Facial warts are an infectious skin growth caused by the human papillomavirus. While the HPV infection is very common, there is also no cure. There are several kinds of warts, but flat warts frequently appear on the face. Flat warts are smooth and small and are found around the eyes, nose, and mouth. Warts are harmless and usually go away after a time. However, many people find warts unattractive and embarrassing, so there are many commercial, medical and natural remedies available to remove facial warts.
Apply commercial ointments. Many people are familiar with the ads for Compound W, a popular commercial wart remover. However, there are other brands like Dr. Scholl’s products and TinaMed Wart Remover on the market that remove warts as well. In most commercial products use salicylic acid as the main ingredient, but other mild acids are used as well. The acid helps to slough off or wear away the layers of the warts until they disappear. Wart removers are available as a liquid, gel, cream or pads. Follow the directions on the label.
Try cryosurgery kits. The latest type of wart removers are at-home cryosurgery kits, similar to what is used in a doctor’s office. With cryosurgery you use liquid nitrogen to freeze off the wart. Be certain to carefully follow the instruction with any over-the-counter wart remover you buy.
Use aspirin. The aspirin sold in drugstores contains salicylic acid, the same ingredient found in many over-the-counter wart removers. To use aspirin as a wart remover, dissolve a few tablets in water and apply the mixture to the wart. Repeat a few times a day.
Use natural acids. Using natural remedies is a safer way to get rid of warts. As with commercial products, a mild acid is used. All natural remedies are applied topically to the wart once or twice a day. Vinegars contain acetic acid so white vinegar and apple cider vinegar are both used to treat warts. Lemon juice and grapefruit juice both have citric acid that can be used on facial warts. Garlic juice from fresh cloves is a folk remedy to try.
Try essential oils. Some essential oils are credited with wart removal. Lemon balm oil has citric acid. Birch oil has betulinic acid. Tea tree oil and dandelion oil also have their advocates as wart removers.
See a doctor. For stubborn warts, medical intervention may be required. Doctors use chemical peels to get rid of facial warts. The chemical frequently used is trichloroascetic acid. Doctors also use electrical current to remove warts. In electrocautery, the wart is burned off. Another option is laser surgery that uses a beam of light. The cryosurgery performed in a doctor’s office uses a stronger version of the liquid nitrogen found in at-home kits. For these medical treatments, you need to find a cosmetic surgeon or a dermatologist.