Be Our Partner! Book a Free Consultation Now! Become a Member > Get Involved >
Health Conditions > Health Articles > Find a Practitioner > Events >

Home  /  Health Conditions  /  Warts

Warts

Warts are harmless, rough skin growths caused by a common virus (HPV). Most go away on their own, though it can take months or years, and treatments are slow and only modestly effective. A growth that bleeds or changes, a wart on the face, genital or anal warts, and warts in people with diabetes or a weak immune system should be seen by a clinician.

Warts are rarely an emergency. The NHS in the UK says they are not harmful, though some people find them itchy, painful or embarrassing (NHS). But do not simply treat it yourself, and get it looked at by a clinician, if:

  • You are not sure it is a wart, it bleeds, or it changes in how it looks, it is very large or painful, or it keeps coming back (NHS). A wart remover label also says not to use it on moles, birthmarks, or warts with hair growing from them (DailyMed drug label).
  • The wart is on your face. The NHS says pharmacy wart treatments should not be used on the face (NHS), and the label says the same for the face and for mucous membranes (DailyMed drug label).
  • The warts are genital or around the anus. Go to a doctor or a sexual health clinic. The NHS says not to use pharmacy wart treatments on genital warts because they are not made for them, and to get checked sooner if you have trouble peeing, blood in your pee, itching or bleeding (NHS). The CDC says to talk to your health care provider about any warts, unusual growths, lumps or sores in the genital area, mouth or throat (CDC).
  • You have diabetes or poor circulation. A common wart remover label says not to use it if you have diabetes or poor blood circulation (DailyMed drug label). The CDC asks people with diabetes to check their feet every day and get problems treated right away (CDC). See also our diabetes guide.
  • You have a weakened immune system (for example from HIV, an organ transplant or chemotherapy). A 2023 review lists an immunocompromised state, diabetes and HIV among the factors that make warts more likely (review, Cureus), and the main Cochrane review of wart treatments looked only at healthy people with normal immune systems (Cochrane review). See our HIV and AIDS guide.
  • Signs of a skin infection: painful, red, tender skin, with fever, chills or swollen glands. Bacteria can get in through a break in the skin (MedlinePlus). Seek care promptly.
  • You have many warts, or you have had one for more than about two years. Victoria’s Better Health Channel says “wait and see” is not recommended in either case (Better Health Channel).

What are warts?

Warts are small, rough lumps on the skin that most people have at some point in life. They are caused by a virus and usually go away on their own, though that may take months or even years (NHS). The virus is the human papillomavirus, or HPV, and more than 100 types of it are responsible for the different kinds of warts (Better Health Channel, MedlinePlus). Warts are common in childhood: Better Health Channel says up to one in five children have them, most often at ages 12 to 16 (Better Health Channel). MedlinePlus adds that in children warts often go away on their own, while in adults they tend to stay (MedlinePlus).

Warts feel firm and rough. They are usually skin-colored but may look darker on black or brown skin (NHS). They can occur singly or in clusters, can range from about one to 10 millimetres, and may itch (Better Health Channel).

The main types

How warts spread

Warts can pass to other people from contaminated surfaces or through close skin contact, and you are more likely to spread or catch one if your skin is wet or damaged (NHS). It can take months for a wart to show up after contact with the virus (NHS). Better Health Channel lists these risk factors: skin injuries, frequently wet hands, heavily sweating hands or feet, swimming in public pools, nail biting, direct contact with other people’s warts, and scratching or shaving your own warts, which can spread the infection to other areas of your body (Better Health Channel). A 2025 review of warts in children found two strongly linked risk factors: skin-to-skin contact with someone who has warts, and shared items such as shoes, clothing, towels and razors (review, Pediatric Dermatology). The BMJ’s Clinical Evidence review also lists communal showers (review, BMJ Clinical Evidence).

Plantar warts shed the virus, which can infect other parts of the foot or other people. A 2018 review adds that the virus is so widespread that prevention steps are often impractical, and that no reliable method of prevention is established (review, Journal of the American Osteopathic Association).

Do warts go away on their own?

Often, yes — slowly. In healthy people, warts are harmless and clear as the body’s own immunity deals with the virus, within months or years (review, BMJ Clinical Evidence). Better Health Channel says about 65% of warts clear up by themselves within two years, but that new warts can appear (Better Health Channel). In a Dutch primary-care trial of 250 people with new warts, all the warts were gone at 13 weeks in 16% of those who simply waited, compared with 24% using salicylic acid and 39% using freezing; for common warts the figures were 8%, 15% and 49%, and for plantar warts the three groups did not differ meaningfully (trial, CMAJ). Waiting is therefore a reasonable choice for a single harmless wart, but it takes patience.

