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Home Remedies to Get Rid of Warts

Warts are skin infections triggered by the human papillomavirus, or HPV virus. They usually appear as small, round growths on the hands, feet or fingers, but can also appear on the arms, legs and face. Warts are harmless, but they can be contagious and spread to other individuals, as well as to other places on the body of the infected individual. Warts can be removed by a doctor, either with liquid nitrogen treatments or a surgical procedure. There are also a few steps you can take to remove warts with items from around the house.

  1. Duct Tape

    • Duct tape prevents the wart from drying out, which causes the skin growth to become softer and eventually fall off. You can purchase duct tape at your local drugstore or hardware store. Clean the wart carefully with antibacterial soap and dry thoroughly with a clean towel. Cut a small piece of duct tape that overlaps the afflicted area by one inch on each side. Place the duct tape directly on the wart and leave on for one week. Avoid submerging the area in water, and seal the area off with a plastic bag while taking a shower or swimming. Remove the duct tape slowly, and the wart should come with it. If the wart does not come off, place another piece of duct tape on the area and leave it on for one more week.

    Apple Cider Vinegar

    • Apple cider vinegar is an acidic liquid that eats away at the wart until it disappears. You can purchase apple cider vinegar at your local drugstore or grocery store. Make a solution of one part apple cider vinegar and one part water and place it in a large plastic dish. After taking a shower, dry yourself completely and place the afflicted area into the apple cider vinegar solution. Leave the area in the solution for one minute, then dry off with a towel. Do not rinse. Continue dipping the area in the apple cider vinegar bath once a day after showering until the wart disappears, which should take between one and three weeks.

    Wait It Out

    • Warts are stubborn, but they do not last forever. The average life span of a wart is between one and two years. If you have already been suffering with your wart for almost a year, it may not be worth the time, money and effort to attempt to get rid of it. The longer you wait, the more likely it will be that your wart will disappear. If your wart has not gone away after two years, contact your doctor for liquid nitrogen treatments or surgical removal.

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