic acid, which is applied after your dermatologist first removes the surface layer of the wart. Weekly treatments may be necessary to fully eliminate the wart.

Freezing is another option available at our Batavia, IL office. Your dermatologist will use liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart so the tissue dies and begins to shed. While typically effective, freezing can be painful and cause blistering.

Lasers can also be used to kill the infected tissue so the wart eventually falls off. This method, however, can result in scarring and pain.

If warts are bothering you, make an appointment with your dermatologist at our Batavia, IL office by calling 630-482-3700.