Is It Possible To Remove Warts You’ve Had for Years?

At a Glance

Warts are common viral skin growths that resolve naturally, but some persist for years due to deep infection, a resistant HPV strain, thick skin, or a weakened immune system. Long-standing warts are not “too late” to treat. Professional wart removal treatment, such as advanced electrolysis, can help achieve blemish-free skin.

Book an appointment with The Blemish Clinic.

Your Wart Doesn’t Need to Become a Part of Your Identity

Warts are one of the most common skin concerns, affecting approximately 7-12% of the population. Warts, in most cases, resolve on their own, thanks to our body’s immune system. 

Warts can grow unnoticed until they are painful to walk on (when on the feet) or hold things (when on the hands), or are large enough for others to notice and make you feel self-conscious.

Chronic, long-term warts can be difficult to treat with over-the-counter treatments and may require professional wart removal, such as advanced electrolysis.

Are you seeking an old wart removal treatment that is safe and effective? At The Blemish Clinic, we offer permanent wart removal using advanced electrolysis.

Book an appointment with our skin experts, Charlotte and Georgina.

What are Warts?

A wart infection appears dome-shaped, rough and bumpy (almost like a cauliflower head) and is skin-coloured, brown, grey or black. They can also sometimes appear flat, smooth, and finger-like. 

Warts are caused by certain human papillomavirus (HPV) strains. Upon contact with a contaminated surface, the virus enters the body through cracks in the skin, triggering an infection.

Warts are highly contagious and spread through contact with an infected person or object. The virus strain, upon entering your body, triggers the overproduction of the protein keratin, leading to a buildup that appears as a raised, rough bump.

While DIY remedies such as OTC products containing salicylic acid and topical ointments might help, for permanent wart removal, it is often best to consult a blemish removal specialist. 

Why Do Some Warts Last Longer Than Others?

The body’s immune system fights off most viruses, including HPV strains that cause warts. When left untreated, warts can go away on their own within a few months to a couple of years.

However, sometimes they persist despite your best efforts. These types of warts are often known as 'recalcitrant warts' and are usually more difficult to get rid of because the following reasons apply: 

• They are caused by stubborn strains of HPV

• Deep-rooted plantar warts (appearing on the soles of your foot) that have grown inwards

• Thicker skin prevents topical ointments from reaching the infected cells

• A weak immune system

• Not using the right OTC treatment or not following through with the course

Old wart removal requires professional intervention and more specialised treatments, such as advanced electrolysis, cryotherapy, and laser therapy. If the warts persist for a long time and change in size, shape, or colour, you should see a doctor right away. 

Is It Ever “Too Late” To Seek Treatment for Your Warts?

3 in 10 warts go away on their own within 3 weeks of occurring, even without treatment. Others can disappear in 1 to 2 years. If you notice a wart lingering on your feet, hands, or face after 2 years and feel disheartened that it has become a part of your identity, this doesn’t have to be the case.

OTC or at-home remedies might not work for these old, persistent warts, but with professional wart removal treatment, you can achieve blemish-free skin. 

Popular old and stubborn wart removal treatments include cryotherapy, in which the wart is frozen with liquid nitrogen. Another permanent wart removal technique is advanced electrolysis where a trained electrologist passes low-grade thermal electricity through a probe on the wart.

This raises the temperature of the area, destroying infected cells and the virus, (even when it is deep within the dermal layer). The heat from the current also shrinks the capillaries supplying blood to the wart, effectively destroying the cells.

Prescription-grade salicylic acid is often an effective solution for removing old warts. However, you must consult a dermatologist before applying this to your skin. In cutterage, a professional surgically scrapes the infected skin while a laser burns the warts. 

To Remove Old, Stubborn Warts, Talk to The Blemish Clinic 

Many people with warts assume that removing them can be painful, making them avoid treatments. If you are wondering, “Does wart removal hurt?”, the answer is no - advanced electrolysis is a safe, effective wart removal procedure with minimal pain. 

At The Blemish Clinic, our VTCT-certified electrologist uses advanced electrolysis to remove warts and verrucas. This is a targeted approach in which only the wart is treated, while the surrounding area remains unaffected. 

Depending on the extent of the wart infection, you might require more than one session, but our skin specialists will guide you based on your individual needs. 

Are you interested in permanently removing a wart with minimal downtime and discomfort? Book an consultation at The Blemish Clinic.