Warts on the body in children: home treatment with salicylic acid

General information for parents. This page does not replace individual medical advice. Last updated 15 October 2026.

This page covers warts on the hands, arms, legs and trunk. Warts on the face, the soles of the feet, or around the nails are treated differently.

About warts

Warts are caused by a common skin virus (human papillomavirus, HPV). They are harmless and very common in children. Many go away on their own: about half within a year and two-thirds within two years. Treatment is optional if the wart is not bothering your child; it is worth treating if it is sore, spreading, or being picked at.

The treatment

Duofilm is a wart paint containing salicylic acid and lactic acid, which slowly soften and peel away the wart. It is available from pharmacies without a prescription. It works slowly, so expect to use it for several weeks.

Warts on the body do not need the stronger 40% salicylic acid stick sold for thick skin; it is too harsh for these areas.

How to use it

Once a day, ideally in the evening:

1. Soak the wart in warm water for 5 minutes, then dry it well.
2. File the top of the wart gently with an emery board every few days to remove the white, softened skin. Use that emery board only for the wart, never for nails or other people, and throw it away when treatment is finished.
3. Apply a thin layer of paint to the wart only, and let it dry. Try not to get it on the surrounding skin.
4. Cover with a plaster if your child picks at the wart or it rubs on clothing. Otherwise a cover is optional.

Take a break if

• The skin around the wart becomes red, sore or raw.
• The wart or skin cracks or bleeds.

Stop for a few days until it settles, then start again. Some mild whitening and peeling is normal.

Do not

• Use it on the face, including the nose, lips or near the eyes. Warts on the face are treated differently.
• Use it on the genitals or inside the mouth.
• Use it on broken or infected skin.

How long

Continue daily until the wart is gone, usually within 12 weeks. The wart is gone when the normal skin lines run across the area again. Check with your doctor before using it for longer than the packet says.

See a doctor sooner if

• The area becomes very red, swollen, hot or painful, or has pus (possible infection).
• The wart is spreading quickly despite treatment.
• You are not sure it is a wart.

If the wart is still there after about 12 weeks, other treatments are available, including freezing, which can work better combined with salicylic acid.