Warts are unsightly, annoying and sadly all too common. One of the best known home remedies for eliminating them (especially plantar ones) is to apply duct tape every day. Following the procedure called Duct Tape Occlusion Therapy (DTOT), the affected person covers the wart for a relatively long time with this tape and then debrides it. This procedure must be repeated until the wart disappears completely. The DTOT technique has gained credibility within the scientific community and a study conducted by Dr. Focht established its legitimacy, finding it far more effective than freezing. However, keep in mind that this study has been questioned; in any case, know that there are many anecdotal sources to support the effectiveness of this technique.
Steps
Step 1. Clean the skin around the wart
This remedy involves covering the skin surrounding the growth for about a week at a time; before proceeding it is therefore advisable that the skin is clean. This is to prevent dirt or other debris that can cause blemishes and pimples from getting trapped under the tape.
Step 2. Let the skin dry completely
Just as you don't want dirt to remain between the skin and the duct tape, you also need to prevent moisture from remaining there, otherwise you could irritate the skin or, in rare cases, cause yeast infections. However, the most likely result you may notice from moisture is that the tape will lose its grip and peel off. Instead, you have to make sure that it remains firmly attached to the skin; therefore, make sure it is dry after washing.
Step 3. Cover the wart with duct tape
Cut a small square of normal cloth tape - wide enough to completely cover the wart, but not beyond - and place it delicately on top of the growth; press it on the skin making sure it adheres well.
Use a normal duct tape. The standard clear one was not as effective as the silver one; in fact, one study found that it does not lead to better results than the skin protection patch. The reason lies in the fact that the transparent one is covered by a different glue than the canvas one and this substance is responsible for its ineffectiveness.
Step 4. Leave the tape on for six days
This technique takes time, in some cases it takes up to two months. Keep the tape on the wart for the first six days; if it comes off, replace it as soon as possible.
The exact mechanism by which DTOT eliminates warts is still unknown. A common hypothesis is that the rubber-based adhesive present in the duct tape irritates the skin, causing an immune response on the area; the immune system unknowingly attacks the human papilloma virus (HPV) responsible for the multiplication of cells (i.e. the wart)
Step 5. Remove the tape on the evening of the sixth day
After the allotted time has passed, remove it from the skin and check for the wart. If at this point (or during a future checkup) you notice any signs of irritation or worsening, stop applying and make an appointment with your doctor or dermatologist.
Step 6. Soak the wart in warm water for one minute
Use a soft cloth to wet the affected area or dip it directly into a bowl, tub, or tub. The hot water softens the skin (and the wart) in view of the next phase which involves the debridement of the growth.
Step 7. Lightly scrape the wart with a file, pumice stone, or some other mild abrasive product
In this way, it essentially "silts" dead tissue in a process called debridement (removal of dead cells). Soaking the skin in warm water before the procedure makes the process easier; if at any time you start to feel pain, stop the treatment immediately.
Once you're done, soak the file, pumice stone, or tool you used in a solution of water and bleach. The wart tissue left on the object is infected with the HPV virus, which could spread and cause more warts to form; it is therefore extremely important to sterilize the instruments after each use
Step 8. Leave the wart exposed overnight on the sixth day and reapply the duct tape the next morning
Thanks to this "pause" you give the skin time to dry and rest; however, be careful not to touch, rub, or scratch the growth, as it can spread with simple contact. In the morning, apply another piece of duct tape.
On the evening of the sixth day, observe it; take note of any improvements that have occurred: does it seem smaller to you? Is it less prominent than before?
Step 9. Repeat the same steps until it's gone
Continue to do this procedure cyclically, removing the tape in the evening of every sixth day, washing, unraveling the wart and giving the skin time to rest, then re-applying the silver tape the next morning. Over time, the growth should gradually reduce; do not stop treatment until it has completely disappeared. You have to be patient, as this method takes a long time; Dr. Focht's original study indicates that it takes about two months.
If after this time you do not notice any improvement or the situation seems to have worsened, see your doctor; you probably have a wart that is particularly difficult to remove. Fortunately, there are other ways to remove it, including treatment with salicylic acid and cryotherapy
Advice
- Studies have found this remedy to be more effective on children.
- If the wart shows no signs of improvement, try another technique.
