WART REMOVAL HOME REMEDIES

There are a multitude of wart removal home remedies out there for you to try! Keep in mind that warts are typically caused by a virus that has invaded the skin and even though you won't get warts from toads or frogs they are contagious.

Warts can appear anywhere but normally surface on the hands, face and feet. The painful growths that show up on your feet are called plantars warts, technically named Verruca plantaris.

Types of Warts

Warts are usually a small circular skin growth about the consistency of a scab. They are a viral infection and affect the outer (epidermal) layer of the skin. The virus can be passed, by contact, to another person. They are typically on the hands or the feet but can be found elsewhere. Depending on the location they have different names.

• Common warts are the typical raised circles about 1/4 inch in diameter.

• Plantar warts are hard thick patches of skin found on the soles of the feet .

• Flat warts are about 1/4 inch in diameter but are flatter and lighter color than common wart. They may be on the face, arms, or legs.

• Filiform warts grow around the mouth, nose, or chin. They match the skin in color and have thread like growths protruding from them.

• Periungual warts look like small bumps and are found around the fingernails and toenails.

• Molluscum warts are a small, pimple like, viral infection of the skin that typically is found on the trunk of the body or the arms or legs.

• Genital warts are also a viral infection. They appear in the genital area as small (maybe not even visible) flesh colored bumps. They are highly contagious and a sexually transmitted disease.

Remembering that warts are contagious, the first rule of thumb is

"Don't pick!"

Picking or trying to dig out the growth will only result in spreading the virus. One of these buggers is enough!

Conventional wart treatments include having a doctor burn them off with lasers or freeze them with liquid nitrogen (called cryotherapy). At the pharmacy you can pick up wart cures that include liquids or plasters that contain salicylic acid which can be harsh but there's many wart removal home remedies that you can try yourself.

Before you try any home treatment for warts you should be sure and see a doctor if any of the following symtoms pertain to you:

• If your wart hurts, appears inflammed or infected.
• If you have warts on your face, genitals or rectum area. (Genital warts are potentially serious and yes, they can be passed on to your bed partner!)
• If you develop a wart over age 45 just to rule out skin cancer.

WART REMOVAL HOME REMEDIES

Duct Tape for Warts

This seems to be a truely "redneck" approach but it has actually been proven to work in many cases. The duct tape is said to suffocate the wart causing it to kill the virus. Here's what to do:

• Cut a piece of duct tape just big enough to completely cover the wart.
• Stick it on and leave it there for a minimum of six days.
• After six days remove the tape and bath the wart in warm water for a few minutes then gently use an emery board to file away the dead skin.
• Cut a new piece of duct tape and start the process over. Repeat until you're wart-free!

According to a recent study, this process can work even better than cryotherapy! Much, much cheaper too!

Poultices for Warts

Think both acidic and viral fighters! Here's some ideas:

• Garlic - Apply freshly grated garlic directly to the wart and cover with a bandage trying to avoid the healthy skin around the wart. Apply fresh garlic every day and you may be wart-free within a week! Take raw garlic or garlic supplement internally for an extra boost.
• Apple Cider Vinegar - Soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and place over the wart, cover with an elastic bandage to hold in place. Leave on for an hour or two every day.
• Aspirin - Aspirin is salicylic acid so this makes sense! Crush an aspirin and make a thick paste with warm water. Apply to the wart and cover tightly with a bandage before going to bed. Some say this works with only one application!
• Figs - Figs are a very old folk remedy for warts. If you have access to a fresh (and mushy) fig, use as a poultice for at least a half hour every day.
• Onion - Chopped onion sprinkled with a little salt and or lemon juice also makes a great poultice for warts. Keep on as long as possible or overnight.
• Blackstrap Molasses is one of the oldest wart removal home remedies. Soak a cotton ball in the molasses, cover the wart and keep on as long as possible. It's also said to eat a tablespoon of molasses every day during the treatment.

Some other poultices to try are raw potatoes, fresh basil leaves or even papaya!

"Let food be our medicine and medicine be our food."

"DAB ON" WART REMOVAL HOME REMEDIES

• Lemon Juice - Dab on fresh lemon juice several times a day. It's said that doing this in combination with onion juice gives that wart a double whammy!
• Iodine - Dab on iodine tincure or Lugol's iodine several times a day. Be persistant!
• Garlic Oil - This is a great for plantars wart removal! You can buy garlic oil or break open a couple garlic capsules and rub the oil into your feet with the plantars warts. Put on a pair of old socks and go to bed. Do this every night for a week or two until the wart are gone.
• Castor Oil - Same as with the garlic oil. You can apply the castor oil several times a day if possible.
• Calendula - Calendula is great for many kinds of skin ailments. You can make your own oil or tincture if you can't find it premade.
• Milkweed Sap for Warts - The common milkweed plant contains a milky sap. Break off a leaf and apply the fresh milkweed sap directly on the wart and cover with a bandage. Reapply once or twice a day if necessary.