Duct Tape Occlusion Therapy in the Treatment of Plantar Warts

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Plantar warts are generally unsightly, often painful, and they can resist typical forms of treatment. Generally, these treatments involve a combination of procedures including topical application, excision, and cryotherapy and can require numerous office visits. This paper reports on the efficacy of duct tape occlusion therapy in the treatment of plantar warts that resisted all other forms of treatment over a ten-year period.

Methods: At the time the patient began duct tape occlusion therapy he had developed a 2.5 cm diameter verrucous plaque on his right heal with nine additional solitary plantar warts distributed from the head to the ball of the foot. Strips of duct tape 8-10 cm in length were applied over the affected area and changed every 1-3 days. Occasionally the warts were pared down with a razor blade.

Results: A two-month treatment of plantar warts by duct-tape occlusion therapy resulted in complete disappearance of a 2.5 cm verrucous plaque and nine solitary plantar warts distributed from the heel to the ball of the foot, including warts that had never been covered by the tape.

Conclusion: Duct tape occlusion therapy proved to be an effective therapy for treatment of plantar warts that had resisted repeated treatment by traditional methods.