DIY Wart Removal

Want to get rid of a wart, but don't want to use harsh salicylic acid or pay for an expensive wart-freezing kit? This instructable will show you how to freeze off your own warts for 1/3 the price.

Step 1 Get the supplies

You're going to need a can of computer duster from your local office supply store. The ingredients in the one I've used is simply tetrafluorethane gas (non-carcinogenic, and non-flammable for the record) compared to the retail wart remover which is dimethyl ether, propane and isobutane.

Also pick up a pack of plastic Qtips.

Duster: USD$7 for a giant can (12oz)
Qtips: $2.50 for 375

vs.

USD$25 for a wart freeze off kit (12 uses total)

Comments

[bleachworthy]

(removed by author or community request)

[chemistprof]

Wow, it's amazing how people will simply make stuff up and post it online. Difluorethane is used as a propellant in the above mentioned dustoff because, like all other hydrofluorocarbons, it's chemically inert. Other fluorinated hydrocarbons are also used as refrigerants simply because they are inert, and are liquid over the appropriate temperature and pressure ranges experienced in a refrigeration system. The same goes for teflon, a hydrofluorocarbon made by Dupont and prized for it's resistance to extreme chemical conditions, such as extreme acidity, or exposure to strong oxidizers, let alone it's tendency to not stick to anything (frying pans, etc.). Difluoroethane does not form hydrofluoric acid upon contact with moisture, no matter how extreme the conditions. If it did, it certainly wouldn't make for a very safe consumer product intended for dusting off electronics! If you experience tissue necrosis with the above cryogenic treatment in a location other than your wart, it is because you got the very cold liquid on part of you skin that was not the wart. This is more a cautionary tale for those with poor eye hand coordination. If you can't get the cold liquid to go where it's supposed to, then no cyrogenic home treatment will work for you. You should instead face the music, and go to a dermatologist.

[KirkH420]

@chemistprof You sound very knowledgeable however this I've done this to myself and other people and it does work. Difluorethane is the agent which basically acts as though it were liquid nitro. Sometimes several applications will be needed over a few weeks. Turn can upside down while wearing eye protection and spray onto a q tip. Apply to wart with q tip and hold till it turns white and you'll feel a minor sting. Leave it alone for 3 to 5 days and it will become a scab. You will begin to notice it itches a lot.... you will end up scratching off the scab and the wart is either gone or noticeably smaller. Knowledge is power and can take you anywhere, but I recommend not letting your knowledge close your mind to ideas which don't make sense because of what you know.

[brandon borick]

wart freeser fom the store has difuorethane

[amz-fx]

Absolutely not true. Difluoroethane is a common aerosol propellant and stable in contact with water. It is widely used in hair sprays and deodorants, including those which contain water. It is also known as HFC-152a

[ccrook]

Furthermore, this is tetrafluorethane not difluroethane.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R-134a

More info as to why it's safer.

Thanks for your concern but you seem to be an alarmist.

[ccrook]

Funny, I've never had any adverse reactions as you've described. Maybe if it's "gross over exposure" like they've mentioned. My guess is that the "turning yellow and blisters appear" is from frost bite not hydrofluoric acid. "Real wart remover" in the freeze off is more like 5 fold the price you mentioned. In fact: "Decomposition - Decomposition products are hazardous. This material can be decomposed by high temperatures (open flames, glowing metal surfaces, etc.) forming hydrofluoric acid and possible carbonyl fluoride. " Luckily my skin is not an open flame or glowing metal surface so I would deem this relatively safe. I still stand by my disclaimer. If it really was a hazard to get it on your skin they wouldn't sell it in stores without huge warning labels. Methinks you've watched one too many ER episodes.

[bleachworthy]

No, not an alarmist. the information I provided was for Dust Off brand name. it is real, I have had it happen to me, it sucks balls.

[ccrook]

Except you were talking about difluoroethane. I specifically used tetrafluoroethane (see above). Dustoff comes in different forms.

[KiwiGran]

My doctor has had two attempts at freezing off a large wart I've had on my hand for about 18 years. Both these treatments were pure torture and failed.

Two weeks ago I decided to try something new. I purchased a glass (crystal) nail file which I use each morning to file a little more off the wart. It is now level with the skin surface and will soon be gone.

Very easy and painless.

[jbean3]

This could be a possible solution to get rid of a wart but there are several other easier more productive ways. Not only are there many over the counter products available at your local drug store but several common house hold items can also be used as home remedies and work just as well! Check out this website http://www.getridofwartfast.com ive found several helpful things its worth the look!