Genital warts and the HPV vaccine

Genital warts are small, rough lumps around the vagina, penis or anus. They are caused by HPV and are a common sexually transmitted infection; the virus can be passed on even when no warts are visible (NHS). The CDC says the types of HPV that cause warts are different from the types that cause cancer, and that there is no treatment for the virus itself — but the warts can go away with treatment from a health care provider, or with prescription medicine. Left untreated they may go away, stay the same, or grow, and they can come back after treatment (CDC). Treatment is not always needed, and the NHS says genital warts sometimes disappear on their own within 6 months (NHS). This guide does not cover treatment of genital warts in detail; a doctor or sexual health clinic should guide it.

The HPV vaccine is the main way to prevent genital warts. The vaccine used in the United States protects against nine HPV types, including types 6 and 11 (CDC); the CDC notes that fewer teens and young adults are getting genital warts (CDC). CDC recommends it at age 11 or 12 (it can be started at 9), and says some adults aged 27 through 45 may decide to be vaccinated after talking with their doctor (CDC). The vaccine prevents new infections; it does not treat existing infections or diseases (CDC), and Better Health Channel likewise says it cannot treat existing warts (Better Health Channel). In England it is offered to girls and boys aged 12 to 13 (NHS). The sources we read describe the vaccine’s value for genital warts and cancers; we did not find a source showing that it prevents common or plantar warts.

Side by side

Six approaches compared

For every condition we look at the same six approaches: what each involves, what it typically costs, and what a patient can realistically expect.

ApproachWhat it involves Estimated costWhat to expect
Conventional medicine (AMA) Waiting; pharmacy salicylic acid-type paints, gels, pads or plasters; freezing (cryotherapy) by a clinician; prescription or specialist treatments; laser or minor surgery for stubborn warts. Per The Pricer: office freezing about $180 to $395 a treatment (average near $240), over-the-counter salicylic acid products from about $7, and a dermatologist visit without insurance about $150 to $350. Insurance may pay when removal is medically necessary. Warts often go away on their own in months to years. Salicylic acid beats a dummy treatment, but only modestly; freezing is not clearly better than salicylic acid in the best trials. Treatment is slow, can take up to 3 months or more, and warts can come back.
Chiropractic No role in treating warts. Chiropractic care focuses on the spine and joints; a chiropractor who notices a wart should refer you to a doctor, pharmacist or podiatrist. Not applicable to warts. For reference, about $55 to $100 for a self-pay follow-up visit and $90 to $200 for a first visit, per The Pricer. Medicare covers only spinal adjustments for a subluxation. We found little research. The NCCIH says high-quality research on spinal manipulation outside musculoskeletal problems is scarce, with no clear benefit shown.
Acupuncture Ordinary acupuncture, auricular (ear) acupuncture, and “fire needle” therapy, in which a heated needle is used to burn the wart. About $90 to $185 per follow-up visit paying cash, per The Pricer. Medicare covers acupuncture only for chronic low back pain. Small studies, mostly of flat and plantar warts, report good results, and fire needling in particular may leave pigment changes. The studies are small or lower in quality, so the evidence is limited.
Herbal medicine No herb is proven for warts. Garlic extract, propolis, tea tree oil and some other plant products have been tried in small studies. Cost estimate being researched. We found little research, mostly small or uncontrolled studies. Natural does not mean harmless: tea tree oil has caused allergic skin reactions on warts, and propolis can cause allergic reactions.
Massage therapy No role in treating warts. Massage may help you relax, but touching a wart can spread it, so tell your therapist about any wart. One national chain: about $125 to $160 for a 60-minute massage for non-members and about $65 to $90 for members, per The Pricer. Prices vary by location. We found little research on massage for warts. It is not a wart treatment, and warts spread by skin contact.
MBHA Wellness Coach Habits that limit spread and support treatment: handwashing, covering warts, not sharing towels or shoes, not picking, sandals in shared showers, daily socks, and sticking with the plan your clinician or pharmacist gives you. Cost estimate being researched. Good habits can lower the chance of spreading a wart to other skin or other people, though a review notes prevention is often impractical. A coach supports you and never replaces a clinician’s care for the warning signs above.

