Natural treatments for warts

What you need to know:

  • Twice a day, coat a wart in aloe gel, either extracted from a plant or purchased from a store.

Warts are benign skin growths commonly caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which infects the top layer of skin and causes it to grow rapidly. You can contract this virus if you cut or damage your skin in some way, and then touch someone else who has it. You can also catch the virus by sharing towels, razors, or other personal care items.
Emily Ssekajja, a beautician, says although anyone can develop warts, some people are more at risk, particularly children and teens and people with a weakened immune system.

Prevent spread
“You can spread warts from one part of the body to another. So do not pick at your warts and wash your hands promptly and thoroughly any time you touch one of the warts. If you have warts in an area where you shave, keep in mind that shaving over the wart could transfer the virus to the razor and then spread it to other areas of your body,” Ssekajja advises.

Pineapple
Apply fresh pineapple directly to the wart several times a day until the wart gets weak and falls off. The natural acids and enzymes will help.

Aloe vera
Twice a day, coat a wart in aloe gel, either extracted from a plant or purchased from a store. Cover with a bandage and wait for the anti-inflammatory properties found in aloe to work their magic as a natural remedy for warts. After two weeks, the wart should be significantly smaller or disappear altogether.

Garlic
Ssekajja says, “The antiviral and antibacterial properties of garlic attack the virus causing your wart, and will cause it to blister and fall off, a great natural remedy for wart removal. Cover your wart with a crushed garlic clove and secure it with a bandage. After 20 minutes, remove the clove and rinse the area. Do this twice daily for a week for quicker results.”