Glycolic mask…wart disappearing?

[BuilderBetty]

I’ve had a rather ugly wart on my nose since I was a teenager. Doctor was not keen to remove it as he said it would likely scar and said it wasn’t too noticeable but it always has annoyed me. I’ve had it 20 years and get very self conscious about it. Anyway…I got a glycolic mask in a beauty box just before Christmas and have started using it once a week and I’ve noticed my wart is getting flatter/smaller! Is this just coincidence or is glycolic acid a magical wart remover?? If I keep using it will it disappear eventually? Has anyone experienced this before I get my hopes up?

So have you actually spoken to someone about removing the wart since this one off conversation with a GP 20 years ago

We can't believe you haven't had it removed

I had a tiny wart on the edge of my nose for 20 years that didn’t really bother me, but I had to be careful not to catch it or it would bleed really quite frighteningly. Doctor said no treatment because of scarring etc…Then last year I got a much better bathroom mirror and noticed hundreds (and I mean hundreds) of microscopic warts all over my face, under my eyes they looked like sand.

The doctor confirmed flat (or ‘juvenile’ - I’m 53!) warts but said there is no treatment for warts that doesn’t scar or make them worse so I’d have to put up with them, for the rest of my life. NO WAY am I doing that.

I did tons of research and found a medical paper that said a topical solution of glycolic and salicylic acid was safe and had cleared such cases of warts in a large study, but that the results were not generally accepted as anything other than anecdotal.

I knew I had to ‘go it alone’ but didn’t want to risk my health so I started using a BHA (salicylic acid) toner and thought I saw some improvement after a few weeks but couldn’t be sure. I didn’t mix them but a glycolic toner got rid of a few more. My skin was becoming very dry and wrinkled and I knew that was enough of that so I then did more research and am now getting amazing results with retinol in the form of fish oil, and now only have tens, rather than hundreds, of warts under my eyes.

So no, in short, its not your imagination!

Are they actual warts or something like sebaceous hyperplasia or actinic keratosis?

I have a bit of sebaceous hyperplasia on my forehead and glycolic acid toner (and tret) really does help to keep it under control.

If you are going to go down the glycolic AHA and Salicylic BHA acid route then they are both great at smoothing skin

I highly recommend REN AHA

and

Paula's Choice BHA

I've used both and they are excellent

I started off with the Paula's choice BHA to sort my skin out at the time and now I maintain it with the PC AHA

If I were you I'd alternate between the 2 on a nightly basis. Just apply to a small cotton pad and apply all over your face. You don't rinse it off. Then wait a few minutes and apply your serum then moisturiser or oil or whatever you use

I had a wart on my EYELID when I was 12 and the GP prescribed a salicylic acid paint. It disappeared and did leave a mark, but the mark soon faded and disappeared. Even if it hadn't have disappeared it was nothing to write home about and would have been covered up with concealer. The actual wart made me so self-conscious

These

@OooScotland i think I must have found the same medical paper! I bought some 2% salicylic treatment to add to the glycolic mask a couple of days ago. Will give it a go. I’m so glad you found it helpful!

@StarTwirl I have asked about it with different NHS doctors about 4 or 5 times over the years mainly because I was worried it might be more than a wart and was terrified it might not be benign. All of them refused on the basis of removal would cause scarring which in their view would look worse. Thanks for your recommendations though…it’s actually the REN glycolic mask I am using…am a big fan of REN on the basis of this.

In podiatry we used to treat verrucas with glycolic but plantar skin on the foot is really hard to penetrate but nose skin is different.

If they removed surgically they’d have to take a margin of healthy skin so yes you’d scar and scar tissue doesn’t tan/can go white.

So 4 weeks on it is DEFINITELY working. It’s pretty much flat now although can still see the outline it feels like it is disappearing by the day. Genuinely shocked and delighted…I just assumed I’d be stuck with it forever. My daughter asked me where my wart was the other day..she says she misses it 😂

Which glycolic mask are you using @BuilderBetty ?

I use this one
https://www.renskincare.co.uk/products/glycol-lactic-radiance-renewal-mask?override=true
and I also bought a salicylic 2% serum (just from Amazon for about £2.50!). I use the glycolic a couple of times a week directly on my wart and the salicylic acid morning and night also applied directly to the wart itself. I’ll report back in another month and hopefully it will be gone!

Clearasil spot cream in a tube is salicylic acid and is brilliant, works an absolute treat . Dh had a huge bumpy warty thing on his forehead and it completely disappeared.

That's amazing OP! I've got a wart on my forehead. Doctors won't remove it as its cosmetic. Any chance you could please link to the salicylic acid you used please? Many thanks.

Sure! It’s this one…it was basically the first one that popped up when I googled so I am sure there are probably better ones out there. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B08V7P6R7R?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
After I noticed a difference with the glycolic acid, id found an article that suggested glycolic and 2% salicylic solution combination had been successful in a trial (I think it was children though) so thought I’d supplement it and see if it worked. So far so good. 👍

Brilliant! I'd already spotted that one and added it it my basket. The REN face mask is half price on amazon currently as well. Thank you 😊

Good luck @SendARavenToRiverRun ! I hope it works for you. There is a post up thread with some other recommendations for glycolic and salicylic acids which look good too. I hope it works for you. I still can’t quite believe it after all these years. I’m hoping it will disappear completely but am still very chuffed at progress so far.

Thank you. I'm so chuffed for you! I'm very self conscious of my wart, so if it's less prominent I'll be happy. I've ordered the salicylic acid and an inky list glycolic. Fingers crossed.

Thanks @BuilderBetty

Hello! So probably my final update. This works! I have included a before and after shot to show the difference in a couple of months. Admittedly I’ve not been doing it religiously as it’s gotten smaller and I have forgotten about it but still applying the glycolic at least once a week and the salicylic acid every day morning and night. I’m only updating because it was something that bothered me for years and have search the internet many times over the years looking for a remedy without luck so hopefully others will stumble across this. It’s made a huge difference!
@SendARavenToRiverRun are you having any luck?

Well I’ve just bought a tub of this off amazon. 🐑😂

Wow!
Amazing. What a difference. Mine has gotten smaller. There's a definite improvement in it. I need to use the salicylic more I think. Only seem to remember a few times a week.
So chuffed for you with yours!

Good news @SendARavenToRiverRun! Hlad it is having an effect. Honestly I can’t believe after all these years it’s pretty much gone! Keep persevering!

Whoa that’s amazing @BuilderBetty ! Thanks for the update!

Great news. Really chuffed for you.

It's really amazing!. I'm on it now 😊