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Podowart for Warts: An Effective Treatment You Can Get Online

Emerging Writers' Festival  
26/05/2020

Millie Baylis is a writer and arts worker, living on Wurundjeri land. She writes essays, memoir and commentary, with recent work in Kill Your Darlings, Overland and The Victorian Writer. In 2019 she was a Wheeler Centre Hot Desk fellow and the managing editor of Visible Ink, and in 2020 she is a Moreland Writer in Residence and the Program Coordinator for the Emerging Writers’ Festival.

What drew you to working at EWF?

As an emerging writer myself, I’ve loved attending EWF for years. I think Amazing Babes was the first festival event I ever went to, and I remember being so moved by the incredible work shared by so many amazing women that night. I’ve always loved the welcoming, enthusiastic culture of the festival, as well as the stimulating discussions on the craft of writing and its place in this world.

I’ve worked various jobs in the arts (including at the Wheeler Centre), ushering and getting to listen in on heaps of amazing literary events. Last year, I had a ball working front-of-house for EWF – except for when, while on stage at the National Writers’ Conference trying to get Maria Tumarkin’s mic working, the fly on my pants broke open in front of everyone… but that’s what emerging is all about, right?

It’s extremely exciting to have the chance to contribute to a festival I care about so much now as the Program Coordinator.

Why is celebrating emerging voices in writing important to you?

 There are so many answers to this question! For emerging writers, I think it can be really validating to be invited to share your work and/or ideas in public. That recognition and legitimation can give one the confidence to carry on – something that can be really hard when you’re just starting out. I also believe that writing is a craft that needs practice, and EWF offers a very tangible place for writers to do that – often in front of their first audience too.

There’s so much incredible work being made beyond the more established literary outlets that deserve to be seen and read and listened to. I think it’s so important to help platform this broad range of work, as well as helping writers form connections with each other, from across the continent (and from Aotearoa too.) There’s a shitload of talent to celebrate!

What are you working on outside of EWF?

 I’m working on my own essays – largely to do with mental and physical chronic illness, drawing on memory as well as literature and research to consider the body, trauma, violence, small joys and ideas of ‘healing’.

And I’ve recently joined the team that makes Chronically Chilled, a podcast/radio show about chronic illness and disability, on 3CR.

Is there a book that you feel is the equivalent of a warm hug to you?

To be honest, I’m not often drawn to books of a feelgood nature – but perhaps I should be!

Shadowboxing, the collection of semi-autobiographical linked short stories by Tony Birch, is maybe my favourite book. Birch is so generous and skilled at portraying small, specific moments of his characters’ humanity with such tenderness – I find something profoundly reassuring and hopeful in them.

More recently, Laura McPhee-Browne’s debut novel Cherry Beach made me sob, but it also definitely held me and stroked my hair sweetly after.

If you were an under the sea creature, which would you be?

I want to say a dolphin (from a position of aspiration, rather than recognition). Unlike humans, dolphins have to breathe consciously – it’s not a reflex. There is something staggeringly beautiful about this small but essential detail; that with each breath, they choose to live.

They’re also one of the few animals that are known to have sex for pleasure (and maybe, really, that must influence the breathing thing.) 

Our program launch is all about digital nostalgia – have you got a favourite nostalgic technology throwback?

 Like so many millennials, I spent my pre-teen years – every day at the school library, and every night at home on the family computer via the dial-up modem – talking to other young emos on MSN, and then MySpace. On weekends, I’d take a bus and then a long train to the city to meet internet emos IRL on the Flinders Street Station steps. We’d share headphones to listen to songs on our mp3 players, then return home to change our MSN names to whatever lyrics most matched our mood. (*~* </3 And I’m nothing more than a line in your book </3 *~* – Appears Offline.) I miss the tackiness and earnestness of our curated Myspace profiles back then – one’s choice of Myspace layout and graphics and profile song and ‘who I’d like to meet’ section was an expressive art form! – compared to the sameness of profiles online these days. (Cher Tan, genius emerging writer, wrote a brilliant piece about this btw.)

What are you most excited about for EWF20?

I’m thrilled by how accessible the festival will be online – and how that will mean more people can take part in our huge program of performances, panels, workshops and projects. I’m looking forward to hearing the hard conversations people will have about writing during this intensely unsettling time, to have my thinking challenged, and to experience all kinds of storytelling.

Our program’s out in just a week, and I’m busting to spill its secrets but I won’t, lol. Be sure to check it out when it goes live on June 2 – and I hope to see you during the festival online!

Emerging Writers’ Festival 2020 runs from 16-23 June online.

Buy Podowart Online: What You Need To Know Before Treating Warts. Visit Our Pharmacy ↓


Podowart: A Doctor’s Review for Australian Adults Over 30

Written from a doctor’s point of view for people who want a practical, no-judgement guide to treating visible warts.

Attention: Warts Don’t Care That You Are Over 30 — But You Can Stop Waiting

If you are over 30, you have probably been told at some point that warts disappear on their own. But for many Australian adults, they do not. Instead, they linger in the genital area, around the anus, or on nearby skin. They itch, rub against underwear, make intimacy feel impossible, and sometimes produce an unpleasant odour that destroys confidence.

By now, you may have tried freezing at a clinic, home remedies, or simply ignored them for years. You might avoid new relationships, dread a partner noticing, or worry constantly about HPV and the risk of cancer. This is the hidden pain of warts: it is not just a skin problem — it wears down your self-esteem and your sex life.

