Warts can be embarrassing and discomforting, especially if they are in visible places. They are very common and are not a serious health problem unless they come up repeatedly. In this case, you should see your doctor to determine why they periodically reform. However, if it's just a normal wart, you can try some remedies to get rid of it. If you prefer to remove it naturally, wash the area with soap and water, crush a clove of garlic to release the juice, apply it directly to the wart and bandage the area to absorb its mood. Repeat the treatment every day according to your needs, for several weeks.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Treating Warts with Garlic
Step 1. Give it a try
Garlic is a great home remedy for common warts. If fresh, it is more effective, but you can also use garlic juice. First, rub a piece of it on a small patch of skin to see if it is sensitive. Some people may have skin rashes after this test. They are not dangerous, but they can be irritating.
- If this happens, you can still use this remedy, but be aware that the reaction may persist. In this case, do not leave the crushed garlic for more than an hour in contact with the skin. The wart may take longer to disappear.
- A study in some children showed that garlic was able to remove 100% of warts without leaving any significant side effects, other than a strong odor and only a case of mild skin irritation. In another study, garlic extract was used on warts and calluses from 42 patients of various ages. It was found that 100% of the subjects who had warts recovered.
- The antiviral active ingredient in garlic, called allicin, is thought to act on warts, but little research has been done to support this hypothesis.
Step 2. Prepare the area to be treated
Before applying garlic, it is necessary to disinfect and dry the area where the wart is located. Wash your hands and the site using soap and warm water. Blot with a cotton towel.
Use warm water and soap to wash any tissue that has come into contact with the growth. You can also bleach towels to make sure you kill the viral agents that cause the wart
Step 3. Apply the garlic
Take a clove of garlic and mash it with the flat surface of a knife. You can also cut it in half. Whether it is crushed or cut, rub it on the affected area so that it absorbs the juice.
Step 4. Band
Place the crushed garlic directly on the wart. Cover everything with a bandage or, if you prefer, with the tape patch. Don't put it on healthy skin.
Make sure there are no open cuts or wounds on the area being treated. There is a risk that garlic triggers a burning sensation and the wart virus spreads
Step 5. Repeat the treatment
It won't work right away. You have to repeat this every day. Wash and dry the wart. Cover it with fresh crushed or chopped garlic and wrap it with a new bandage.
- You can also use the tape patch to bandage her. It will help keep it dry. However, it could irritate other areas of the skin.
- Repeat the treatment every day for at least 3-4 weeks.
- In most cases, you begin to notice a reduction in size within 6-7 days. Once the bandage and garlic are removed, the wart looks shriveled and wrinkled. The complexion is also lighter than before.
- If you don't see any improvement, see your doctor to see if there is any other problem.
Step 6. Eliminate excess skin
You can use a file to smooth out any residual skin. Keep the affected area over the sink. Moisten the wart. Find the rougher side of the file and gently wipe the top and sides of the growth. Then, turn it over to the less abrasive side and repeat the same treatment: rinse and wash the area, then apply a piece of crushed garlic again.
- Do not rub vigorously, otherwise blood may come out. Also, be careful not to touch healthy skin with the file.
- If the wart is on the sole of the foot, rest the leg on the bathtub or on a small plastic basin.
- Make sure you rinse off the infected skin that you have filed. Wash the treated area in the sink or tub to prevent reinfection.
- Throw away the used file.
Method 2 of 4: Use other Natural Remedies
Step 1. Use onions
Like garlic, onion also helps remove warts. Choose a medium sized one, cut it into 8 parts, take one and mash it. Place it directly on the wart and cover it with a bandage or, if you prefer, a piece of tape patch. Repeat the treatment every day by changing the onion and dressing.
Again, between applications, use a disposable file to remove excess skin
Step 2. Moisten the wart with vinegar
Vinegar contains acetic acid which helps break down cell membranes and kill viral agents. Use it to moisten a cotton ball and apply it to the wart. Hold it in place using the tape patch. You can leave it 2 hours for a couple of days. Repeat the treatment if necessary.
Between applications, use a disposable file to remove excess skin from the wart
Step 3. Use the dandelion
Dandelion sap contains various substances, including antivirals, which help fight warts and destroy cells infected with the virus. Collect a dandelion flower or two from a lawn. Break off the stem and press the sap onto the wart. Use a bandage or tape patch to bandage her. Let it act for 24 hours. Repeat the treatment if necessary.
Between applications, use a disposable file to remove excess skin
Step 4. Apply the banana peel
It contains numerous substances, including enzymes capable of breaking down cell membranes. Place it with the inside facing the wart. Cover everything with a bandage or tape and leave it on overnight. Repeat the treatment if necessary.
- The banana peel also contains carotenoids, substances from which it is possible to synthesize vitamin A, known for its antiviral properties.
- Between applications, use a disposable file to remove excess skin from the wart.
