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Warts (Common and Plantar)

Warts are stubborn — treatment takes weeks, and the freeze-it-once-and-done story rarely matches reality. At our Orleans pharmacy, a licensed pharmacist can confirm the growth is actually a wart, prescribe treatment, and set you up with a realistic plan that gets results. Free with your Ontario health card.

Warts are small, rough skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They're common and usually harmless — most often on the hands, or on the soles of the feet, where plantar warts can make every step painful.

Patience is the active ingredient

The virus spreads through direct contact and shared surfaces — pool decks, gym showers, change rooms. About two-thirds of warts eventually clear on their own within two years, but treatment speeds that up considerably. The catch: salicylic acid protocols take up to 12 weeks of consistent use, with weekly filing and proper skin protection. Most 'failed' wart treatments are really abandoned ones — a clear routine fixes that.

Around 12% of people have warts at any given time — up to 33% of school-aged children. Smokers have a five-fold higher recurrence risk. And warts on the face or genitals are outside minor-ailment scope: those always need a physician.

Common signs and symptoms

Small, hard, raised growth with a rough, cauliflower-like surface
Tiny black dots in the wart (clotted capillaries)
Flat, painful lesion on the sole of the foot (plantar wart), often with a callus over it
Pain with squeezing or with walking (plantar)

Treatments our Orleans pharmacist can prescribe

For your information only: in Ontario, our pharmacist can assess this condition and, when appropriate, prescribe from the medications listed below. This information is provided for educational purposes — it is not an offer to sell. These are treatments that require a pharmacist assessment, and the right option is chosen for you.

Keratolytic agents: Salicylic acid

Self-care that helps

Salicylic acid wart treatments (liquids, gels, medicated plasters, or pads)
Cryotherapy (freezing) kits for at-home wart removal
Pumice stones / emery boards (dedicated to the wart only) to file softened tissue
Protective wart cushions for painful plantar warts
Soak 5–10 minutes and file before applying treatment; protect surrounding skin with petroleum jelly; expect up to 12 weeks

Browse related over-the-counter options in our Warts (Common and Plantar) self-care collection, or ask us in store — our pharmacists will point you to what actually helps.

How the assessment works

1. Walk in or callNo appointment or referral needed. Drop by our pharmacy on St-Joseph Blvd in Orleans during opening hours, or call ahead.

2. Private consultationA licensed pharmacist reviews your symptoms, health history and medications in a short, private assessment.

3. Prescription in handIf appropriate, we prescribe and fill your treatment on the spot — you leave with what you need.

Frequently asked questions

Is it a plantar wart or a corn?

Squeeze test: warts hurt when squeezed side-to-side; corns hurt with direct pressure. Warts also show tiny black dots and interrupt the skin's natural lines, while corns don't. If you're not sure, that's exactly what the assessment is for — the treatments differ.

Freezing or salicylic acid — which works better?

Evidence shows properly done salicylic acid protocols perform at least as well as freezing for most warts, and combining approaches can help stubborn ones. Home freeze kits are considerably weaker than clinic cryotherapy — realistic expectations are part of the plan.

How do I stop warts spreading to my family?

Cover the wart during treatment, don't share towels, razors, or nail files, wear flip-flops in shared showers and pool decks, and dedicate a file to the wart only. HPV survives on surfaces, so these small habits matter.

Is the pharmacist assessment covered by OHIP?

Yes. The minor ailment assessment is free with a valid Ontario health card. You only pay for the medication itself if one is prescribed, and that is often covered by your drug plan.

Do I need an appointment at your Orleans pharmacy?

No. Walk-ins are welcome during all pharmacy hours — Monday to Friday 9:00 AM–6:00 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM–3:00 PM. You can also call 613-824-3111 ahead of your visit.

When to see a doctor instead: Do not self-treat — and see a health-care provider — if you have diabetes, poor circulation, or a weakened immune system; the wart is on your face or genitals; the growth is painful, bleeding, changing colour, or you're unsure it's a wart; or it hasn't cleared after 12 weeks of treatment.

Outlast the wart — with a plan.

Skip the walk-in clinic wait. Our Orleans pharmacists assess and prescribe for warts — free with your Ontario health card.

Call 613 · 824 · 3111 Hours & directions

Serving Orleans and east Ottawa — Fallingbrook, Avalon, Chapel Hill, Queenswood Heights, Blackburn Hamlet, Navan & Cumberland. 2746 St-Joseph Blvd, Unit 100, Orleans, ON K1C 1G5.