Several options for wart removal exist; some are mostly speculative tactics while others are proven to work. Methods ranging from cryosurgery to duct tape application have been known to remove warts, but the best method of wart removal will ultimately depend on the size and location of the wart, and the vigilance at keeping up with the treatment. A common wart removal treatment involves applying salicylic acid to the wart, but this must be done regularly for several days.
Perhaps the most common but also one of the more painful methods of wart removal is cryosurgery, which involves freezing the wart and the skin around it. This creates a blister beneath the wart, which will in turn prevent the wart from thriving. More than one cryosurgery treatment may be necessary, and a doctor may trim the skin surrounding the wart as part of the procedure, which means the healing process may be prolonged and mildly to moderately painful. It is generally quite effective, though, and a recurrence of the wart is less likely when the patient undergoes cryosurgery.
Laser surgery is another quick option that will take care of wart removal quickly, though it, too, can be painful and very costly. It is one of the most expensive treatment options, and like cryosurgery, it may leave scarring. Recovery time will vary depending on how many warts were removed and where they were located.
Topical solutions such as salicylic acid are quite effective at wart removal, though the process may take several days or even weeks. The person with the wart will need to apply the solution to the wart at regular intervals and make an effort to keep the area surrounding the wart clean and dry. The wart should be killed after several applications, but even after the wart is no longer visible, the treatment may need to be continued. This effective solution requires patience and diligence, and someone who is looking for a quick solution may want to consider other options. Over the counter medications can be applied in the same way, but they tend to take even longer than doctor-prescribed medications that contain salicylic acid.
Some people choose to try the duct tape wart removal method, which essentially involves covering the wart with duct tape for several days at a time, removing the tape and replacing it when it starts to peel off. This will remove dead skin, thereby removing much of the virus that causes the wart, though results of duct tape removal can be mixed.