Based on several research studies that determined the effectiveness of known plantar warts treatment, it was found that no plantar warts treatment can give a one hundred percent guarantee that it will be effective. The effectiveness of a plantar warts treatment is influenced by other uncontrollable factors such as the response of the immune system. But it was discovered that the use of acid is the plantar warts treatment that provides the most encouraging results.

Acid acts on the affected skin by seeping into the skin cells, finding the deeply embedded viruses, and killing them. The type of acid which is extensively used as plantar warts treatment is known as salicylic acid. This acid can be purchased in a variety of packages and formulas. It can be as paste, as patch, as prepared liquid, or as concentrated liquid. Salicylic acid is an over-the-counter drug and needs no prescription.

Salicylic acid is applied externally on the skin affected with plantar warts. The prepared liquid, which has a 17% concentration of salicylic acid, is assumed to be a milder plantar warts treatment than the concentrated formulation, which has 40% salicylic acid. Caution is advised when using the more concentrated form of salicylic acid because it can damage healthy skin cells.

When salicylic acid is bought as patch or plaster, it is placed right on top of the plantar warts bumps. This form of salicylic acid has been found to be less successful in treating plantar warts but a patch is easier to use and this is why some people prefer the patches when all that is needed is a mild plantar warts treatment. When salicylic acid is in the form of paste, it is called Upton’s paste. This particular plantar wart treatment is prepared by mixing one part of trichloroacetic acid with six parts of salicylic acid. The result is a viscous paste that is used to cover the plantar warts.

If salicylic acid is unavailable, another acid formula that can be used is the Formalin BP. This solution is always diluted first before it is used. It is recommended that two teaspoons of Formalin BP is mixed with one cup of water. The diluted solution is placed on a basin and the affected foot is bathed with it. To protect the healthy skin cells of the foot from the strong action of this plantar wart treatment, a moisturizer must first be applied.

Every application of the acid or any other plantar warts treatment must be accompanied by a gentle rub using an emery board or a pumice stone. The rough texture of the pumice stone will help the foot shed off the dead skin along with the virus. Sometimes, the plantar warts disappear in a few weeks but it will be reasonable to assume that the plantar warts treatment might be continuously applied for more than two months.