Q. I had an enormous plantar wart on the heel of my foot. I let it go for a long time because I read they can go away on their own, but it got to be about 2 inches across.
I tried salicylic acid patches from the pharmacy but it took nearly a whole box of them to cover it. A dermatologist froze it, which hurt like crazy, but didn’t kill the wart. I finally tried duct tape.
I wore duct tape on it for about two months. My heel looked like Swiss cheese because the calloused skin swells and turns white from the duct tape and the black spots of the wart looked like craters in my foot. Then it was summertime and I wanted to wear sandals. I gave up treating the wart for a while.
Much to my surprise once the “Swiss cheese” callus wore away, clear pink healthy skin grew back in its place. The duct tape had worked. It just took a long time to see the results.
A. A few studies have examined duct tape for warts, but the results have been conflicting. Nonetheless, this approach is inexpensive and doesn’t hurt.
Others who would like to try this should cut a piece of duct tape the same size as the wart. Place the duct tape on the wart and leave it in place for a week. Then remove the tape, soak the wart in warm water and file it down with an emery board. The next day, put a fresh piece of duct tape on the wart. Repeat the procedure for up to two months.