[kasaDD]

My dad is a doctor and he uses this and says it works better because the dust spray gets colder.

[misslarue]

I haven't tried it yet, but I've read that tea tree oil, or Melaleuca alternifolia oil, is an effective natural remedy. Tea tree oil is a really lovely product from Australia--it tingles and smells kind of like eucalyptus, and I've used as a treatment for cuts and blisters, because it acts as an antimicrobial. Its also the main ingredient in the Derma Remedies product. I'm going to make an experimental paste of garlic and tea tree oil and let you guys know what happens to the annoying wart on my right heel (the place where I always get blisters from sandals).

[rob123]

Never use dust remover for wart removal, its crazy!!

Derma Remedies have an awesome product for wart removal. Their stuff is natural and really works!

You just apply to the warts and they flake away by themselves and never grow back. Plus no scarring! Great stuff!

Check out their website to order (they have a buy 2 get 1 free special too)
http://www.dermaremedies.com

[anthony41]

Yes! I agree I tried the product from Derma Remedies too. It worked way better than anything else I tried. Mine just kept growing back with cutting them off/freezing. After a short period of time they changed color and fell off. No burning or scarring. Can't even tell where they ever were on my skin. I was skeptical at first, but not a skeptical as trying Dust Off......LOL! Check them out! You won't be sorry you did!

[Yerboogieman]

will this work on a mole?

[pickford78]

probably not. it will also hurt like hell.

[Mac_Tonight]

Just don't breathe it in accidentally. This stuff can and will kill you.

[garden burger]

when i saw the picture of the dust remover i just thought "what crazy person would ever try this"

[avengingwatcher]

This worked like a charm for me. 3 dollars for it :) Thanks so much for the idea, almost a year later and still healthy and wart free. Saved me over 17 dollars.

[drerock]

it didnt work, dammit

[yoitspoe]

tetrafluorethane is actually flammable under a few certain circumstances and may cause flash fires, but most of the time you're safe

[austin]

so does this work for genital warts? lol, my firends and i used to mess around with each other by sneaking up behind each other and spraying tthem with this stuff, It would hurt like hell, and as long as you didnt do it to long it would not cause permenant damage.

[ccrook]

My one friend used an retail kit on his genitals and it worked just fine despite the warnings not to. He was going to get some LN2'd at the health center anyway, so I really don't see the difference between that and this. Again, I'm not a doctor, so if you end up maiming your unit, I'm not responsible.

[CementTruck]

Hmmm. Genital warts + duct tape underwear/cup/jock strap/G-string.

1)Cheap
2)Disposable (never needs washing)
3)Removes warts
4)Epilates - side effect (removes unwanted hair)
I'll stop here----

I don't see a down side. ;)

[NonPermissiveEnvironment]

Duct tape works better. It's been proven.

[ccrook]

Duct tape takes forever. I'd rather do this for the same period of time with less maintenance than changing a piece of duct tape. When my dermatologist starts prescribing duct tape, I'll let you know.

[spinach_dip]

1, 1, 1, 2 Tetrafluorethane (R-134a) has a boiling point of −26.6 °C (−15.9 °F)

[ccrook]

Compared to: propane: -42C dimethyl ether: -22C isobutane: -12C So its pretty close. It's definitely does the job.

[Andrew546]

I fixed the label on your spray can :-p

[Andrew546]

Whoops, I guess using the right picture would be a good idea...

[canida]

Have you tried duct tape? Studies show that it's more effective than freezing for wart removal.

[Andrew546]

Yay, i want to struggle to keep duct tape on my hand for 2 months while my wart slowly dies of old age!!! Haven't you heard? Random pieces of duct tape on you hand for 2 months is the newest, most awesomest fashion statement out there! 2 months, or maybe a week or so, hmm, which should i choose?

[spinach_dip]

yea, but the duct tape takes weeks, and it's a pain in the @#$ when the tape must be kept applied to an area that you are always washing, such as your hands

[merseyless]

Duct tape... what cant you do

[spinach_dip]

Computer dust-off spray: not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease

[TheCheese9921]

wo do you think this will work on a corn i have one on my foot

[ccrook]

I can't recommend it for anything other than molluscum or warts (what I've seen it used on) but I would assume, if freezing off corns is normal practice at G.P's offices, this would work just fine.