
Though toothpaste is one of the popular home remedies for getting rid of warts, it is advised to not use toothpaste on your warts because it can do more harm than good by irritating your skin. Some people have reported warts getting smaller by applying toothpaste on them. They suggest applying a non-gel toothpaste on the wart, covering it completely with a band-aid or duct tape, and keeping it overnight. The procedure may be repeated multiple times until warts are completely removed. It is observed that toothpaste can make warts slowly dry out by cutting off the oxygen supply. A detergent called sodium dodecyl sulfate, which is a common ingredient in toothpaste, helps in getting rid of warts.
What are warts?
Warts are small, circumscribed growths on the skin caused by a virus of the human papillomavirus (HPV) group. Most warts are benign (noncancerous), but highly contagious, through direct or indirect contact. They are one of the most common skin problems. An unusual outgrowth of hardened skin is generally considered a wart. They are most commonly found on the hands and the feet, though they may occur on other parts of the human body as well. There are more than 100 distinct strains of HPV that can cause different types of warts. Different and common types of warts are:
- Common warts: Small, rough bumps typically flesh-colored or greyish with small black specks; they appear alone, usually on hands and fingers (common among children).
- Flat warts: Small, smooth lesions that form clusters on the face, legs, or back of the hands.
- Plantar warts: Hard, flat lesions (sometimes mistaken for corns) affect the sole of the foot or the heel and may at times be painful due to the weight of the body.
- Filiform warts: Long, thin lesions that grow near the eyes and on the face and neck.
- Periungual and subungual warts: Lesions that grow around or beneath fingernails. They are common in people who bite their nails.
- Genital warts (condyloma acuminatum): Tiny, flat lesions that sometimes develop in groups on the genitalia (internal or external). They are more serious due to their associated emotional and social impact (e.g., embarrassment, isolation) and health risk (potential to develop into cancer). Transmission occurs during direct sexual contact, with lesions appearing from 1 to 24 months after sexual intercourse. This type of wart requires special treatment.
What are the treatment options to remove warts?
While warts often disappear on their own without treatment within a few months or years, it is better to have them removed if they are painful and to avoid passing them on to others. Below are a few common treatment options:
- Salicylic acid: Salicylic acid works by eliminating a thin layer of infected skin every day. However, the product should be applied only on warts. It’s important to protect the healthy surrounding skin. To do so, simply apply clear nail polish or petroleum jelly around warts. To enhance the action of the salicylic acid, soak the wart for 5 to 15 minutes in water then rub the wart with a pumice stone before each application.
- Special ointments and solutions: Ointments and solutions containing 5-Fluorouracil (a substance that inhibits cell growth), Acyclovir and Imiquimod (antiviral medications), and zinc may be helpful in removing warts.
- Injections using different kinds of medicine: Various medicines can be injected into warts. These include Bleomycin and 5-Fluorouracil (both drugs inhibit cell growth), Interferons (drugs that affect the immune system), and specific antigens (substances that, like vaccines, trigger an immune response).
- Curettage: Curettage involves cutting or scraping warts off with a special instrument. The wart is often first treated with a salicylic acid plaster or solution.
- Cryotherapy: In cryotherapy, the doctor freezes a wart off by applying liquid nitrogen to it. This substance is extremely cold and destroys the cells in the top layer of skin. There are different ways of applying liquid nitrogen. It is often done by dipping a cotton swab in the liquid nitrogen and then holding it against the wart for several seconds. This treatment is repeated several times, with breaks of at least one week between each session. The nitrogen may also be sprayed onto the wart using a small nozzle. Cryotherapy can make warts on the hands go away more quickly.
- Laser surgery: In this, warts are heated and destroyed using a laser beam. In pulsed dye laser treatment, the heat of the beam is used to destroy the narrow blood vessels that supply blood to warts. The aim is to stop the skin cells from multiplying.
- Erbium YAG (Yttrium, Aluminum, and Garnet) laser: This laser treatment aims to destroy the wart cells by strongly heating the fluid in them for a short time.
- Photodynamic therapy: First, a gel is applied to the wart and left on for about 3 hours. The gel contains a special chemical substance that is then activated by light so that it can destroy the wart tissue.

SLIDESHOW
Rosacea, Acne, Shingles, Covid-19 Rashes: Common Adult Skin Diseases See SlideshowHealth Solutions From Our Sponsors
WebMD. Skin Conditions and Warts. https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/warts#1
Top Can Toothpaste Get Rid of Warts? Related Articles
Are Warts Caused by Being Dirty?
Warts are a common skin problem that can happen in both kids and adults. Warts are not caused by being dirty, but by viruses in the HPV family.Choosing a Toothpaste
Toothpaste, or dentifrice, is a paste, gel, or powder that helps maintain dental health. Toothpastes may contain different compounds to minimize the risk of cavities, tartar, teeth sensitivity, and stains and yellowing.Genital Warts Pictures
A wart in the moist skin of the genitals or around the anus. See a picture of Genital Warts (HPV) and learn more about the health topic.Genital Warts in Men (HPV)
The HPV virus (genital warts) in men can cause health problems. Genital warts are confined primarily to the moist skin of the genitals or around the anus. Genital warts are caused by the human papillomaviruses (HPVs), which are transmitted through sexual contact.Genital Warts (HPV) Infection in Women
Genital warts is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Warts look like raised, flesh-colored lumps. Learn about symptoms, transmission, and treatment.How Do You Get Rid of Warts?
Learn what medical treatments can help you get rid of warts.How Long Do Genital Warts Last?
Genital wart is an infectious skin condition caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The medical term for genital warts is ‘condyloma acuminata,’ and it is a sexually transmitted disease (STD).How to Get Rid of Common Warts Fast
Common, plantar, and genital warts are growths on the outer layer of the skin (epidermis) caused by the humanpapilloma virus (HPV). Home remedies touted to get rid of common warts fast include garlic, vitamin C paste, and duct tape; however, none of these methods have been proven to work.
Over-the-counter drugs (OTC) used to get rid of warts include cryotherapy (freezing the wart). Doctors that treat warts are skin specialist called Dermatologists.
Skin Rash
The word "rash" means an outbreak of red bumps on the body. The way people use this term, "a rash" can refer to many different skin conditions. The most common of these are scaly patches of skin and red, itchy bumps or patches all over the place.Warts (Common Warts)
Common warts are skin growths causes by the human papillomavirus. There are many types of warts, including plantar warts, common hand warts, warts under the nails, mosaic wars, and flat warts. Over-the-counter treatments typically involve the use of salicylic acid products.Types of Warts
Plantar warts, genital warts, common warts, flat warts, and filiform warts are caused by infection with members of the human papillomavirus (HPV) family. The main symptom of a wart is a fleshy growth. Most warts resolve within a few months to 2 years. A weak immune system may be a risk factor for warts in the genital region and elsewhere.What Is the Best Over-the-Counter Wart Remover?
Warts or verruca vulgaris are one of the most common dermatological complaints. The best over-the-counter wart removers contain salicylic acid or liquid butane.