Warts are a very common yet harmless skin disease. They are mostly round in shape, pea sized or even smaller, thick, and hard. Since warts are a growth on the skin, they are prominently visible which can make you look ugly or can be a cause of embarrassment. Apart from distorting your looks, warts are also contagious and can spread to people around you as it is caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Here are some safe, time-tested useful home remedies to get rid of warts.
These home remedies or natural remedies for wart removal can work on any type of wart. Depending on their location, the appearances of the warts vary. Plantar warts occur on the feet due to too much walking or standing. These warts can cause discomfort and pain especially if they appear on the sole of the feet. Filiform warts emerge on the face – at the edges of the mouth, eyes, etc. – and are slightly spiky. Warts can also sprout in the genitals and can spread through sexual contact. Most of all, before following any of these home remedies, it is best to get your warts checked by an expert. If deemed normal, you can try some of these home remedies.
Banana Peels
- Take the peel of a ripe yellow banana.
- With a knife, cut out a piece of the peel, big enough to cover the entire wart.
- With the inner skin of the banana peel towards the wart, tape it onto your skin.
- Keep changing the peel from time to time.
The enzymes in peel will attack the wart. The wart shall fall off within 2 weeks.
Essential Oils
- Select an essential oil of your choice, be it tea tree, thyme, eucalyptus, lemon etc.
- Warm the oil slightly (optional)
- Apply the oil on the wart and massage well
- Apply at least 3 times in a day
These oils are nothing but natural oil extracts of beneficial herbs and plants like tea tree, thyme, eucalyptus, lemon, etc. These plants are known for their therapeutic value and their oils are a treasure of anti-septic properties in a concentrated form. Apart from applying daily, also continue to apply it for a while even after the wart has fallen off, to prevent it from re-emerging.
Apple Cider Vinegar
- Mix apple cider vinegar and water in a 2:1 ratio.
- Soak a cotton ball in it and squeeze out the excess.
- Before going to sleep, tape the cotton ball over the wart with the help of a bandage.
- Repeat this every night.
You can follow this even in the day time if it doesn’t cause much soreness or tingling sensation. The wart is likely fall off in 7 to 14 days. The acidic nature of vinegar attacks the hard skin of the wart and finally eradicates it.
Garlic
- Take a garlic clove and crush it
- Apply this thick paste on the wart, and secure a bandage for the pieces to stick to the skin
- Leave it on for 30 minutes
- Remove this and wash the area
The anti-viral and anti-bacterial nature of this spice will cause the wart to dry, blister and fall off. What gives garlic this wart removal power is the presence of the compound allicin. If you don’t relish the overwhelming smell of garlic and want quicker results, then you can instead consume 3 to 4 garlic cloves, or garlic capsules daily till the wart is gone.
Vitamin C Tablets
- Crush a vitamin C tablet
- Mix it with a dash of lemon juice until they blend into a fine paste
- Massage the paste over the wart covering it thoroughly
- Repeat this daily for at least 2 weeks
Vitamin C is a nutrient that helps boost your immune system and fight infections. This very anti-viral nature of Vitamin C can help you get rid of warts, even when used externally.
White Vinegar and Baking Soda
- Take a tablespoon of white vinegar
- Mix it with sufficient amount of baking soda to make a thick paste
- Add some castor oil (optional)
- Apply this blend twice daily – once in the morning and once in the night
Some warts are very thick and hard. To get rid of such tough and stubborn warts, the concoction of white vinegar and baking soda is the best. You can also add some castor oil as it is anti-inflammatory and may reduce any swelling or disturbance on the skin caused due to the otherwise acidic paste of vinegar and baking soda.
Honey
- Apply lots of honey on the wart- fill the wart entirely with a thick coat of honey
- Leave this for a few minutes/overnight until honey seems absorbed by the wart
This sweet syrup is acidic and anti-septic. Its thick consistency and lack of moisture makes it difficult for air to enter the wart when applied. This blocks the oxygen, causing the wart virus to fade away.
Diet Recommendations
You can get rid of warts not only with the help of external agents but also with the help consuming the right foods.
- Since warts are a form of an infection, eating more of vitamin C rich foods like citric fruits can boost your body’s ability to fight the wart virus.
- Adding green leafy vegetables to your meals means enhancing you Vitamin A intake which results in greater immunity.
- Also nourish yourself with zinc rich foods like nuts, spinach, meats, pumpkin seeds, etc. Plus, consuming probiotic foods like yogurt and milk can also help you. They help generating good bacteria in the body to fight germs and diseases better.
A combination of such dietary agents plus external home remedies can help you get rid of warts better.
Most of the times, these home remedies prove to be really helpful especially with their added advantage of minimal side-effects. However, if the warts recur quite often or are situated at really inconvenient spots, then it’s better to consult a doctor. Such stubborn warts can only be removed with medical intervention. Also genital warts can sometime be seen as an early sign of cervical cancer among women. In case you have been suffering from warts for long, then consult a skin specialist at the earliest. A wart can also be a hidden form of cancer.
To get in touch with the best dermatologist near you, book an appointment now at Apollo Cosmetic Clinics. Chennai’s top skin specialists at Apollo Cosmetic Clinics are trained to treat the rarest of wart cases. Know more here.
