How to Get Rid of Warts Naturally?
Warts are unwanted raised bumps that appear on the skin. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) causes these undesirable structures. So, how to get rid of warts naturally? Let’s see in this article.
HPVs are not dangerous, but contagious and sometimes embarrassing, irritating and possibly painful.
Warts can easily spread on your body so it’s important you should get rid of warts on time. So you should try remedies to get rid of them.
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What are Warts?
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infects the top layer of the skin and multiplies rapidly resulting in the formation of warts.
This virus can reach your skin through cuts, contact, and scratches. These warts are more likely to form on the breaks in the skin, picked side nails and areas nicked by shaving.
Warts spread through contact and by sharing personal care items with infected ones. It is more common in children as they have weak immune systems.
They do not have much strength to fight the virus. Different types of warts appear on various body parts. Each has a distinct appearance. let’s see the types of warts and how to get rid of warts naturally.
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Types of Warts
There are five major types of warts:
1. Common Warts
Common warts occur mostly around your fingernails but can also appear anywhere else.
They have a rough and dome-shaped appearance. These type of warts are usually greyer than the surrounding skin area.
2. Plantar Warts
These occur on the soles of the feet. Unlike all the other kinds of warts which grow out of the skin, plantar warts grow into the skin.
These are hard and thick and appear as a hole surrounded by an elevated hard skin. The presence of plantar warts can make walking uncomfortable and painful at times.
3. Flat Warts
These warts have a flat top, hence the name flat warts. Flat warts usually grow on the face, legs, or arms.
They are so small in appearance that they are not easily noticeable. They appear to be a little pinkish, brownish or slightly yellow.
4. Filiform Warts
Filiform warts grow around the mouth or nose area and sometimes even on the neck and under chin regions.
They are small in size and have a flap like growths sticking out of them. Filiform warts are of the same color as your skin.
They are also called facial warts. Skin sensitivity or injury is the first characteristic symptoms of these warts.
5. Periungual Warts
Periungual warts are the ugly growths around the toenails and fingernails. These warts are rough bumps with uneven borders.
These type of warts are found mainly in people who bite their nails. It may be painful and might also affect the nail growth.
How to Get Rid of Warts? Home Remedies to Try
Home remedies are the best ways to treat warts effectively. They are better than the wart removal creams you get in the market, plus these home remedies have no side effects.
Here are some natural remedies to get rid of warts:
1. Garlic
Garlic has excellent antifungal and antiviral properties. These characteristics of garlic can fight viral infections effectively.
Apply a crushed garlic clove on the affected area. Surround it with a bandage and leave for about 20 minutes. Then wash the area.
Repeat the process twice a day daily for a week. The alkali effect of the garlic causes the wart to burn and eventually fall off. More prominent warts can take a much longer time to get removed.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. You can use apple cider vinegar for wart removal.
Simply dilute two parts of this ingredient in one part of water. Then apply the solution on the wart with a clean cotton ball. Cover the affected area using a bandage or a tape.
Follow this remedy for a few weeks and you will notice warts turning black. After few weeks they will fall off, leaving behind a small mark which will vanish slowly.
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3. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a fantastic herb with some extraordinary anti-inflammatory and soothing properties to get rid of warts.
Cut an Aloe Vera leaf and rub the gel on the wart using a cotton ball.
Secure the cotton ball over the wart using a bandage or a tape. You should repeat this procedure twice a day for almost two weeks for getting best results.
If you don’t have an Aloe Vera plant you can buy Aloe Vera gel from the market.
4. Baking Soda
Antiseptic and robust anti-inflammatory properties of baking soda can help in fighting the viruses that cause warts.
Add a teaspoon of white vinegar in baking soda and prepare a thick paste. Apply this paste to your warts two times a day.
Mix baking soda and castor oil to form a paste. You can also apply this paste to the wart and cover the area using a bandage.
Let it sit undisturbed for the entire night and remove the bandage in the morning. Follow this process for about four weeks to get rid of warts.
Related Reading: 10 Health Benefits of Baking Soda Bath
5. Banana Peels
The chemicals present in the banana peels have robust antioxidant nature which can help in treating the wart.
Take a piece of banana peel and secure it over your wart. This remedy is harmless and you can repeat it as many times as you want.