Approach 1 of 6

Conventional medicine (AMA)

Treating a harmless wart is optional: the NHS says you can treat warts if they bother you, keep coming back or are painful (NHS). Better Health Channel says there are many treatments, that warts can be stubborn so you may need more than one, and that some treatments leave scars, so talk with your doctor about risks and benefits (Better Health Channel).

1. Pharmacy products with salicylic acid

The NHS says you can buy creams, plasters and sprays from a pharmacy. They can take up to 3 months, may irritate your skin, do not always work, and should not be used on the face (NHS). Salicylic acid and lactic acid are examples of topical chemicals used on warts; Better Health Channel says it may take three months or more (Better Health Channel).

How well does it work? The Cochrane review pooled 85 trials with 8,815 people. Salicylic acid cleared warts more often than a dummy (placebo) treatment, and the benefit looked bigger on hands than on feet — but the authors called the effect modest, and many of the trials were at high risk of bias (Cochrane review). A product label (shown here only as an example of the safety wording) says it is for external use, is flammable, may discolor skin, should not be used on irritated or infected skin, genital warts, the face, moles or birthmarks, or by people with diabetes or poor circulation, and that you should stop and ask a doctor if discomfort persists (DailyMed drug label). Follow the directions on the product you choose, and ask a pharmacist if you are unsure.

2. Freezing (cryotherapy)

A GP or podiatrist can freeze a wart so that it falls off a few weeks later; sometimes it takes several sessions (NHS). Better Health Channel says up to four months of regular freezing may be needed (Better Health Channel). The evidence is less one-sided than many people expect:

  • The Cochrane review found freezing no better than a dummy treatment overall, and no clear difference between freezing and salicylic acid. Two trials (328 people) found the two together did better than salicylic acid alone. More aggressive freezing worked better than gentle freezing but caused more side effects, and adverse effects such as pain, blistering and scarring are probably more common with freezing (Cochrane review).
  • In the UK “EVerT” trial of 240 people with a plantar wart, the wart was fully gone at 12 weeks in 14% of both the freezing group and the salicylic acid group (trial, BMJ).
  • In the Dutch trial above, freezing did best for common warts (49% all gone at 13 weeks) but showed no meaningful advantage for plantar warts (trial, CMAJ).

3. Prescription and specialist treatments

If treatment has not worked, or the wart is on your face, the GP might refer you to a dermatologist. For a large or very painful verruca you may be referred to a podiatrist (foot specialist), who can provide stronger medicines than a pharmacist can, freezing with liquid nitrogen, and surgery with a scalpel or a laser (NHS). What the research says about the options:

4. Laser and minor surgery

Better Health Channel describes curettage and electrocautery — scraping the wart and sealing the base under local anesthetic — as healing in 7 to 10 days but possibly leaving a scar, and notes that laser treatment burns the wart off and may scar (Better Health Channel). The Cochrane review found no randomized trials of surgery and could not combine the laser trials it did find (Cochrane review).

5. Genital warts

See a doctor or sexual health clinic. The NHS lists creams, liquids or ointments, freezing, and surgery as treatments; they can cause pain, irritation or scarring, may take weeks or months, and the warts may come back. Do not use common-wart products from a pharmacy on genital warts (NHS).

Who to see

A pharmacist is a good first stop for a common wart or verruca (NHS). See a GP or primary care provider for the warning signs in the box above; a dermatologist for stubborn, facial or widespread warts; and a podiatrist for painful plantar warts (NHS).

What it costs

  • Over-the-counter salicylic acid products: can start from about $7 (The Pricer).
  • Freezing in an office: about $180 to $395 per treatment, with an average near $240; two or three visits can add up to about $360 to $1,185 (The Pricer).
  • Laser and surgery: The Pricer reports national averages of about $278 for laser treatment and $151 for surgical removal, and one Southern California provider listing $300 to $500 per wart (The Pricer).
  • Dermatologist visit without insurance: about $150 to $350 for the office visit itself; procedures may be billed separately (The Pricer).
  • The Pricer says insurance coverage depends on medical necessity and the plan, and that cosmetic-only removal may not be covered (The Pricer).

How well it works — what to expect

Expect slow progress. Treatments can take months, may be repeated, and warts can come back; none of them removes the virus from your body (Better Health Channel, review, Cureus). The Cochrane authors concluded the evidence is most consistent for salicylic acid, shows only a modest effect, and that none of the other treatments they reviewed appeared safer or more effective than salicylic acid and freezing (Cochrane review).

