From the Guidelines
Nail polish is not an effective treatment for plantar warts. Instead, over-the-counter salicylic acid products (like Compound W or Dr. Scholl's) are recommended as first-line treatment, applied daily for several weeks according to package instructions 1. For stubborn warts, see a healthcare provider who may offer cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen), stronger prescription-strength salicylic acid, or other medical treatments.
Key Points to Consider
- Plantar warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) that infects the skin through tiny breaks, and effective treatments work by either destroying the infected tissue or stimulating the immune system to fight the virus.
- The British Association of Dermatologists' guidelines for the management of cutaneous warts 2014 recommend salicylic acid (15–40%) topical paints or ointments as a first-line treatment for plantar warts 1.
- Cryotherapy, fortnightly for 3–4 months, is also a recommended treatment option for plantar warts 1.
- Nail polish lacks any mechanism to treat the viral infection or remove the infected tissue, making it ineffective against plantar warts.
Treatment Options
- Over-the-counter salicylic acid products
- Cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen)
- Stronger prescription-strength salicylic acid
- Other medical treatments, such as dithranol, 5-FU, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, hyperthermia, laser, PDT, podophyllotoxin, topical immunotherapy 1
From the Research
Effectiveness of Nail Polish in Treating Plantar Warts
- There are no research papers to assist in answering this question, as none of the provided studies mention the use of nail polish as a treatment for plantar warts.
- The studies provided discuss various treatments for plantar warts, including cryotherapy 2, 3, 4, salicylic acid 2, 3, 4, 5, cantharidin-podophyllotoxin-salicylic acid formulation 4, 5, laser therapies 3, 5, and intralesional treatments 5, 6.
- These studies suggest that salicylic acid and cryotherapy are commonly used treatments for plantar warts, but they may not be effective for all patients 2, 3, 5.
- Other treatments, such as cantharidin-podophyllotoxin-salicylic acid formulation, intralesional bleomycin, and intralesional immunotherapy, may have higher cure rates, but more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness 4, 5.
- A pilot study on the use of intralesional polidocanol sclerotherapy for plantar warts showed promising results, with 60% of patients achieving complete clearance of their warts 6.