Warts

See also :

• Human Papillomavirus
• Genital Warts
• Age Spots
• Corns

Symptoms

A wart is generally a small, rough growth, typically on a human’s hands or feet but often other locations, that can resemble a cauliflower or a solid blister. They are caused by a viral infection, specifically by one of the many types of Human Papillomavirus. There are as many as 10 varieties of warts, the most common considered to be mostly harmless. It is possible to get warts from others; they are contagious and usually enter the body in an area of broken skin. They typically disappear after a few months but can last for years and can recur.

Home remedies

• The juice/extract of Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus) is used for treating a variety of skin problems. This includes chronic, malignant disorders and corns apart from warts.
• Banana peel method : use an adhesive bandage to tape a small piece of banana peel over each wart every night at bedtime. The inside of the peel faces the wart and is removed in the morning. The warts starts to dry up get smaller. Within three weeks they are gone.
• Garlic : According to a study published by the International Journal of Dermatology in 2005, the oil extracted from garlic is effective in removing warts from the body. Garlic and its major component allicin, is antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial. In a recent study, a group was made to apply the oil extract of garlic to their warts, while another group applied the water extract. After several days of application, those who applied the oil extract have total elimination of warts, compared to the other group. Another way to apply garlic is to mash the garlic and apply it directly on the wart, leaving it for 24 hours with a piece of bandage. After a week from the application, the wart will just fall off, leaving a clean skin.
• Tea Tree Oil : Another name for tea tree oil is melaleuca oil. Tea tree oil is an extract from the leaves of the plant Melaleuca alternifolia. In some studies, mixing tea tree oil with silver can potentiate the antiseptic effect of the extract. Just like garlic, this extract is antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral. For many centuries, tea tree oil has been added in many skin care products to help eradicate infectious microorganisms in the body. In the case of warts, which are caused by virus, tea tree oil is effective in removing and killing the virus that caused the disease. There are several ways to apply tea tree oil. The basic is simply to dab the warts with full strength oil and leaving the oil for many hours. Another way is by mixing tea tree oil with aloe vera gel and applying the mixture into the wart, leaving it with a bandage tied around the warts. Whichever procedure will be used, warts will simply separate from the skin after few days.
• Mayapple extract is used externally to treat all types of external warts and some skin cancers.
• Oregano is widely known as one of the favorite spices in the culinary world. But the oil of wild oregano is effective in treating warts. The oil is actually offensive in many conditions, particularly in infections of bacteria, fungi or virus. Oregano may be used in warts by directly applying a dab of the oil into the wart. The cotton containing oregano is then bandaged with adhesive tape and left for several hours. After several days, the wart will just fall off. The oil of oregano may also be taken orally in drops. The component of the oil can help the immune system eradicate microbial invasion in the body.
• Apple cider vinegar is effective in removing nasty warts from the body. Just like the other types of remedy, cotton filled with apple cider vinegar is applied generously into the warts and left for hours until the cotton is dry or dirty. The procedure is repeated often until the warts will simply be removed from its attachment to the skin. It is said that the acid content in apple cider vinegar help in erasing the warts from the skin.
• Vitamin E : While others take vitamin E orally to help them with their skin conditions, in warts, vitamin E may be applied directly. Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant. The human papilloma virus destroys portion of the skin. With vitamin E to fight against the oxidation process caused by the virus, the virus ability to reproduce is disabled. In order to use vitamin E against warts, simply prick the vitamin E capsule and rub into the wart. If vitamin E is applied together with other home remedies, such as garlic, the effect is strengthened, disabling the wart virus to thrive longer.
• Echinacea : For the Native Americans, they utilize Echinacea in order to remove their warts. There are two preparations available of Echinacea for wart removal. The first is the Echinacea pill, and the other is the Echinacea ointment. Echinacea pill may be taken up to twice a day. The pill helps in healing some of the skin infections such as wart. The Echinacea ointment is simply applied to the wart. After few days, it is expected that the wart will disappear.
• Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound that has anti-viral activity. Perhaps that is why it works against warts, which are caused by a virus. It is important to keep the turmeric covered with a bandage, because otherwise it can stain socks or sheets a bright yellow.
• topical daily application of Vitamin A (25,000 IU).
• Thuja Occidentalis can also be found in ointment form and has been used to treat warts and brown age spots.

Warnings

Some skin cancer looks like warts : Squamous Cell Carcinomas typically appear as persistent, thick, rough, scaly patches that may bleed. They often look like warts and sometimes have open sores with a raised border and crusted surface over an elevated pebbly base. The skin around them typically shows signs of sun damage such as wrinkling, pigment changes and loss of elasticity. See a doctor to make a proper diagnosis

Medical Disclaimer

This information is not meant to be substituted for medical advice. Always consult a medical professional regarding any medical problems and before undertaking any treatment or dietary changes.