HOW TO REMOVE WARTS AT HOME? Warts are ugly looking lumps that develop on the skin, especially on the hands and feet. Warts look very unsightly on the skin, but they are mostly painless and harmless, but they are contagious. Warts are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus(HPV) infection, which causes a hard layer of keratin protein to develop on the epidermis layer of the skin. The leading causes of warts are skin-to-skin contact with people who have warts, untreated cuts, and scrapes on the skin, and a weak immune system. Warts can be easily treated at home, but the treatment takes time to work, and it might take years for the infection to be removed from the body. Before you begin any treatment if you have also noticed the small, fleshy and grainy bumps or growth on your body that are rough to touch then visit your dermatologist to rule out any other problem.
Dr Rinky Kapoor, Cosmetic Dermatologist, The Esthetic Clinics shares the most common tried and tested home treatments for warts.
From the kitchen
- Garlic and clove: Both simple but very potent ingredients in treating various skin conditions. Mix a crushed clove of garlic with water, apply on the wart, and cover the area. Do this daily for about four weeks and watch the wart disappear. Alternatively, you can rub garlic juice or clove oil on the wart.
- Apple cider vinegar: Mix two spoons of ACV with one spoon of water. Soak a piece of cotton cloth or a cotton ball in this mix for a few minutes. Secure with a waterproof bandage while placing it on the wart. Do not use ACV without diluting as it may cause burns and do not use it on the face.
- Baking soda: A little baking soda mixed with castor oil can help in removing warts. Make a smooth paste of the two and apply on the affected area and cover with a bandage and leave overnight. Repeat for 4-5 days to get the results.
- Banana peel: The high potassium content in the banana peel can help fight HPV infection. Rub inside of the banana peel on the wart daily. This is a slow method and might take months to show results.
- Orange peel: Once a day, rub an orange peel on the wart. Soon, the wart will change colour, darken, and fall off in about three weeks. Make sure you do not rub too harshly.
- Potato: The versatile potato can help you here too. Just rub the cut side of a slice of potato on the wart until the wart is soaking in potato juice. Do this twice a day.
- Pineapple: Soak the wart in fresh pineapple juice daily or apply fresh pineapple on the wart.
Takeaway Tips By Dr Rinky Kapoor
Apart from these you should exercise regularly and get adequate sleep to give your body a chance of recovery. If the wart bleeds or spreads or changes in appearance or causes pain, then make sure you consult a good dermatologist immediately and take the prescribed treatment. Take some preventive measures such as:
- If you are taking a shower in a public area like swimming pools, then make sure that you wear rubber flip-flops on your feet.
- Wear fresh underwear and socks every day.
- Sanitize the gym equipment before using.
- Wash and sanitize your hands regularly.
- Do not share your items with anybody.
- Keep your skin as cut free as possible.
- Do not touch or scratch warts.
- Moisturizer regularly.
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