Since it is nearly impossible to tell whether most people have HPV infections with a high degree of accuracy, then it is obvious that most people who carry HPV will not end up undergoing any treatment because the infection is not detected. Simple warts are treated by killing both the skin of the wart itself and usually the skin directly beneath the wart. The theory is that the wart is extremely contagious with a high load of HPV virus, and the destruction of the wart is called for. The skin beneath the wart must be destroyed because this is actually the area from which the wart grew. Often this treatment is curative with no further warts resulting.
Herbal treatments are available, if unproved in the scientific literature.
Mugwort has been shown to be effective in some small warts, and it is available without prescription at various vending sites. Other medical treatments are very useful. Salicylic acid preparations are very effective in directly dissolving the wart and have been time-tested for years. Often this acid creates a local inflammation in the area of the wart, creating the immune response mentioned above. Many such wart remedies are available in the marketplace.