Plantar Warts

Treating a Stubborn Wart

Warts are “hyperkeratotic”. In other words, they are covered by a thick layer of dead skin which protects them. For any wart treatment to be effective, it is best to remove some of this dead skin by “paring down” the wart.

A stubborn wart can sometimes require a few months of treatment.

First visit

We perform an in-office procedure (often freezing or shaving off the wart) AND prescribe a wart medicine (typically 75% salicylic acid) to use at home.

Visit (and in-office procedure) are repeated monthly for as long as the wart persists.

Between Visits

*this is IMPORTANT for success

Begin 1 week after the office procedure.
Treat every 3rd night (the prescription medicine is too irritating if used every night)

1. First, clean your foot to avoid infection (so best to do this after bathing).
2. Pare the wart down BEFORE applying the medicine. (Removing as much dead skin as possible WITHOUT causing bleeding)
3. Apply the prescribed 75% salicylic acid and cover with a bandaid and leave overnight.
4. In the morning the wart will be “macerated” (white and slimy because the medicine worked all night dissolving it) – Use the scalpel to again pick off more of this dead white skin..

How to Pare a Wart

Use the scalpel that our doctor gives you during your visit. The doctor or medical assistant will show you how to pare the wart during your visit (they will pare it in-office prior to whichever procedure they do).