Content

• Advice
• Warning

Apply tape to the wart. Cut a small piece of gray tape - just enough to cover the wart completely. Carefully place the tape over the wart. Apply the tape to the skin so that it is firmly attached.

• Use regular gray tape. Adhesive tape is not as effective as standard gray tape. One study showed that transparent tape did not do much better than duct tape. It is possible that the adhesive tape uses a different adhesive than the gray tape, and this difference reduces effectiveness in treating warts.

Leave the tape on for about 6 days. Adhesive tape therapy takes time to work - in some cases it can take up to 2 months. For the first 6 days, leave the tape in place. If the tape comes off, put it back on as soon as possible.

• The exact mechanism of action of tape therapy in removing warts remains unclear. A widely accepted theory is that the rubber-based adhesive in gray tape has the effect of irritating the skin and stimulating a local immune response. The immune system inadvertently attacks the human papillomavirus (HPV), which leads to cell proliferation (or warts).

Peel off the tape at the end of the sixth day. When the six days are up, remove the tape to check for the wart. If at this time (or at any time thereafter) the wart seems irritated or worse than before, stop using the tape immediately and make an appointment with your GP or doctor Dermatology.

Soak the wart in warm water for one minute. Use a soft washcloth to soak the wart with warm water, or soak the affected area in a bowl, sink or bathtub. Warm water helps to soften the skin (and also the wart) in preparation for the next step of clearing the wart.

Gently remove the wart with a nail file, pumice stone, or another abrasive material. Scrubbing the wart with a gentle abrasive tool means you're "filing" off the dead wart tissue, a process called "cleaning" (removing dead tissue). Soaking your skin in warm water first will make this process easier. Stop when pain starts at any time.

• When you've finished shaving, soak a nail file, pumice stone, or other sharpener in a solution of bleach and water. The wart tissue that carries the HPV virus on the devices can spread and cause new warts. Therefore, it is extremely important to disinfect tools after each use.

Leave the wart open for the sixth night, then re-apply the tape the next morning. You need to let your skin dry and rest for a Friday night. However, be careful not to touch, rub, or scratch, as warts can be spread through contact. The next morning, apply another piece of tape to the wart.

• Check the wart the next night. Notice if your condition improves - are the warts getting smaller? Is it more flat?

Repeat the steps above until the wart is gone. Continue with the cycle of steps above, peel off the tape every Friday night, wash, shave, and let your skin rest, and tap the tape the next morning. After a while, the warts will gradually disappear. Don't stop treatment until you are 100% sure the wart is gone. Please be patient. This method can take a long time. The first study by Focht et al lasted for about 2 months.

• If the wart has not improved after two months or seems to get worse, see your doctor. This may be the case with warts that are particularly difficult to treat. Luckily, there are other options for getting rid of these warts, including salicylic acid therapy and cryotherapy.

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Advice

• Studies show that this treatment is more effective for children.
• If the wart shows no signs of improvement, you can try another therapy.
• Try to dry the area before applying the tape.

Warning

• This therapy may not work (some studies show it is ineffective).