No one likes a blemish on the skin that draws unwanted attention, and warts are a common growth that is often associated with embarrassment and repulsion. While you may think that they only appear on the fingers, warts can emerge on other parts of the body. To get rid of these unsightly growths, there are wart removal home remedies that can provide relief and encourage faster healing.
Wart Removal Home Remedies
All warts can spread from one part of your own body to another, which is why it is important to quickly implement a treatment plan to get rid of the growths. Wart removal home remedies can help you treat symptoms and increase the rate of healing. A handful of suggestions are found below:
Garlic: You can apply freshly crushed garlic directly to warts and cover with a bandage for an effective treatment. Garlic possesses an acidic effect that causes the wart to blister and eventually fall off in as little as one week. You will need to apply new garlic every day. For the best results, smear the garlic on the wart, and then cover with petroleum jelly to protect the skin. Eating garlic will also help the immune system fight the virus.
Lemon Juice: Dip a cotton swab (like a Q-tip) in lemon juice, and then apply directly to a wart. Repeat this process over the course of a few days. This will give the lemon juice a chance to dissolve the wart.
Lemon and Apple Cider: Try soaking lemon slices in apple cider vinegar with a little added salt. Allow the mixture to stand for two weeks before rubbing the lemon slices on a wart.
Onions: Onions have an irritating effect on the skin that can promote blood circulation, which can assist in the healing process. You can try rubbing cut slices of onion on your warts to encourage their disappearance.
Raw Potato: Rubbing the inside of a sliced raw potato against a wart can help remove the growths because the starch works as a drying agent. Follow this remedy for about 10 minutes.
Banana Peel: Some people have gotten rid of their warts by rubbing the inside of a banana peel on the growth for a few weeks. Rub the banana peel multiple times during the course of the day to achieve the best results.
Aloe: For centuries, aloe has been recognized as a healing agent. When applied as a topical treatment, you can speed up the healing process and ease discomfort.
Vitamin A: Directly applying the contents of a vitamin A capsule to warts can help with the healing process. Follow this treatment once a day until the wart starts to fade.
Vitamin C: Add a small amount of water to a couple of crushed vitamin C tablets to make a healing paste for warts. Apply the remedy to the growth and cover with a Band-Aid to keep the paste in place. The high acid content of the vitamin will work on eradicating the virus responsible for the warts. Only use the paste on the wart and avoid coming in contact with healthy skin, as the vitamin has potential to irritate the skin.
Nail Polish: When you want to get rid of a wart, prevent the spread of the virus by using nail polish to cover up the offending growth. In one week, you should notice a great change in the wart.
Castor Oil: Soak a piece of gauze with warmed castor oil, and rub across warts for 30 minutes. Repeat two more times throughout the day. You can also use a Band-Aid to keep the gauze in place for a longer period of time. Make sure to change the gauze twice per day.
Grapefruit Juice: Apply a drop of fresh grapefruit juice to a wart, and cover with a Band-Aid. It is suggested to repeat this remedy three to four times a day. Continuously apply the juice to promote faster healing of warts.
Pure Honey: The antibacterial properties of pure honey can help treat a wart. Apply the remedy first thing in the morning, and repeat again in the nighttime. Follow this process until the growth vanishes. Some people have reported seeing results within a couple of days.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Petroleum Jelly: To remove plantar warts at home, start by soaking your affected foot in a basin filled with warm water. Leave foot in for five minutes. Empty the water, and then fill the basin with lukewarm apple cider vinegar – only pour enough to cover the planter wart. Soak the wart in the vinegar for 15 minutes.
After removing your foot from the basin, gently pat dry with a towel that is immediately set aside to be laundered. Apply petroleum jelly (like Vaseline) on the skin that surrounds the wart. Do not put the petroleum jelly directly on the wart. The Vaseline will help protect the healthy skin. Use a nail file to gently rub back and forth across the wart area. Do this for no more than 30 seconds, as you don’t want to break open the growth. Your goal is to roughen the surface of the wart so that an application of vinegar will absorb deeply into the affected skin.
Soak a sterile cotton ball with a small amount of apple cider vinegar and press against the wart. Don’t be alarmed if you experience a stinging sensation for a moment. Hold the cotton ball in place with a Band-Aid. Some people will use duct tape for a more secure fit. Keep the cotton ball in place for an entire day or overnight (if possible). The best results come when the treatment is followed daily – once in the morning and once in the evening. Within three days to two weeks, the wart should start to darken. The skin will eventually fall off on its own. It is suggested to repeat this remedy for a week.