Warts are a very common problem. They can also be really expensive if you go to the doctor to have them removed. However, if you ignore them, they can enlarge or spread.

There are a number of over-the-counter wart removal systems and medications. The gels, patches, sticks, and liquids work, but they take forever. Who wants to fool with this every day for 2-6 weeks?

Several wart freezing systems have hit the market in the last couple years. These work, but they’re very expensive ($15 to $25 for about 12 treatments). On a per-wart basis, it’s still cheaper than going to the doctor, since each wart usually requires only 1-2 treatments.

What if I told you that you could slash the cost of treatment to just pennies? Would you be interested?

After doing a little research, I discovered that the freezing systems are simply aerosol propellant. That’s some pretty expensive propellant!

You can get very similar results with a $5 can of compressed air, using these steps:

1. Buy a can of compressed air from an office or computer store. This is sold for blowing dust and debris from computers and electronics.
2. Turn the can upside down, hold a cotton swab in front of the opening, and press the trigger.
3. Hold trigger down until the swab is soaked with propellant.
4. Quickly touch the swab to the wart, and hold for 20-30 seconds.
5. Wart should get smaller or disappear within about two weeks.
6. Retreat after two weeks if necessary.

That’s it, other than a few cautions and warnings:

* NEVER spray can near a flame, lit cigarette, or your face.
* NEVER use near eyes or on eyelids.
* NEVER, NEVER, NEVER inhale fumes from any aerosol product, including compressed air.
* Do not overtreat; more is NOT better. Holding swap on skin too long can cause a bad case of freezer burn and permanent scarring.
* Read instructions and warnings on compressed air can

This procedure is not recommended for moles or keratoses, due to the fact that they can be cancerous or pre-cancerous. See your dermatologist for these.

Here’s another DIY wart treatment: Duct tape. Cover the wart with duct tape for six days, then soak the foot in water and rub the wart with an emery board or pumice stone. Repeat the process for a couple of months until the wart goes away. Some believe this irritates the wart and surrounding skin, prompting the body’s immune system to attack.