How to Remove Warts With Emery Board Filing

Warts are ugly little skin growths that pop up on the soles of your feet, your hands or fingers. They usually go away by themselves, but you might want to hurry the process if they are in a highly visible area or a painful pressure point on your foot. The Mayo Clinic says that you can remove warts with an emery board, combined with duct tape. According to Fox Chase Pediatrics, Dean Focht of the Madigan Army Medical Center in Washington showed this method was more than 80 percent effective at getting rid of warts.

Things You'll Need

• Duct tape
• Emery board

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Instructions

• 1

  Place a small piece of duct tape over the wart you wish to remove. Cut the tape to fit, and press it firmly so it stays in place. You can use any brand or color you prefer.

• 2

  Leave the duct tape in place over the wart for six days straight. Dr. Alan Greene says you can replace it with a new piece of tape if it falls off during the six-day period.

• 3

  Remove the duct tape, and soak the wart in warm water for 10 minutes. This will soften the wart and prepare it for filing.

• 4

  File the wart gently with the emery board. Continue the process until you have removed all the loose skin.

• 5

  Leave the wart uncovered overnight. You can wear socks and shoes if it is on your foot, but don't cover it directly with tape or a bandage.

• 6

  Apply a new piece of tape in the morning, and repeat the six-day cycle. You will remove more of the wart each time you file it with the emery board. Dr. Greene says complete removal with this process can take up to two months.