Even though a majority of warts are harmless, they can become painful or spread quickly, says board-certified dermatologist Anna Chacon, MD. Not to mention they’re not the most attractive thing.
There are a variety of different treatment options for getting rid of them—including in-office procedures. UK board-certified dermatologist Ahmad Fayyaz Chaudhry MBBS (MD) says that most common warts and plantar warts can, indeed, be treated at home, but urges you not to grab the first wart-remover you see at the store, as there are several considerations that go into picking the right product for your particular wart.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, at-home products containing salicylic acid are a safe, effective way to treat warts at home. It works by causing the skin to peel away in layers, removing the wart over time. The most common in-office treatment for warts is freezing them off and there are at-home cryotherapy kits, as well, now. Although they use dimethyl ether propane—which is not quite as powerful as the liquid nitrogen used by dermatologists—they're still a good option to try before heading to the doctor.
After researching over a dozen wart removers from the top brands and speaking to the experts, we narrowed down the six best OTC wart treatments for everything from painful plantar warts on your feet to warts on sensitive areas like your face. A board-certified dermatologist from our Medical Expert Board also reviewed this article for medical and scientific accuracy.
- Best Overall: Compound W Fast Acting Gel
- Best for Plantar Warts: Dr. Scholl’s Dual ActionFreeze Away Wart Remover
- Best for Kids: Naturasil for Warts Removal
- Best Stick: WartStick Maximum Strength Wart Remover
- Best Pads: Compound W One Step Pads
- Best for Face: Terrasil Wart Care and Removal Ointment
The Editor's Take
When I had a painful plantar wart on the bottom of my foot, I tried the Compound W One Step Pads. The wart was in an awkward spot—in the “crease” of my big toe, so I had trouble getting them to stay on. I got impatient and went to my dermatologist to have it frozen and shaved off, which took several appointments until it was completely gone (and cost me nearly $500 total). Next time, I'll useDr. Scholl’s Dual ActionFreeze Away Wart Removerat hometo save hundreds of dollars.
My 4-year-old son also had a few warts on his fingers, and I struggled to get him to keep anything on for longer than two seconds. His pediatrician said not to worry too much about them but mentioned that we could try duct tape since it’s a safe and effective home remedy for removing warts. I wrapped his digits in silver duct tape and told him he had robot fingers, which he thought was cool. We did that for a few weeks, and the warts got smaller and eventually went away entirely.
—Nicole Cherie Jones, Commerce Editor
Our Top Picks
Best for Plantar Warts:
Dr. Scholl's FreezeAway Wart Remover Dual Action at Amazon$26
Best for Kids:
Best Overall
Compound W Maximum Strength Gel Wart Remover
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Why We Like It
This popular over-the-counter treatment uses 17% salicylic acid to break down the wart, explains Dr. Chaudhry. It’s versatile and works on various types of warts, including common and plantar warts, he adds.
Salicylic acid works by softening and dissolving the cells of the wart, effectively eradicating them with an easy-to-use gel, explains Dr. Chacon. The gel helps the product stay in place on the affected area so it doesn't affect nearby healthy skin.
It’s Worth Noting
If the wart is thick, it will take several treatments for the salicylic acid to break through the tough skin.
Product Details:
- Type: Gel
- Active Ingredients: Salicylic Acid
- Best For: common warts and plantar warts for adults and kids ages 3+
- How to Use: apply a thin layer every 48 hours for up to 12 weeks.
Best for Plantar Warts
Dr. Scholl's FreezeAway Wart Remover Dual Action
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Why We Like It
Cryotherapy (or freezing) is a common treatment dermatologists use in the office. This product allows you to do a similar therapy at home, although it’s not as strong as what the dermatologist uses. Following the freezing, you apply a small amount of salicylic acid to the wart, helping to speed up the wart removal process.
This product is specifically designed to help cut through the tough skin on the bottom of the feet when it comes to removing plantar warts, says Dr. Chaudhry. Freezing helps to kill the tissue, encouraging the wart to slough off and new skin to grow. Pairing salicylic acid with freezing makes it more effective at wart removal, adds Dr. Chacon.
This product does require daily attention, as the salicylic acid should be applied twice a day to the wart after freezing. So, while it’s not a one-and-done treatment, using both cryotherapy and salicylic acid should increase the rate of wart removal.
It’s Worth Noting
May take several months of treatment to work on tough warts.
Product Details:
- Type: freezing canister
- Active Ingredients: salicylic acid
- Best For: common and plantar warts for adults and kids over age 4
- How to Use: Hold the nozzle down, directing the freezing product onto the wart for the specified time (depending on location). After 24 hours, begin applying the salicylic acid twice a day. Repeat every 2 weeks until the wart falls off.
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Why We Like It
While many wart removers are safe for children over a certain age, using harsh chemicals on their delicate skin should be a last resort. Naturasil is a gentler option for kids as it uses plant extracts that have a low risk of harsh skin reactions, advises Dr. Chaudhry.
The plant oil can be brushed on the wart up to 6 times a day, with the expected time of use being 3 to 6 weeks before the wart flakes off of the skin. While it is natural, keep in mind that some skin may still be sensitive to the oils found in this product, so patch testing is always recommended.
It’s Worth Noting
- Even with natural ingredients, some kid's skin may still react or be sensitive.
Product Details:
- Type: liquid
- Active Ingredients: Thuja Occidentalis 6X HPUS
- Best For: common warts, plantar warts, and flat warts on adults and children
- How to Use: apply 3-6 times daily to warts
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Why We Like It
With 40% salicylic acid as the active ingredient and a texture that easily sticks to the wart, you can get maximum coverage with this product. One stick has 35 applications and can be used to easily cover clusters of warts. While this is a strong wart remover treatment, Dr. Chaudhry likes that the stick applicator makes it easy to be precise, so the risk of damaging unaffected skin is much lower than it would be with a liquid or a gel.
