Keratolytic combination Pregnancy: There are no or limited data on use during pregnancy. Should not be used during pregnancy, except for short-term treatment of a small single wart, verruca, corn or callus; it is not known whether the systemic exposure reached after topical administration can harm an embryo/foetus. During the third trimester, systemic use of prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors may induce cardiopulmonary and renal toxicity in the foetus; at the end of pregnancy, prolonged bleeding time in both mother and child may occur and labour can be delayed.

Salicylic acid with lactic acid

Brand names: Salactol, Cuplex, Duofilm

A topical keratolytic combination of salicylic acid and lactic acid, commonly formulated as a paint or collodion for the treatment of common and plantar warts and verrucae.

Auto-extracted from the source labelling — not yet independently clinician-verified. These values were distilled from the UK SPC (or the US label where noted) but have not had a clinician sign-off. Confirm against the current SmPC before prescribing.

Adult dose

Dose: One or two drops of the gel applied to the lesion and allowed to dry over its surface

Route: Cutaneous use only — applied carefully to the wart, verruca, corn or callus only, taking care to avoid spreading on to surrounding normal skin; no adhesive plaster is necessary

Frequency: Once daily, every night

Source: eMC SPC for Bazuka Gel; labelled 'For adults, children and the elderly' with no separate paediatric dose. Method (§4.2): every night soak the affected site in warm water for 2 to 3 minutes and dry thoroughly with the patient's own towel, then apply one or two drops of gel to the lesion and allow to dry. The following evening, carefully remove and discard the elastic film formed from the previous application and reapply; if removal proves difficult, carefully reapply the gel directly over the film and allow to dry to help thicken it and assist removal — such re-application may be made on two or three successive days. Once a week, gently rub away the treated surface using an emery board (as provided) or a pumice stone used only for this purpose before re-applying. Duration: the wart, verruca, corn or callus may take up to twelve (12) weeks to disappear and it is important to persevere with the treatment; at the end of treatment, if the elastic film is difficult to remove it may be allowed to remain on the skin until it sheds. Precautions (§4.4): keep away from the eyes, mucous membranes and from cuts and grazes; do not use excessively; some mild, transient irritation may be expected, but in cases of more severe or persistent pain/irritation the treatment should be suspended and/or discontinued; avoid inhaling vapour and keep the cap firmly closed when not in use; contact with clothing, fabrics, plastics and other materials may cause damage. SOURCE CAVEAT: the fetched sections do not state the product's composition or the salicylic acid / lactic acid strengths, so confirm on the SPC that the product being described is the salicylic acid with lactic acid formulation rather than a salicylic-acid-only variant. The openFDA fallback matched an unrelated US cosmetic salicylic acid face wash ('Quick Action', Walmart Inc.) and was not used.

Dose auto-extracted from UK Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) via the eMC; US FDA prescribing information (openFDA / DailyMed) — cross-check; US labelling may differ from UK — not yet clinician-verified. Always confirm against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Contraindications

Not to be used on or near the face, or in intertriginous or anogenital regions
Not to be used by diabetics or individuals with impaired peripheral blood circulation
Not to be used on moles or on any other skin lesions for which the gel is not indicated
Sensitivity to any of the ingredients

Side effects

May be irritant in certain patients, which in rare instances may appear as a temporary blemish on the skin (§4.8)
Mild, transient irritation may be expected; more severe or persistent pain or irritation should prompt suspension and/or discontinuation of treatment (§4.4)

Interactions

None known (SPC §4.5)

Clinical monograph

How it works

Both components are keratolytic: salicylic acid softens and desquamates hyperkeratotic skin by dissolving intercellular cement, while lactic acid (an alpha-hydroxy acid) further promotes shedding of the affected keratinocytes, gradually destroying the wart.

Prescribing in practice

Apply only to the wart or verruca and protect surrounding healthy skin, as the keratolytic action can cause irritation, burning and ulceration of normal skin.
Avoid use on the face, anogenital region and on broken or inflamed skin, and do not use on warts in patients with diabetes or peripheral vascular disease without specialist advice.
The flammable collodion or paint base should be kept away from naked flames and allowed to dry before dressing.

Monitoring

No laboratory monitoring is required; review the treated lesion periodically for excessive irritation and response, abrading the softened keratin between applications.

Counselling the patient

Soak the area in warm water and gently file down the softened skin before each application, applying the liquid only to the wart.
Treatment often takes several weeks of regular use; persist but stop and seek advice if the skin becomes very sore or broken.
Keep the product away from the eyes, mouth and flames as it is flammable.

Evidence & guidelines

Topical salicylic acid preparations are an established first-line self-care treatment for cutaneous warts, supported by Cochrane evidence showing modest benefit over placebo.

Reference: NICE CKS; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. The structured dose values shown have been reviewed by a clinician. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Calculators

Pathways