Find a medical doctor in our directory

Approach 2 of 6

Chiropractic

Chiropractic care has no role in treating warts. Chiropractors work mainly with the spine and joints. The NCCIH says spinal manipulation is used mainly for back, neck and headache problems, and that only a small amount of high-quality research has looked at conditions other than musculoskeletal ones — none of those studies showed a clear benefit (NCCIH). We searched the medical literature for chiropractic care and warts and found little research of any kind.

What a chiropractor can do for you

  • The wart itself needs one of the treatments in the Conventional medicine section; chiropractic care is not one of them.
  • MBHA suggests asking your chiropractor to point you to a doctor, pharmacist or podiatrist for the wart itself.
  • Warts spread by skin contact (NHS), so tell your chiropractor about any wart on your hands or feet.

What it costs

For reference only: The Pricer lists about $55 to $100 for a self-pay follow-up visit and about $90 to $200 for a first visit (The Pricer). Medicare covers only adjustments of the spine to correct a subluxation, not wart care (Medicare.gov).

Find a chiropractor in our directory

Approach 3 of 6

Acupuncture

We found little research on acupuncture for warts, and what exists is small. Most of it is on one unusual technique, so it helps to know the difference.

What the research says

  • Ear (auricular) acupuncture for flat warts. In a single-blind trial of 60 people with flat warts, weekly ear acupuncture for 10 weeks was compared with a prescription-type skin ointment. Sixteen of 30 people in the acupuncture group (53%) healed fully without recurrence over six months, versus one of 30 in the ointment group, with no side effects noticed. The authors asked for larger studies (trial, International Journal of Dermatology).
  • Fire needling. This is not gentle needling: it uses a heated needle to cauterize (burn) the lesion. A 2021 review of 29 randomized trials (2,666 people) of fire needling for flat warts found it appeared more effective than comparison medicines, with fewer blisters and less redness but a higher risk of skin pigmentation changes (meta-analysis, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine). In a trial of 70 people with multiple plantar warts, fire needling added to a herbal soak was reported to work better than the herbal soak alone, with fewer recurrences at two months (trial, Zhongguo Zhen Jiu).

We read only the abstracts of these studies. Several combine acupuncture with another treatment, so they cannot show what the needles alone did, and we did not find large trials of ordinary acupuncture needling for common or plantar warts. In short: promising early reports, but not enough to recommend acupuncture over proven treatments.

Safety

The NCCIH says relatively few complications from acupuncture are reported, but they have resulted from non-sterile needles and improper treatment, and they include infections. The FDA requires acupuncture needles to be sterile and single-use (NCCIH). Because warts spread by skin contact (NHS), MBHA suggests telling your practitioner about any wart and asking them to avoid it. Fire needling burns the skin and can change its color (meta-analysis); choose a licensed practitioner trained in it, and see a doctor if the wart has not been diagnosed.

What it costs

The Pricer lists about $90 to $185 per follow-up visit and up to about $230 for a first private visit, with community clinics around $50 to $90 (The Pricer). Medicare covers acupuncture, including dry needling, only for chronic low back pain (Medicare.gov).

Find an acupuncturist in our directory

Approach 4 of 6

Herbal medicine

No herb or supplement is proven to remove warts, and we found little research on herbal remedies for them — mostly small or uncontrolled studies. Here is what turned up. We list no strengths or doses.

What the research says

  • Garlic extract. In a trial of 50 people with stubborn common warts, a lab preparation called lipid garlic extract was compared with salt water (saline) on one lesion per person for up to four weeks. Complete response was reported in 96% of the garlic group, with a significant difference from saline (trial, Dermatologic Therapy). This was one small trial of a prepared extract, not a household clove, and we did not find larger trials to confirm it.
  • Propolis (a bee product). A single-blind trial of 135 people with warts gave oral propolis, Echinacea or a placebo for three months; the authors reported that propolis worked better than the others for plane and common warts (trial, International Journal of Dermatology). Memorial Sloan Kettering warns that people allergic to bee stings, honey, ragweed or chrysanthemum should not take propolis, and that allergic reactions have been reported (Memorial Sloan Kettering).
  • Tea tree oil. The NCCIH says a small amount of evidence suggests it might help acne and athlete’s foot, and that for other conditions there is not enough evidence to know whether it works (NCCIH). A case report describes a man who developed a severe, spreading allergic rash after using a tea tree oil lotion on a wart (case report, Medicina).
  • We found little research on other popular home remedies such as apple cider vinegar or banana peel.

