3 Ways to Remove Facial Warts

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Warts are abnormal skin growths caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). Filiform warts and flat warts are those that mostly form on the face. These are embarrassing and may discourage you from doing the things you love. It is a highly contagious skin disease and can be easily transmitted through direct contact. However, you can treat and remove warts with the help of home remedies, medical treatment, and by taking preventative measures.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Home Remedies

Step 1. Try Apple Cider Vinegar

It can be used on all types of warts. The acid in the vinegar affects the wart area, allowing it to detach from the surrounding healthy skin and carry the infected virus with it. It is safe to use on the face and other parts of the body.

• In fact, the malic acid and lactic acid present in the vinegar help to soften and exfoliate the skin.
• These ingredients are commonly used to treat acne on the face.
• To apply apple cider vinegar, soak a cotton ball (but not completely) and place it on the wart. Then, cover the area with an adhesive bandage for 24 hours.

Step 2. Crush the garlic and use it as a mask

Its corrosive properties cause a blister on the wart which then falls off in about a week. The allicin in garlic has an antiviral effect that kills a wide range of viruses, including the human papilloma virus.

• Crush the garlic and apply it on the facial warts.
• Hold it in place with tape or a patch for 24 hours.
• Change the garlic and ribbon every day.

Step 3. Try lemon juice

Lemon is an ever-present element in the home and has a variety of cleaning properties. Citric acid contains vitamin C, which is shown to kill the virus that causes warts.

Apply it on the warts at least three times a day

Step 4. Apply duct tape to the wart

While this remedy isn't medically verified, some people claim it works fast. It is probably effective because the body reacts to the substances it contains. Duct tape irritates the skin by stimulating the formation of antibodies that help get rid of the virus responsible for warts.

• Cover warts on your face with duct tape when you sleep and remove it immediately when you wake up in the morning.
• Repeat this procedure as often as necessary until the wart disappears.

Step 5. Apply banana mush

Bananas contain a proteolytic enzyme (an enzyme that breaks down proteins) that "digests" and dissolves the wart. This can be an easy and emollient way to remove facial warts.

• The suggested treatment lasts from one to two weeks.
• Other foods, such as pineapple, papaya, and sauerkraut, contain this enzyme.

Step 6. Learn about the use of Betadine

It is an antiseptic product that helps fight the virus responsible for facial warts. You can gently rub surgical Betadine on the infected area for 5 minutes a day until the lesions dissolve.

• This treatment is not recommended for those allergic to iodine or betadine.
• See a doctor if your skin becomes irritated.

Step 7. Apply a milkweed cream

You can find this product in pharmacies or health food stores. This plant contains a proteolytic enzyme that absorbs and removes the wart.

• Apply the cream to the warts at least four times a day.
• The secretion obtained from the plant can be applied directly to the wart.

Method 2 of 3: Verified Medical Treatments

Step 1. Take topical medications prescribed by your doctor

There are some medications that help reduce infection symptoms and remove facial warts. These treatments usually take several months for the infection to go away completely and are often associated with intense inflammation and discomfort. The main ones on the market are:

• Retinol cream (Tretinoin). A daily topical application of this cream can trigger healing. It is capable of destroying the growth of wart cells. When applying the cream, be sure to follow these guidelines:

  • Apply once a day at bedtime.
  • First, wash the wart with soap and water and wait at least 15 minutes for it to dry. Then apply a minimal amount of cream to the wart. Be careful because if you put it on damp skin it can cause dryness and irritation.
  • Tretinoin cream can make you sensitive to sunlight, because it softens and thins the skin. Remember to wear sunscreen when you go out.

• Cantharidin or other topical products containing trichloroacetic acid. Cantharidin contains a poisonous substance which is extracted from beetles. When applied to the skin, a blister forms around the wart, which lifts it up allowing a dermatologist or doctor to remove the remaining dead part.

  • After the treatment, cover the affected area with a clean bandage.
  • Follow your doctor's instructions carefully when using it.

• 5-Fluorouracil. This ointment inhibits the development of DNA and RNA, which is supposed to stop the growth of the wart.

  • Apply the ointment twice a day for 3 to 5 weeks.
  • Protect the area from the sun - exposure could make irritation worse.

  

  Step 2. Do some research on exfoliative keratolysis

  This is a procedure that involves abrasion of superficial dead skin. This works through a combination of chemical treatment (usually the use of salicylic acid), which softens and kills the virus cells, and manual exfoliation. When the wart is softened by the chemical treatment, you can use a pumice stone or a file to remove it.

  

  Step 3. Learn about cryosurgery

  This treatment involves the use of liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy the warts, which are then scraped off with a curette. Cryosurgery is a good way to treat stubborn warts that have resisted all non-invasive treatments.

  • With liquid nitrogen, a bubble can form on the treated area, but it will disappear within two to four weeks.
  • Keep in mind that cryosurgery and curette scraping are somewhat painful procedures and liquid nitrogen can cause a burning or stinging sensation on the treated site which may persist for a few minutes after application.
  • Scarring or skin discoloration can make this process a little complex.

  

  Step 4. Try pulsed light laser therapy

  This is a treatment that uses heat energy to destroy the wart and the red blood cells that feed it. The therapy is generally well tolerated and leaves no scars or pigment abnormalities. This is a fast and effective method, but its cost makes it less affordable than other options.

  • The lesions usually go away within about two weeks without scarring.
  • This treatment is used to treat various skin disorders.

  

  Step 5. Consult your doctor about bleomycin-based intralesional therapy

  If the warts on the face are severe, this treatment is very effective. The doctor injects bleomycin (a drug that is usually used to treat cancer) into the warts. A single injection may be enough to clear the wart, otherwise you may need a booster every three to four weeks. This therapy leaves no (or minimal) scars and may cause some pigmentation that will go away within a year of treatment.

  This treatment could be very expensive, but it has a high success rate (92% according to research) and is much more effective than cryosurgery

  

  Step 6. Consider immunotherapy

  For warts that don't respond to any treatment, immunotherapy could be an additional option. Your doctor will try to stimulate your immune system against the wart by applying a chemical (such as diphencyprone) to the wart or by injecting a molecule (usually a Candida antigen). This should provoke a reaction from your immune system, which will attack both the injected substance and the wart, eliminating them naturally. It may also help decrease the chance of warts coming back, as your body will learn to defend itself against the HPV virus.

  Method 3 of 3: Avoid Worsening of Warts

  

  Step 1. Ignore the warts and let them heal on their own

  If you can, try to ignore them as they can sometimes disappear on their own. You can cover them with bandages or, to keep a good look, with a scarf or bandana.

  • However, if they really bother you and worry you, try following the treatments outlined in this article.
  • If warts persist for years, or you notice them starting to spread, see a doctor.

  

  Step 2. Never scratch them and maintain proper hand hygiene

  Don't touch them and leave them alone. Practice the universal precaution of maintaining good hand hygiene so you don't pass warts on to others.

  • Keep your hands dry and clean, as warts thrive in moist areas.
  • Get in the habit of washing your hands before and after applying topical solutions to warts.
  • Keep your clothes and towels separate from those of others. Make sure other people don't use your clothes to avoid spreading warts. If possible, label your clothing and towels so that others know these are yours and avoid using them.

  

  Step 3. Never brush, comb or even shave the areas where there are warts

  This way you could easily spread the virus to other areas of the body. Remember, warts are highly contagious, and even a light brush on the affected area can infect you or other people.