Warts
There is a lot of advice available on how to get rid of warts: let a snail crawl over them, rub them with toothpaste, treat them with your own urine or rub them with a clove of garlic. However, whether a wart needs to be treated immediately depends on individual circumstances.
Wart viruses
Wart viruses belong to the papilloma or pox virus family. These viruses are very resistant and highly contagious. They are transmitted through direct skin contact, with swimming pools and saunas being common places of transmission. Healthy skin can effectively fight off these viruses, but if there are small cracks or the barrier is damaged (e.g. in people with neurodermatitis), these viruses can penetrate the skin. Children are also more frequently affected by warts because their immune systems are not yet fully developed.
The wart viruses then penetrate the skin cells and impose their own genetic code on the cells. They use the infrastructure of the skin cells to produce viral products. In this way, the wart viruses alter the skin cells and cause new viruses to be produced very quickly. When the skin cell reaches the surface of the skin, new viruses are transmitted to other victims. The degenerated skin area becomes visible due to the typical appearance of warts.
Wait and see or fight immediately
All pathogens are fought by the body’s own immune system when they are recognised. However, wart viruses are very good at disguising themselves and migrate camouflaged in the skin cells to the uppermost layer of skin. Nevertheless, over 40% of warts disappear within 8 weeks, over 50% of warts disappear after 6 months and over 65% of warts disappear after 2 years. If the warts are not bothersome, you can wait and see if the body’s own defences can get the situation under control.
If the warts spread, are cosmetically bothersome or cause pain, they should be treated. It is advisable to consult a doctor or pharmacist to find the best treatment. The best treatment strategy is a 3-step approach:
- Destruction of the wart tissue using chemical agents
- Destruction of the wart tissue using physical agents
- Phytoactive ingredients or hypnosis
Destruction of the wart tissue using chemical agents
With this method, the wart area is treated with substances that dissolve the horny skin.
The wart is removed piece by piece and can eventually be removed completely. This method is somewhat more time-consuming and must be repeated daily, as it usually involves cosmetic preparations containing salicylic acid, lactic acid or retinoic acid (vitamin A acid). The advantage of this method is that it triggers local inflammation and activates the immune system at the same time. The natural active ingredient podophyllin or podophyllotoxin is also beneficial because it reduces cell proliferation.
Destruction of the wart by physical means
Cold therapy has proven effective here, where in the most extreme cases a temperature of -196°C is reached and the wart is killed with liquid nitrogen. This must be carried out by a dermatologist. There are now also over-the-counter remedies that only reach -60°C and need to be applied more frequently. The freezing can cause a burning or stinging sensation, but otherwise has no side effects.
Another option is laser therapy, which destroys the blood vessels in the area of the wart and starves it. The area is cut off from the blood supply and no longer receives nutrients, oxygen, etc., causing the area, including the wart, to die off.
Phytoactive ingredients and hypnosis
Some herbal ingredients can also help. For example, extracts of celandine, thuja, spurge, marigold, coneflower and tea tree oil are said to be effective against warts.
Castor oil and Schuessler salts are also said to have successfully combated warts.
These substances may be effective because they soften the cornea or stimulate the immune system. Ultimately, anything that helps against warts is allowed. Hypnosis, autosuggestion and discussion are also repeatedly cited as effective remedies.
Ultimately, belief can move mountains, and it is definitely worth trying if you do not want to use chemical or physical remedies.
Types of warts
Warts are transmitted by papilloma viruses. This melodious name is reminiscent of a butterfly, but the result is a patch of skin that looks like cauliflower.
Common warts (Verrucae vulgares) are irregular skin growths, cracked and rough, often with a whitish surface. This type of wart is often found in children and adolescents because their immune system is not yet fully developed.
Warts on the soles of the feet are plantar warts (Verrucae plantares) and a special form of common warts. These warts are exposed to high levels of stress and bear the entire weight of the body, which is why plantar warts tend to grow inwards. This can also lead to the development of a spiny wart, which can be very painful.
Plane warts (verrucae planes) are not cracked and rough, but round, flat and smooth.
These warts also tend to disappear on their own, but you should not treat them yourself because removing plane warts unprofessionally often leads to scarring.
Genital warts (condylomata acuminata) affect the mucous membranes of the genitals and are transmitted during sex. They also form ‘pretty’ cauliflower-like growths, but are not harmless at all. In women, they can promote the development of cervical cancer. A protective vaccination is therefore advisable for women, and genital warts must always be treated by a doctor.
Molluscum contagiosum are caused by pox viruses and often affect children. They are also called swimming warts because they can be transmitted in water. Molluscum contagiosum are pinhead to pea-sized, with a dent in the middle. Underneath is a spongy core that can be squeezed out. This can be done because it activates the immune system and makes the wart visible to the body’s own defence system.
If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, you should leave the treatment to a doctor. Molluscum contagiosum usually disappears after 6-12 months.
What do reputable sources say about wart treatment?
Established, medically proven treatments include procedures such as salicylic acid, cryotherapy (freezing), laser therapy or, in stubborn cases, medications such as 5-fluorouracil. These treatment options are well documented and have been proven effective.
Cosmetic products may not be marketed for the treatment of warts – this is reserved for medical use.
Please feel free to ask us if you would like to know more about warts and their treatment.
Literature:
Photodynamic therapy in dermatology: established and new indications.
Balakirski G, Lehmann P, Szeimies RM, Hofmann SC.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2024 Dec;22(12):1651-1662
Destructive therapies for cutaneous warts: A review of the evidence.
Truong K, Joseph J, Manago B, Wain T.Aust J Gen Pract. 2022 Oct;51(10):799-803.