Follow this remedy before going to bed, leaving it on till the morning. It is suggested to use raw bananas instead of the ripe ones for getting faster results.
6. Basil Leaves
Basil leaves have a great combination of antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Crush some basil leaves and rub them gently on warts. You can also place some crushed leaves over your warts and cover it with a bandage.
Repeat this remedy at least two times regularly.
7. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice contains a high amount of citric acid and vitamin C. It is instrumental in treating viral infections and even warts.
Take the juice of one or two lemons in a bowl and soak a cotton ball in it. Put this cotton ball over your wart and secure it with the help of a bandage before going to bed.
Its application will make warts fall eventually.
8. Tea Tree Oil
It is a great ingredient to get rid of warts because of its potent antiviral properties. It is important to dilute it with water or aloe vera gel before applying it.
The application of this diluted tea tree oil on your warts can provide exemplary results. Apply this solution many times during the day and especially at night before sleeping.
The skin absorbs the oil and starts fighting the virus instantly.
9. Vitamin C
Vitamin C has an acidic nature and hence helps in getting rid of warts. It also fights the virus that causes warts.
Take two or three Vitamin C tablets and break it into pieces. Add a little water to it and prepare a smooth paste.
Rub this paste on warts and cover the area using a bandage. It can cause a burning sensation in the starting which will go away quickly.
10. Pineapple
The natural acids and enzymes present in pineapple can be very useful in treating warts.
Cut a fresh pineapple into slices. Apply these slices directly to the wart several times in a day. Follow this remedy to treat warts.
How to Get Rid of Warts Using Traditional Treatments
If you do not get positive results from the home remedies, you must see a doctor. He will advise you to get the best treatment for removing your warts.
1. Liquid Nitrogen
Your doctor may advise you nitrogen treatment. It is a treatment mainly for minor warts. Liquid nitrogen freezes the wart and peels off the affected skin by forming blisters.
That can reduce the wart in a week or two. This treatment can be a little painful but provides high-grade results.
2. Salicylic Acid
Applying salicylic acid to the wart is the most common wart treatment process. You can put the liquid on the wart directly, or you can use a particular kind of bandage that has acid in it.
Before putting on the acid, soak the wart in warm water for around 10 minutes. Then soften the wart using a pumice stone or an emery board.
That will make the acid work better. The acid will peel away the skin, and the wart will also get peeled away.
3. Duct Tape
Some people treat their warts using a duct tape as well. Doctors are also unaware of the reason behind its effectiveness in treating warts.
Ask your doctor before using this as a treatment for your warts. If he agrees, you can give it a try.
Stick a piece of duct tape on the wart and change it frequently, it will peel off the layers of the wart.
4. Surgery
This treatment is best for everyone who is unable to get rid of warts despite multiple therapies. Surgery involves cutting warts by a surgical knife or by burning it with electricity.
You’ll have to take a dose of anesthesia before the operation which can be painful. Surgery may also leave scars on the affected area.
How to Prevent Warts?
You can follow the simple guidelines to prevent warts and keep them from spreading to the other body parts.
- Always wash your hands properly, especially when you have been in contact with someone having warts.
- Avoid scratching and picking at your warts.
- Always keep your warts covered using a bandage.
- Try to keep your hands and feet dry.
- Wear flip-flops and not shoes when in a communal bathing facility.
Warts aren’t a major concern unless they rapidly spread to other body parts or if you notice a change in color of warts and the surrounding area.
Bleeding or infection around warts requires medical attention. Please consult a doctor if you experience a painful wart or any of the above symptoms.
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Sources:
Dr. Jain, P., ” Home remedies to get rid of Warts,” Mavcure web site; https://mavcure.com/home-remedies-get-rid-warts/, last accessed Dec 18, 2017.
“How to get rid of Warts,” American Academy of Dermatology/Association web site; https://www.aad.org/public/kids/skin/warts/how-to-get-rid-of-warts, last accessed Dec 18, 2017.
Carey, L., “Warts,”Healthline web site, April 20,2017; https://www.healthline.com/health/skin/warts#overview1.
” Warts – 10 Ways to get rid of them naturally,” Annmariegianni web site; https://www.annmariegianni.com/warts-10-ways-to-get-rid-of-them-naturally/, last accessed Dec 18, 2017.
