DR. NANCY SNYDERMAN: Hello, I’m Dr. Nancy Snyderman with this week’s Healthful Hint.
In fairytales, warts may be limited to evil witches and scary ogres, but in real life, up to three-quarters of people will get a wart at some time or another. So, short of magic, what can you do to get rid of these unsightly growths?
Most do-it-yourself remedies feature salicylic acid, which slowly acts to dissolve small warts. You can buy such products, usually liquid or pads at the drugstore for less than $10.
For something even cheaper, try crushing up aspirin, which is salicylic acid, then apply it to the wart and wrap it in an airtight cellophane tape. Band-aids don’t work because they let air in, which keeps the aspirin from being absorbed through the skin.
Apply these remedies everyday for four weeks and if the wart’s still there, then it’s time to see the doctor.
Several different types of methods can be used to remove warts. They can be frozen with liquid nitrogen or zapped with lasers, which may require repeated treatments.
Whatever you do, don’t attempt to operate on yourself. If you cut off a wart with a razorblade or a pocketknife, you could spread the virus that causes warts to other parts of the body – not a good thing if you want to look like Prince or Princess Charming.
With Healthful Hints, I’m Dr. Nancy Snyderman.