The stick needs to be reapplied daily and covered with a bandage for up to 12 weeks or until the wart has sloughed off.
It’s Worth Noting
While the product claims that it’s painless, there is some burn associated as the wart comes off, thanks to the strength of the salicylic acid.
Product Details:
- Type: stick
- Active Ingredients: salicylic acid
- Best For: plantar warts and common warts for adults and kids
- How to Use: cover the wart with the product, then cover it with a bandage. Repeat daily as needed until the wart is gone.
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Why We Like It
These medicated bandaids are a cushion, medication, and cover all in one. If you’re treating your wart and then covering it with a bandaid, this may be an obvious solution.
These pads have 40% Salicylic Acid, making the treatment more powerful than many others on the market. The bandages are waterproof, helping them to stay in place, even on feet.
While they’re useful for single warts in some places, they’re not practical for areas that have more than one wart, large warts, or areas that are difficult to stick a bandage to, like knees or elbows.
It’s Worth Noting
- These are not useful for treating areas with more than one wart or warts that are large.
Product Details:
- Type: bandage
- Active Ingredients: salicylic acid
- Best For: common and plantar warts on adults and kids over age 4.
- How to Use: Apply a new bandage once every 48 hours.
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Why We Like It
When it comes to your face, traditional wart treatments may be too harsh. Dr. Chacon recommends this product for sensitive skin, as the lack of alcohol and salicylic acid reduces the risk of irritation. It’s also free of parabens, dyes, and fragrances and includes a mineral blend of silver, zinc, and magnesium oxides to help protect the skin.
Apply this ointment up to two times daily, then cover it with a bandage. The ointment texture makes it easy to just apply to the wart and not the surrounding skin. Like any medication or oil-based product, patch test first on another area of the skin to ensure a reaction doesn’t occur.
It’s Worth Noting
The product should be covered with a bandage, making it inconvenient to use on the face during the day.
Product Details:
- Type: ointment
- Active Ingredients: Thuja Occidentalis
- Best For: common warts, facial warts, plantar warts, genital warts, and flat warts on adults or children.
- How to Use: apply ointment twice daily and cover with a bandage until the wart is gone.
We researched over a dozen home wart treatments using various active ingredients to find the best options for each category. Where the wart is located and what type of wart you’re afflicted with makes a difference in what type of product you’ll want to use.
To make sure we are recommending dermatologist-approved wart treatments, we went straight to the source for product recommendations and techniques on effectively getting rid of warts:
- Ahmad Chaudhry MBBS (MD), UK board-certified dermatologist
- Anna H. Chacon, M.D., board-certified dermatologist
What Causes Warts?
All warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a contagious virus that’s found essentially everywhere and affects more kids and teenagers (up to 33 percent of them), and few adults (around 3-5 percent).
Does Duct Tape Work on Warts?
While the evidence is limited, there have been some studies that indicate duct tape can be an effective treatment for warts, and it's generally considered safe. If you'd like to try this alternative home treatment, apply duct tape directly to the wart and leave it on for about a week, then remove the tape, clean the area with soap and water, and gently remove any dead skin using an emery board. Wait 12 hours, then apply a fresh piece of duct tape and continue this process for four to six weeks.
How to Use OTC Wart Removers
The frequency of use, if they need to be covered or not covered, and the application process varies from product to product. The most important part of the wart removal process is to stay consistent, as many warts will require multiple treatments to be fully removed.
Location and Type of Warts
Depending on the type of wart and where it’s located, the treatment can vary. There are several types of warts that you could experience, including:
- Plantar warts: commonly found on ankles and bottoms of the feet.
- Flat warts: small, raised, light brown warts found on the face as well as hands and lower arms.
- Common warts: ranging in size from a pin to a pea, raised with a cauliflower-like appearance. Often found on the hands and feet.
- Mosaic warts: small, flat white warts that spread over a wide area, often on the bottom of the feet.
- Filiform warts: often appear on the face with a threadlike and spiky appearance.
- Genital warts: small hard nodules that are sexually transmitted and appear on the genitals (Dr. Chaudhry recommends seeing a doctor instead of trying to treat at home if these are the kinds of warts you’re experiencing).
Type of Wart Remover
Wart removers can be found in a variety of consistencies, including sticks, gels, liquids, cold air, and even come already pre-loaded on bandaids. Each type has pros and cons for the type of skin you’re applying it to, how big the wart is, and where it’s located.
Active Ingredients
The most common active ingredient in wart removers is salicylic acid, which ranges from 17% strength to 40% strength in effective over-the-counter treatments. Natural-based wart removers and ones made for sensitive skin often use Thuja Occidentalis extract, also known as northern white cedar. Thuja Occidentalis has been used for years as a natural wart remedy, and recent small studies have found it to be an effective treatment.
When to See a Healthcare Professional
Home treatments may not be enough for some warts. Dr. Chacon recommends seeing a dermatologist if your wart doesn't go away after home treatments, or is covering a large surface area of the skin. “While many warts can be effectively treated at home, you’ll want to see a healthcare provider if the wart is located on your genitals, if it bleeds, is particularly painful, or if it fails to improve,” she explains.
Who We Are
Kelsey Kunik is a registered dietitian, freelance writer, and nutrition consultant. Her work focuses on helping women break free from restriction and dieting and focus on true whole-self health and wellness. When it comes to warts, she’s no stranger, having treated a tough plantar wart of two, using several of the products on our list. She writes to educate and inspire on eating behavior, programs, supplements, foods, and products that help women step into their power and feel their best each and every day.
