Introduction: 

What is that hard bump-like growth on my palm, you might wonder, looking at a wart. A wart is a growth seen on the skin of hands, feet, face, genitals and knees. It is caused by a virus, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), and is contagious. Warts are small, bumpy heaps on the skin.¹ Mostly, symptoms are not present, however, in a few rare cases there might be pain in the area where the wart is present. In more than half of the cases warts resolve on their own, leaving behind just a small scar. Depending on the area of their presence and their internal arrangement of cells, they are classified into various types.² 

What Causes Warts? 

A kind of virus, called the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) causes warts. These viruses reside in the upper layers of the skin, but may even be found in the deeper layers. There are many types of HPV, but only a few can cause warts. When the defence mechanism or immunity of our skin cells is lowered, this virus is able to enter the skin cells to cause warts. They are commonly seen in people who have low immunity (may be due to certain diseases or medication) and in those who handle meat. It is rarely seen in infants, but is common in school-going children around the age of 12-16 years.² 

Warts may be caused: 

1. When we directly come in contact with warts on other people¹ 
2. If we come in contact with surfaces which have been infected by the wart like utensils, pens, tables, doorknobs, etc¹ 
3. From a nail picking and cuticle picking habit¹ 
4. While shaving, if we use unsanitary razors or share personal devices¹ 
5. Sexual intercourse with people infected by this virus, especially if they have genital warts¹ 

Symptoms of Warts: 

As there are different types of warts, they have different appearances and textures. Generally, warts appear as a combination of one or more of these following features: 

• Colour: skin coloured, brown, grey or black¹ 
• Surface: flat ¹ 
• Texture: rough¹ 
• Shape: dome-shaped¹ 

Also Read: Natural Home Remedies for Ringworm

Home Remedies for the Removal of Warts: 

Not a great addition to your appearances, there are a bunch of home remedies that have been used successfully by people to remove warts. A few of them are listed below. These anecdotes stated have little to no scientific evidence but have been seen to be effective when used by people, so exercise caution when you use them, don’t go overboard if they don’t work like they are expected to! 

1. Apple cider vinegar:

Apple cider vinegar is found to be useful to remove warts. It should always be diluted before use, as it is extremely acidic in nature. You can use it by mixing some water and apple cider vinegar. This mixture can be applied to the wart using a cotton ball and covering the area with a bandage for a few hours, allowing it to soften the wart.  

2. Aloe vera:

Aloe vera leaf can be used by cutting it open and scooping out the gel from it. You can then apply the gel to the wart. Some people have found this home remedy to be quite useful. Aloe vera is good for the skin and is used to treat a variety of skin ailments, from burns to cuts and bruises. Therefore, it is also used in the treatment of warts.  

3. Banana peel:

Banana peel is being used by people for the removal of warts since many years.  You can use it by taking a piece of the banana peel, taping it over the wart and leaving it overnight while you sleep. Make sure that the inner side of the peel touches the skin. Using it daily might be helpful, though there is no real scientific evidence, there’s no harm in trying it as well!  

4. Orange peel:

Another fruit peel to try. The orange peel is to be applied by rubbing it against the wart daily. The wart seems to change colour, darken and fall off when this is done daily. This might require some time, about two to three weeks for the wart to fall off.  There’s no scientific evidence for this remedy as well, but who knows, maybe the acidic nature of the orange might help you get rid of your wart! 

5. Clear nail polish:

The application of clear nail polish onto the wart is in attempt to suffocate it. Though there is no evidence of its effectiveness, the nail polish forms a layer on the wart and prevents the spread of the virus from the wart to other places. It can be applied a few times daily. You can try this remedy out and see if it works for you. 

6. Duct tape:

This is one of the popular home remedies to treat warts. You can cut out a small piece of duct tape and stick it on the wart. This is left for three to six days and can be removed after that. After removing the duct tape, the wart is to be soaked in water and scrubbed using pumice stone or Emery board. For the next few hours it should not be covered, it should be left alone. NOTE: This method should be used cautiously if your skin is sensitive.  

7. Bee propolis:

Bee propolis, a sticky substance produced by bees, contains natural products like beeswax, plant extracts, etc. This may be really effective in removal of warts. It is usually available in the market and can be applied over the wart followed by bandaging it. 

8. Garlic:

Garlic is being used since ages to treat various skin related conditions. Therefore, its application in the treatment of warts is no surprise. We can use it by mixing a crushed garlic clove with water, applying it and bandaging it. Another way of using it is directly rubbing garlic over the wart.  

When to Seek Medical Help:  

You can contact your medical health provider and seek their recommendation if you notice any of the following: 

• If you notice the appearance of warts on your genitals or surrounding the rectum¹ 
• If you have warts on the lower surface of your feet and it makes walking difficult or painful¹ 
• If your warts break open frequently, as this may increase the chances of virus infection and cause spread of warts to other parts of the body¹ 
• If your warts start itching¹ 
• If they become red and swollen and you suspect that they might be infected¹ 
• If they embarrass you and you want to get it removed¹  

Also Read: How to Get Rid of Skin Tags: A Step-by-Step Guide Based on Science

Conclusion: 

Warts, may or may not be harmful, usually they are harmless. They may appear on the face, hands, legs or even genitals. These warts can be removed by using certain home remedies. Though these home remedies are not all scientifically proven, they have been used effectively since ages for the removal of warts. If you notice any alarming changes in the appearance of these warts, you should seek medical advice for a better understanding and treatment. 

Also Read: Best Home Remedies for Dry Skin

Frequently Asked Questions: 

Also Read: Simple Home Remedies for Tongue Ulcers

References: 

1. Warts: HPV, Causes, Types, Treatments, Removal, Prevention [Internet]. Cleveland Clinic. 2022 [cited 10 May 2022]. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15045-warts 

2. Al Aboud AM, Nigam PK. Wart. Continuing Education Activity In: StatPearls  [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan [Updated 2021 Aug 11; cited 10 May 2022]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431047/ 

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.