Duct tape occlusion therapy (DTOT): is a controversial method for treating warts by keeping them covered with duct tape for an extended period. The putative mechanism is not well understood and is likely a result of stimulation of the host immune system^[1]. Similar treatments involving silicone gel sheets are often used with hypertrophic scars, with the same unknown method of action. Wart is also the name of a Nintendo character, see Wart (Nintendo character). ... A piece of transparent duct tape, left, and of silver duct tape, right. ... Silicone caulking can be used as a basic sealant against water and air penetration. ... Hypertrophy is the increase of the size of an organ. ... Otto Skorzeny with a facial scar caused by fencing Scars are areas of fibrous tissue that replace normal skin after destruction of some of the dermis. ...

Suggested procedure:

1. Place a piece of duct tape on the lesion
2. Leave the tape in place for six days, replacing any duct tape that falls off with a new piece as soon as possible
3. After six days, remove tape and soak the wart in water
4. Gently debride the lesions with a pumice stone or emery board
5. Next morning, apply a new piece of duct tape to begin another six-day cycle for up to two months or until the wart is gone

Specimen of highly porous pumice from Teide volcano on Tenerife, Canary Islands. ... Emery Board is a type of paper that can be used for sanding down hard and rough surfaces. ...

Evidence

There have been few trials that study the effectiveness of DTOT. One randomized clinical trial found that DTOT was more effective than cryotherapy at removing warts^[2]. A second trial found duct tape had a modest but nonsignificant effect on wart resolution^[3]. However, it should be noted that the statistical power of the latter trial has been questioned.^[4] One RCT found that more people having occlusive treatment with duct tape than cryotherapy had complete clearance of warts at 2 months. The RCT did not assess recurrence.^[5]. Cryotherapy is used to define several techniques and procedures in the medical community. ... The power of a statistical test is the probability that the test will reject a false null hypothesis, or in other words that it will not make a Type II error. ...

See also

• Plantar warts

Plantar warts (verrucæ pedis; VP) are warts caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). ...

References

1. ^ Common wart self care by Mayo Clinic staff February 17, 2006
2. ^ The Efficacy of Duct Tape vs Cryotherapy in the Treatment of Verruca Vulgaris (the Common Wart)
3. ^ Efficacy of Duct Tape vs Placebo in the Treatment of Verruca Vulgaris (Warts) in Primary School Children
4. ^ Interpreting negative results from an underpowered clinical trial: warts and all. PMID 17088515
5. ^ Duct tape occlusion in treatment of Warts - BMJ Clinical Evidence