If you've ever had warts, those black-dotted barnacles that sprout from skin or mucous membranes, you probably know they come not from smooching frogs but from the human papilloma virus (HPV). It enters the body through moist or compromised skin through direct or indirect contact, and the virus remains present and contagious (newer warts contain more HPV than older ones) until the wart clears up.

Although warts are medically benign, for some they can inflict emotional harm -- even though more than half of warts disappear within two years without intervention. For those who don't want to wait, an arsenal of treatment options have emerged in recent years.

A round of "benign neglect" is what dermatologist Randall Coverman prescribes in most cases. If that isn't your style, he says over-the-counter wart liquids and patches containing salicylic acid "do keep them from getting larger."

If after several weeks there is no change, a dermatologist can try freezing warts with liquid nitrogen, the gold standard for warts. However, Coverman doesn't advocate it for kids -- who along with teens are most commonly plagued by warts. Freezing can cause scarring and discoloration, and for kids can be painful.

Cantharidin -- an extract from the blister beetle -- presents another option. Doctors mix it with other chemicals, slather it on the wart and cover the area with a bandage. After a time, the concoction blisters off the wart, which can cause discomfort.

If cost isn't an issue, Coverman calls imiquimod cream (sold under the brand name Aldara) "a great treatment." It boosts the immune reaction to warts and helps the body battle HPV.

Stubborn warts might require more invasive options. One infrequently used treatment involves injecting the diluted chemotherapy drug bleomycin into the wart, which kills the virus.

All this is why, although treatment can manage warts, Coverman tries to quell patients' desire for aggressive treatment by sharing his daughter's story.

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