Podowart was designed for this exact problem. It is a prescription-strength paint that targets the wart itself. For many patients, it becomes the treatment that finally works after years of frustration and embarrassment.

Interest: What Makes Podowart Different?

Podowart contains podophyllotoxin 0.5% w/v, a cytotoxic compound that stops wart cells from dividing. When applied carefully, it destroys wart tissue while sparing the surrounding healthy skin. Over a few days, the wart breaks down and clears.

Podowart at a glance
Feature Detail
Active ingredient Podophyllotoxin 0.5% w/v
Form Topical paint/solution with applicator
Typical treatment cycle Apply twice daily for 3 days, then 4 days off; repeat as directed, usually up to 4 weeks
pH Approximately 3.5 — deliberately acidic
Use on multiple warts Yes, with careful dosing and hygiene limits
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Not recommended

Why does pH matter? Podowart has an acidic pH of approximately 3.5. That acidity helps keep the active ingredient stable and assists penetration into the hard keratin surface of a wart. You may feel a brief tingle or mild stinging after application. This is expected, but it also means Podowart should not be used on open cuts, ulcers, or actively bleeding skin.

Can you treat multiple warts at once? Yes. Many adults over 30 have clusters rather than a single wart. Podowart can be applied to several visible warts in one session. Use the applicator carefully and do not double-dip into the bottle, because that can contaminate the solution. I usually advise treating no more than 50 small warts or a total area of about 10 cm² per application, and not exceeding 0.5 mL of solution. If your warts are larger or very widespread, your doctor may recommend staged treatment over different days.

What is the best time to apply Podowart? The ideal time is after a warm shower at night. The skin is clean, you can dry the area thoroughly, and the paint dries while you sleep, reducing staining of clothing and bedding. If twice-daily application is prescribed, apply again in the morning. Always wash your hands before and after each use.

Desire: Real Answers to the Questions Adults Over 30 Ask Me

In my practice, patients ask specific, sometimes embarrassing questions about podophyllotoxin treatment. Here are the answers that matter for your confidence and safety.

Your questions, answered by a doctor
Question Doctor’s view
Can Podowart be used on HIV patients? Yes, but only under medical supervision. HIV-positive patients may have more extensive or recurrent warts, and any unusual, bleeding, or non-healing lesion should be examined before treatment. If the skin is intact and the lesions are typical, Podowart can be used with smaller treatment areas and close follow-up.
What is the pH of Podowart? Approximately 3.5, deliberately acidic to stabilise the active ingredient and improve penetration into wart tissue.
Can I use Podowart on multiple warts at once? Yes. Treat each wart with a clean applicator tip. Limit the total area and dose per application as directed, usually no more than 50 small warts or 10 cm².
Can Podowart be used on warts that smell? Yes, after cleaning. A smell often means sweat, maceration, or mild bacterial overgrowth. Wash with warm water and mild soap, dry well, then apply Podowart. If there is pus, fever, or spreading redness, the infection should be treated first.
What is the best time to apply Podowart? At night after a shower. It is clean, practical, and allows the solution to dry without rubbing on clothing.
Can Podowart cause hearing loss? No. There is no evidence that topical podophyllotoxin causes hearing loss. If you notice hearing changes, see your GP for a separate assessment.
How to get Podowart if I am in a remote area? Use telehealth. A GP or sexual health clinic can issue an e-prescription to your phone, which you can fill at a local pharmacy or an Australian-registered online pharmacy that delivers discreetly to remote areas.
What is the batch number of current Podowart? The batch number changes with each production run. It is printed on the bottle and carton. Your pharmacist can confirm the pack you receive is within expiry and correctly stored.
“The biggest mistake I see is people waiting years. When Podowart is used correctly, visible warts often clear within a few weeks, and patients regain their confidence and intimacy.”

Podowart’s benefits for adults over 30:

Important: Podowart is not for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and it is not suitable for warts inside the vagina, anus, or urethra. Use it only on external warts on intact skin.

Action: How to Get Podowart in Australia Without Embarrassment

Podowart is a prescription medicine in Australia. The path to getting it is simpler than many people think, even if you live in a remote area.

Simple steps to start treatment
Step What to do
1 Book a telehealth or in-person appointment with a GP or sexual health clinic. Tell them you want a wart review.
2 Ask whether Podowart (podophyllotoxin 0.5% paint) is suitable for your warts.
3 Receive an e-prescription on your phone if appropriate.
4 Fill it at a local chemist or a registered Australian online pharmacy that offers discreet delivery to remote areas.
5 Check the batch number and expiry date on the pack, then follow the treatment plan exactly.

If your pharmacist does not have the Podowart brand in stock, ask for an equivalent podophyllotoxin 0.5% paint registered in Australia. The active treatment is what matters most.

Do not wait until the warts become more widespread, more uncomfortable, or more socially disabling. Take the step this week. A short consultation can open the door to a treatment that finally clears the visible warts and lets you stop hiding.

Disclaimer: This article is educational and written from a doctor’s perspective, but it does not replace individual medical advice. Always consult a registered Australian healthcare professional before starting any prescription treatment.



2020.emergingwritersfestival.org.au
2020.emergingwritersfestival.org.au
2020.emergingwritersfestival.org.au