Depending on the type of wart you have, there is a variety of at-home treatment methods that you can use to treat it. Some of these are more effective than others, but all of them will positively affect your ailment.
Salicylic acid
Using salicylic acid for warts is a safe, inexpensive way to remove warts from the body. The active ingredient in aspirin, salicylic acid, is a beta-hydroxy acid that works by breaking bonds between dead skin cells. It also helps the skin to shed more easily.
The most common salicylic acid preparations are available as adhesive pads or as gels. Both can be found at most drug stores and supermarkets. For maximum effectiveness, they should be applied to the wart daily for about 12 weeks. If your wart doesn’t disappear after 12 weeks, it’s probably time to seek medical advice.
Another popular form of treatment is cryotherapy. A doctor will swab or spray a small amount of liquid nitrogen on the wart. This can be done by applying the nitrogen to the wart for about 10 to 30 seconds. The treatment usually takes three to four treatments.
Alternatively, an exfoliating tool can scrape off dead skin cells from the wart. If you choose this method, make sure to wash your hands afterward. This can help prevent the spread of the wart virus.
You can also soak your wart in warm water and then file it with an emery board. Some people also cover it with duct tape. But this isn’t recommended for sensitive skin. It can irritate the wart and turn on your body’s immune system.
For more effective results, you should apply for the medicine once or twice a day for up to 12 weeks. This will allow the medicine to sink into the skin and eliminate the wart.
Duct tape
Whether you are looking for a quick, easy way to treat a wart or want to use a safe treatment for your kids, duct tape may be the answer. While not as effective as freezing, it can speed up the process and give you some benefits of a topical treatment.
While duct tape can be used for other purposes, it is especially helpful for warts. It has the ability to turn on the immune system, triggering a response that can help the body fight off the virus that causes warts.
Duct tape is a common home remedy, and many swear by it. In fact, it is one of the most popular ways to treat a wart. It can be applied directly to the wart or used with over-the-counter treatments, such as salicylic acid patches.
To start, you’ll need to clean the wart. Then, you’ll want to apply a small square of duct tape. It’s important to cut the tape to fit over your wart. You’ll also need to leave it on for at least five days. After this, you’ll need to remove the duct tape.
If you decide to apply duct tape to your wart, you’ll want to ensure it’s in a fun pattern. It’s also important to avoid irritating the area by applying too much.
Once you’ve removed the duct tape, you’ll want to file the wart down with an emery board gently. This will help to exfoliate the dead skin cells that can be left behind.
Aloe vera
Whether you have a wart on your hand or foot, you can get rid of it naturally with aloe vera. The plant contains malic acid, anti-inflammatory properties, and antibiotics. It’s also used to treat burns, bruises, and cuts.
Aloe is known for its soothing properties. It can be applied topically to warts and can reduce their size. This treatment can be effective, but it must be administered properly. It is also important to be sure that the product you are using is from a pure, natural source.
Another option is to apply lemon juice to the wart. This may be effective, but it could cause skin irritation. Instead, a more effective paste can be made from a combination of papaya pulp mash and water. This paste can also be rubbed on the wart several times a day.
Other options include garlic, which is traditionally used to combat bacterial and fungal infections. Garlic has strong antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. It’s also believed that it can help kill bacteria that can cause warts.
You can also make a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water. This can be applied to the wart two to three times a day. It’s recommended to apply it for at least 15 minutes. Then wash it off.
The sap from dandelions is also believed to be an effective wart remedy. This can be applied twice a day or as needed.
Cryotherapy
Using liquid nitrogen to freeze warts is a very effective way to treat common warts. The process works by freezing the diseased tissue, which then breaks down, allowing healthy skin to grow back.
The process is done in a doctor’s office or at home with a kit. This treatment is typically used to remove warts that aren’t responding to topical treatments. Some doctors may also apply a local anesthetic to the affected area before performing the procedure.
Cryotherapy is generally safe for most people. However, it is important to consult a dermatologist about using this treatment. Some patients have reported that it can be painful. It is also best to avoid using this therapy on darker skin.
Cryotherapy was found to be effective at clearing distant warts. Despite its popularity, it has not been proven to cure all warts.
The American Academy of Dermatology lists several treatments, including cimetidine, salicylic acid, carbon dioxide laser, and podophyllin resin. The treatment may also include heat.
Compared to other treatments, cryotherapy was less expensive. Most insurance companies require a deductible, which is the amount you have to pay before your insurance company starts paying for the treatment. You will also be required to pay a copay, which is a percentage of the cost of the treatment.
Some patients report that the best part about the treatment is that it leaves little to no scarring. The procedure takes about 30 seconds and should be performed by a healthcare professional.
Bleomycin
Usually used for difficult viral warts, bleomycin is a chemotherapeutic agent that inhibits the synthesis of DNA and protein. It also triggers an immune response, resulting in the virus’s death. However, it may also cause significant pain and permanent scarring.
During treatment, a healthcare provider injects bleomycin into the wart. It is important to note that bleomycin should not be used in pregnant women or in children.
Some studies have shown that using intralesional bleomycin for common warts is safe and effective. It appears to be more effective than cryotherapy.
However, a recent study has shown that bleomycin injection is not as effective as cryotherapy. The study involved 80 patients. They were treated with bleomycin in different concentrations. The results of the study were published in the Indian Journal of Dermatology.
The results showed that bleomycin-induced apoptosis in squamous cells and reticuloendothelial tissue. The effect of bleomycin was pronounced in lesions larger than 10 mm. A total of 24 patients showed a partial or complete response. The rate of complete clearance was 49-75% after successive injections.
The authors recommended that bleomycin be administered at a dose of 3 units per ml. Injections were given at three to four-week intervals.
The researchers followed the patients for a year. A total of 16 patients had complete clearance of their warts after the first bleomycin injection. They were then taken off further treatment.
Castor oil
Besides being a food preservative, castor oil is also an effective treatment for various skin ailments. It has antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. It can be applied to various skin conditions, including ringworm, open sores, dermatitis, earaches, and corns. It is also used in contraceptive creams.
It has an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin and can reduce the burning sensation caused by the wart. Castor oil is usually applied to the affected area several times a day.
Another remedy for warts is to use apple cider vinegar. The vinegar’s acidic content helps remove the wart’s excess skin. The mixture can be applied to the wart two to three times a day for seven days.
Banana peels can also be used to treat warts. The white pulp inside the peel can be applied to the wart twice a day.
You can also apply garlic to the wart. Garlic has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antibiotic properties. It can be crushed and applied to the wart directly. You can also cover the wart with a bandage. This is considered one of the most effective at-home wart cures.
Lemon juice is also a good wart cure. However, it can irritate the skin. You should avoid using it on exposed wounds. You should also use a pumice stone to remove the dead skin on the wart.
