Most warts are harmless and clear up without treatment. The length of time it takes a wart to disappear will vary from person to person. It may take up to 2 years for the viral infection to leave your system and for the wart to disappear. You might decide to treat your wart if it is painful, or in an area that is causing discomfort or embarrassment. Common methods of treatment include: salicylic acid cryotherapy (freezing the skin cells) chemical treatments Treatment for warts is not always completely effective, and a wart will sometimes return following treatment.