Two viral warts on a middle finger, being treated with a mixture of acids to remove them. A white precipitation forms on the area where the product was applied.
Keratolysis is the removal of dead surface skin cells and is a treatment for several types of wart. The most common keratolytic treatment of warts available over-the-counter involves salicylic acid. These products are readily available at most drugstores and supermarkets. There are typically two types of products: adhesive pads treated with salicylic acid or a bottle of concentrated salicylic acid. Removing a wart with this method requires a strict regimen of cleaning the area, applying the salicylic acid, and removing the dead skin with a pumice stone or emery board. It may take up to 12 weeks to remove a stubborn wart.[citation needed]
Formulations
Some formulations are:
alcoholic solution containing glycerol
collodion which dries to a celluloid film / Duofilm
simple ointment
absorption ointment
oil in water cream
The amount of salicylic acid reaching the wart varies substantially depending on the formulation used.[1] Brands in the UK include Bazuka (Dendron), Scholl (SSL International), Compound W, Cuplex gel, Duofilm (Stiefel), Occlusal (Alliance), Salatac Gel, Salactol Paint, and Verrugon (Ransom).[1][2][additional citation(s) needed]
Molecular basis of therapeutic effect
Salicylic acid reaches warts; lactic acid and collodion do not.[2] Therefore, these additional components have only an indirect role in therapy.
The molecular structure of the skin is altered at the centre of the wart.[3]
Experiments indicated that salicylic acid bonding within the human papillomavirus-containing verruca tissue is more likely than simple acid dissociation upon dissolution in water within the tissue.[4]
Complications
Some cases of allergic contact dermatitis have been observed when using collodion formulations.[5] This was found to be due to rosin in the collodion.[citation needed]