Step 5. Try fresh basil
Basil contains numerous antiviral substances that favor the destruction of the virus responsible for the formation of the wart. Take a fresh basil leaf and ball it up. Put it on the wart. Cover everything with a bandage or tape and leave for 24 hours. Repeat the treatment if necessary.
Between applications, use a disposable file to remove excess skin
Method 3 of 4: Using Over-the-Counter Pharmaceuticals
Step 1. Prepare the skin
Regardless of the treatment you choose to use, you should always wash and dry your hands before and after touching the wart. Limit the use of the product to the area to be treated only. Typically, it works within a few days. If the wart hasn't diminished or changed in appearance within 6-7 days, see your doctor. You probably need stronger treatment.
Step 2. Use salicylic acid
It works by breaking down and killing HPV-infected cells. It attacks only those infected, leaving healthy cells intact. You can find it in the form of patches and liquid solutions and is contained in the products of the company Dr. Scholl or in "Compound W". Wash the area well and dry it. Apply the patch or liquid as directed. Repeat the treatment every day until the wart is gone. It may take 2-3 months.
- Avoid applying the product to other skin areas.
- To improve the effectiveness of salicylic acid, hold it on the wart to absorb it, then wipe off the excess skin with a file. This way, it will be able to better penetrate the lesion.
- You can also ask your doctor to prescribe a product that contains a stronger concentration of salicylic acid.
Step 3. Try cryotherapy
Pharmaceutical treatments based on dimethylether and propane gas contain a liquid that cools the wart. Basically, they freeze it and destroy the skin, causing it to fall out. You can buy them at the pharmacy. Follow the instructions on the package. The treatment should last approximately a couple of months. Keep the product away from open flames as it contains substances that can ignite.
A recent study suggested that cryotherapy is one of the most effective ways to get rid of warts within two months
Step 4. Test the duct tape
It is a real home remedy tried by many people. However, there is no definite information on its mechanism. According to some, it contains a substance that breaks down skin cells, which are then removed by the physical action of the tear. If you want to rely on this remedy, buy silver duct tape and apply a small piece of it to the wart. Leave it for 6-7 days. Then remove it and moisten the wart with water. Use a disposable file to remove excess skin.
- Leave the wart uncovered overnight or 24 hours at the latest. Then, apply the duct tape again for 6-7 days. Repeat the treatment as often as you feel necessary, for a maximum of two months.
- You can put onion or garlic juice before applying duct tape.
- According to one study, this method is more effective than cryotherapy used to remove warts.
Method 4 of 4: Knowing the Warts
Step 1. Learn to recognize warts
They are skin growths caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). They can appear anywhere on the body. However, they only infect the top layer of the skin. Generally, it spreads on the hands and soles of the feet.
Step 2. Learn about HPV infection
The HPV virus can be easily transmitted from one person to another. You could also re-infect yourself by first touching a wart and then another part of the body. It also spreads by sharing towels, razors, or other personal items that come into contact with this type of injury.
It seems that some people are more likely than others to contract the virus. If you have compromised or deficient immune systems, the risk is higher
Step 3. Learn about the symptoms
Typically, warts come in the form of rough-surfaced skin growths, although some are flatter and smoother. They can take various shapes and sizes. They tend not to cause pain, although those that sprout on the soles of the feet can hinder walking. They are also annoying when they appear on the fingers of the hands because at this point they can get irritated more easily due to the frequent use of the upper limbs.
Generally, they are diagnosed by the doctor through a visual examination and site evaluation, without any skin sample taking
Step 4. Learn to tell them apart
Common warts (also called leeks) can spread to the genitals or anal area, but are usually caused by a strain of HPV other than the one affecting the anogenital area (in this case, they are called warts). Common "non" warts are associated with a higher risk of cancer, unlike warts.
- Check with your doctor to make sure they are common warts;
- Also consult him to trace the viral strain in case they are located around the genitals or anus.
Advice
- Warts should be diagnosed by the doctor and treated under his supervision.
- If you need to remove plantar warts, use this method: soak your feet in a solution of 1 part white vinegar and 4 parts of warm water to soften and eliminate them more easily.
- Try one of these methods for at least 3-4 weeks to see if they are effective.
- Before trying any of the suggested remedies, check with your doctor to find out if it is a common wart.
- Warts can cause problems in people with diabetes or peripheral arterial disease.
Warnings
- Do not use home remedies if the wart is on the face.
- Do not use home remedies if warts are found in the anogenital area.
- You should see your doctor if the problem recurs or if no remedies seem to work. You should consult it even if you are over 55 and have never suffered from warts to make sure it is not skin cancer. Also, do not underestimate their opinion if you notice they are spreading, if a plantar wart hinders walking, if they make you difficult or uncomfortable, or if you see signs of bacterial infection, including pain, redness, red streaks, pus. or fever.
