Natural Wart Removal

What Are Warts?

Warts are benign or non-cancerous rough and skin-colored bumps formed on the skin. It is a skin infection caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). It is a contagious infection that spreads by touching someone infected. Since children get more cuts and wounds, they are more prone to warts. People with a weakened immune system are also more susceptible to getting warts.

What Are the Different Types of Warts?

Warts are classified into five categories:

• Common Warts: Verrucae vulgaris or common warts are hard and rough lumps mainly seen on the knees and hands.

• Genital Warts: These are seen in the penis, anus, or vulva. It is a predisposing factor to cervical cancer.

• Filiform Warts: These thin warts affect the face, particularly around the lips and eyelids.

• Mosaic Warts: Mosaic warts appear on the hands and soles of the feet and are usually in clusters or groups.

• Flat Warts: Flat warts or verrucae plana are flat and smooth raised areas that appear in any body part.

• Plantar Warts: These are small, hard warts with black dots and are common in the soles of the feet.

What Are the Causes of Warts?

Human papillomavirus, or HPV, spreads from person to person or from one part of the body to another. The virus spreads through:

• Direct contact with the wart.

• Touching the objects contaminated with the virus, like doorknobs, towels, etc.

• Sexual intercourse with the infected person leads to the spread of genital warts.

• Shaving.

• Nail biting.

• Cuticle picking.

What Are the Symptoms of Warts?

Warts raise skin infections. It varies in appearance and may look like,

• Flat.

• Rough.

• Dome-shaped.

• Skin-colored, gray, black, or white.

How to Treat Warts Naturally?

• Aloe Vera Gel: Aloe vera gel can relieve itchy and dry warts. Aloe vera gel can provide moisturization and fight against pathogens. The gel is available in the markets to purchase readily and use conveniently.

• Garlic: Garlic has antiviral properties and helps in the easy removal of warts. Crushed garlic cloves can be placed on warts and secured with a bandage. The method should be followed regularly. This helps remove layers of infected skin on the wart.

• Vitamins: Consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps prevent warts. Vitamin C tablets can be crushed and made into a paste and be applied to the affected area for the cure. Applying vitamin E oil topically on the warts can decrease the symptoms to an extent, as vitamin E improves immunity.

• Oils: Castor oil and tea tree oil have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Applying castor oil regularly may make the wart fall off within weeks. Care should be taken while applying tea tree oil, as applying it in a concentrated form may be harmful.

• Sandpaper and Duct Tape: Placing the duct tape on the wart for about 24 hours will make the skin above the infection moist, pale, and wrinkled. This can be continued for a few weeks. Once the wart gets white and soft, it can gently be rubbed with sandpaper to remove the outer layer.

• Pineapple: Pineapple contains bromelain, a proteolytic (breakdown protein) enzyme with immune building, anti-inflammatory, and anti-infective properties. Roughened skin on soaking in pineapple juice gets soft and easily detachable.

• Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar is acidic and has antimicrobial properties, and when applied to warts, it peels off the dried skin. Apple cider vinegar used in concentrated form can cause skin irritation. Therefore it is necessary to apply it in diluted form with the help of an applicator or cotton balls.

• Dandelion: Dandelion is a broad-leaved weed having a sticky white sap. Squeezing or breaking the stems of the plant relieves some liquid which, when applied to warts, helps remove infected skin.

• Bee Propolis: Propolis is a resin-like substance produced by honey bees. Applying propolis on warts may also reduce the symptoms to an extent.

What Are the Tips for Healing Warts More Quickly?

• Treating the Wart: For a person with strong immunity, warts may get resolved on their own. But it may take a prolonged period, and warts may spread by this duration. Essential treatment is required in such cases. Dermatologists may ask to cover the wart and wash the hands immediately after touching the wart. Both steps help in preventing the spread of the infection.

• Avoid Shaving: Shaving over warts can lead to microtears and lead to the spread of the infection. Shaving warts will make the uninfected skin get the disease.

What Are the Precautions to Prevent Warts?

By taking some precautions, the spread of warts can be prevented. Some of them are:

• Avoiding Touching: Avoiding touching warts can help prevent the spread.

• Stop Exchanging Personal Objects: If someone in the home has a wart, it should be taken care not to share or touch the towels, razors, socks, washcloths, nail clippers, and other items. This prevents the spread of warts from one person to another.

• Cleaning and Covering the Cuts: The infection spreads when touching the scrapes and cuts on the wart. It is necessary to keep the cuts clean and covered to prevent this.

• Washing the Hands Often: Washing the hands frequently helps remove the virus from the skin.

• Stop Nail Biting and Cuticle Chewing: Nail biting and cuticle chewing cause tiny skin tears, making it easier for HPV to enter the body.

• Cover the Foot: Wearing flip-flops, especially in moist public areas like locker rooms, pool areas, or public showers, will also help prevent the spread of warts.

• Protected Sex: Using condoms and having protected sexual intercourse helps prevent the spread of genital warts.

When to See the Doctor?

It is necessary to seek medical help in the following conditions.

• If the wart breaks open.

• Development of genital warts.

• Warts look infected and pus-filled.

• Plantar warts make it difficult to walk.

• Itchy warts.

Conclusion

Warts can get complicated and may lead to other conditions like infections, pain, disfigurement, or cancer. It is essential to seek medical help if warts start showing severe changes. Carrying out home remedies can prevent and treat them to an extent. Taking adequate measures to prevent the spread should also be considered.