How to Remove Warts

All warts are caused by a virus called HPV, the Human Papillomavirus. There are four main types of warts: common, plantar, flat and genital. Wart removal and the stress it causes to the sufferer is largely dependent upon the type and location of the wart. Removing warts may involve some amount of pain, mostly because warts attach themselves to the capillaries which are embedded in your skin.

Fortunately, most warts will eventually disappear by themselves but there are several great over-the-counter and home remedies for the removal of those pesky warts. Products such as Compound W, Dr. Scholl's Gel pads, Wartner and Curad pads are all medications that will aid in the removal of warts. These will either burn or freeze the warts off with little or no discomfort or pain. Home remedies for wart removal rand from the slap-your-forehead-it's-so-simple variety to the scratch-your-head-in-dismay kind. There are, however, some pretty basic cures which have been tried and tested with good results. Let's review some of these!

Wart Removal Tools

• Duct tape
• Garlic (about 2 cloves)
• Dandelion (2 stems)
• 1 Banana/ Lemon
• 2 Sprigs fresh Basil
• 1 leaf from an Aloe Vera plant
• 1 unripened papaya

Instructions

Duct tape method

1. Cut a strip of the tape that is large enough to tape over the wart.
2. Leave on for at least six days
3. Remove after sixth day, then soak the area in water (lukewarm)
4. After about 5 minutes, when the skin resembles a raisin, use an emery board to file away dead skin on the wart 5. Continue this process until the wart is gone (ideal for common and plantar warts)

Garlic Method

1. Crush fresh garlic
2. Rub crushed garlic onto the wart
3. Cover with a bandage
4. Repeat procedure everyday for a week

Dandelion Method

1. Break the dandelion stems
2. Drip sap onto the wart daily until wart is removed

Banana Peel Method

1. Peel ripe banana
2. Use peel to completely cover wart
3. Apply until wart is removed

Basil Method

1. Tape fresh, crushed basil leaves to the wart
2. Apply until wart dries up

Aloe Vera Method

1. Cut a leaf from the plant
2. Rub the jelly-like liquid onto the wart
3. Repeat daily for speedy removal

Papaya Method

1. Use a knife to make small cuts into the unripe fruit
2. Collect the juice /sap as it runs out
3. Let stand for 15 minutes until thickened
4. Mix thickened sap with warm water
5. Apply to wart twice a day until it disappears

Tips and Warnings

• The over the counter drugs mentioned will only treat warts in less sensitive areas. For genital warts please consult a physician.
• When using garlic, spread on wart. Avoid healthy skin
• Dandelion sap causes mild irritation to skin

For more information on removing warts, read What Are Warts and Natural Skin Remedies.