Safety

Never swallow tea tree oil. Taken by mouth it can cause confusion, unsteadiness, inability to walk and coma. On the skin it can cause redness or irritation, more likely if the product is old or has been exposed to heat, light or air (NCCIH). “Natural” does not always mean safe, and supplements can interact with medicines, so tell your health care providers about everything you use (NCCIH). Keep strong homemade preparations away from healthy skin and from the face, and do not use home remedies if you have diabetes or poor circulation without asking your clinician (MBHA suggestion; see the warnings above).

What it costs

Herbal wart products: cost estimate being researched.

Approach 5 of 6

Massage therapy

Massage has no role in treating warts. We found little research on massage for warts, and nothing that suggests it removes them. The NCCIH describes massage as studied for pain conditions such as low-back, neck and shoulder pain and headache, and its page does not list warts (NCCIH).

If you book a massage anyway

  • Warts spread through close skin contact and contaminated surfaces (NHS). MBHA suggests telling your therapist about any wart on your hands, feet or other skin so they can work around it, and washing your hands afterwards.

What it costs

For reference only: one national chain lists a 60-minute massage at about $125 to $160 for non-members and about $65 to $90 for an additional member session; prices vary by location (The Pricer).

Find a massage therapist in our directory

Approach 6 of 6

MBHA Wellness Coach

Warts are an everyday skin problem, and small habits do a lot to keep them from spreading to other skin or other people. An MBHA Wellness Coach can help you build those habits and keep going with a slow treatment — alongside, never instead of, your clinician or pharmacist. A 2018 review cautions that prevention steps are often impractical and no reliable prevention method has been established, so do your best without blaming yourself (review, Journal of the American Osteopathic Association).

Do

Don’t

If you have diabetes

Daily foot care matters even more. The CDC advises people with diabetes to check their feet every day for cuts, redness, swelling, sores, blisters, corns, calluses or other skin changes; to wash them daily in warm (not hot) water and dry them completely; to never go barefoot; and not to remove corns or calluses themselves or use over-the-counter products to remove them, because they could burn the skin (CDC). A wart remover label says not to use it if you have diabetes (DailyMed drug label), so check with your care team before treating a foot wart yourself.

Another approach

Duct tape

Covering a wart with duct tape is one of the most popular home methods, and one of the most studied. The results are mixed, and honesty matters here.

  • The Cochrane review found two trials of clear duct tape (193 people) that showed no advantage over a dummy treatment (Cochrane review).
  • A Canadian family-physician review says the evidence for duct tape is limited, but because it is safe and well tolerated, parents can try it at home for a child’s common warts — while noting that common warts in children resolve on their own and no therapy is recommended (review, Canadian Family Physician).
  • In a trial of 100 adults with plantar warts, silver duct tape gave complete resolution in 20% compared with 58% for freezing; the authors said duct tape could be a practical alternative in some circumstances (trial, Dermatologic Therapy).

In short: duct tape is cheap and low-risk, but the best evidence does not show it beats a dummy treatment, and it did worse than freezing for plantar warts. Do not use it on the face, over broken or infected skin, or if you have diabetes or poor circulation without asking your clinician (MBHA suggestion).

Member stories

Living with Warts? Share your experience

Real experiences help others choose. Tell us what you tried — conventional medicine, chiropractic, acupuncture, herbs, massage or coaching — what it cost and what changed.

No stories have been published for this condition yet. Yours could be the first.

Which approaches have you tried?

What did you try, what did it cost, and what changed for you? Please leave out anything you’d rather keep private.

We read every story before it’s published and may shorten it. Stories describe one person’s experience; results vary. See our Privacy Policy.

Sources

This page is for education only and is not medical advice. Costs are typical U.S. ranges and estimates; yours will depend on your provider, location and insurance. Talk with your doctor before starting, stopping or combining any treatment. In an emergency, call 911. See our disclaimer.

Find the right practitioner

Search MBHA’s Health Directory for doctors, chiropractors, acupuncturists and massage therapists across the Monterey Bay.

Search the Directory All Health Conditions

The Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance is a charitable, independent registered nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and does not endorse any particular products or practices. Claims and statements herein are for informational purposes only and have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. We strongly recommend that you seek out your trusted medical doctor or practitioner for diagnosis and treatment of any existing health condition. MBHA provides administrative support, education and navigation — not medical, legal or tax advice — and cannot guarantee claim, billing or fundraising outcomes. MBHA is not an emergency service: in an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.