Treatment of warts by keratolysis

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]}

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]}

• 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]

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]}

1. ^ J Drug Target. 1998;5(5):343-51. PMID 9771616
2. ^ Int J Pharm. 1999 Oct 25;188(2):145-53. PMID 10518670
3. ^ Dermatol Clin. 1990 Jan;8(1):143-6. PMID 2302853

• List of brand names in US and Canada