If you have verruca, you know how stubborn those little buggers can be.
You might be wondering: What is the strongest salicylic acid for verruca? We’ll cover that and more in this blog post.
What Is the Strongest Salicylic Acid for Verruca?
The strongest salicylic acid for verruca on the market today is 40% to 45%. It’s best used under the supervision of a doctor because it can cause irritation if used improperly.
The most common side effects are dryness and peeling.
This type of medication can come in a lotion form (like Neutrogena Anti-Wrinkle Cream) or a gel form (like Panoxyl Aquagel 10%). Based on user reviews and research studies, here are some other things you should know about salicylic acid:
- It works best on verruca when used with other treatments like duct tape or soaking your foot in vinegar for 45 minutes every two weeks for up to three months.
- Salicylic acid isn’t recommended for use alongside other topical medications containing alcohol—doing so may cause irritation and dryness to the skin surrounding the verruca.
How to Use Salicylic Acid for Verruca
Step 1
Wash and dry your hands thoroughly.
Step 2
Apply a small amount of salicylic acid cream to one or two verrucas and rub in gently.
Step 3
Cover the area with a plaster or dressing to keep it clean and dry for 24 hours.
Step 4
Remove the dressing before you go to bed at night, but leave the cream on the verruca.
Step 5
Repeat this process daily until all warts have gone away completely – usually within 6 weeks of starting treatment, but it could take longer in some cases (up to 12 weeks).
Step 6
Once all warts have gone away, stop using salicylic acid immediately and do not use it again for at least 6 months unless your GP tells you otherwise (you may need more than 1 course if you have many verrucas).
How Often Should You Apply Salicylic Acid on Your Verruca?
How often you apply salicylic acid depends on the size of your verruca, as well as your skin type.
The larger the verruca, the more often you will need to apply it. You should also use salicylic acid more frequently if you have an oily or dry skin.
These types of skins can dehydrate quicker than dry ones and may need a higher concentration of salicylic acid applied more often.
How Long Does It Take for Salicylic Acid to Work on a Verruca?
The length of time salicylic acid will work on a verruca depends on the size of the verruca and how long it’s been there.
If you have a small verruca, salicylic acid may only take 2 or 3 weeks to clear it up completely.
However, if you have a larger one, it could take up to 2 months for your skin to get rid of the wart and for new skin cells to grow back in its place.
Can You Use Salicylic Acid on Skin Tags?
You may have heard that salicylic acid is a useful treatment for skin tags, but it’s really not.
Skin tags are benign growths on the skin, and they’re not caused by a virus-like warts and verruca are.
To understand why salicylic acid won’t work on skin tags, we first need to learn how they differ from warts and verruca.
- A wart is caused by a virus called HPV (human papillomavirus)
The virus enters your body through small cuts or abrasions in your skin; sometimes it can be transmitted sexually as well.
HPV causes cells in the top layer of your epidermis to multiply quickly, creating a thickened bump with rough edges that looks like a cauliflower (hence its other name: “common wart”).
- Verruca is caused by an infection with another kind of viral infection
This type often targets young children or athletes who wear tight-fitting shoes because their sweaty feet provide ideal conditions for bacterial growth—which then leads to verruca!
Final Thoughts
Unlike other types of wart removal products, this one uses salicylic acid which makes it stronger since it can penetrate the surface of your skin.
It will also bleach the infected area upon contact, so your wart will be conspicuous.
