Is There a Home Remedy for Getting Rid of Warts?

There are several types of warts, and they all start with the human papillomavirus (HPV). You can get warts — those fleshy, bumpy growths — anywhere on your skin, including your palms, soles, and under your nails. The question is: How do you get rid of them?

Dr. Robert Topham at Holladay Dermatology & Aesthetics understands the temptation to fix the problem at home. Many of our patients ask how they can DIY wart removal. The truth is that while some home remedies offer marginal success and relief for some, the limitations and risks outweigh the benefits. 

Here’s a closer look at various home remedies, their shortcomings, and how our professional dermatological care provides safer, more effective solutions.

Common home remedies for warts and their challenges

A quick internet search provides an overwhelming number of do-it-yourself wart removal tricks, but we’re focusing on the five most common. 

1. Apple cider vinegar 

Apple cider vinegar is a popular home remedy. The theory is that its natural acidic properties help peel away the wart-affected skin. This method involves soaking a cotton ball in diluted vinegar and applying it to the wart daily.

Downside: 

• It can irritate and burn the surrounding healthy skin, leading to pain and scarring
• There’s little scientific evidence to confirm its effectiveness against warts

Apple cider vinegar is also an antibacterial agent, so it may help your body fight the virus. 

2. Duct tape and nail polish

Another widely used remedy is suffocating the wart with duct tape or nail polish. To try it, leave the covering on for several days, then soak and exfoliate the area.

Downside: 

• Results are inconsistent, and studies are limited 
• Improper use can irritate sensitive skin

One study compared the duct tape method to cryotherapy and found that while the taping approach works, it’s not as effective as professional treatments.

3. Garlic 

Crushed garlic has antiviral properties that could help combat HPV. In this method, you put crushed garlic paste on the wart and cover it with a bandage daily.

Downside: 

• Garlic can cause chemical burns, leading to discomfort and potential skin damage 
• The approach is messy and may take weeks, with no guaranteed success

The garlic method makes you smell like garlic, so you can add that to the cons list.

4. Banana peel 

Placing the inside of a banana peel on the wart may help due to its potassium content and skin-softening properties. 

Downside: 

• There is no scientific basis supporting this remedy
• It typically shows little to no effect

Bananas and garlic aren’t the only foods people use to remove warts. Oranges, pineapple, and potatoes also produce anecdotal success but no scientific evidence. Taking the time to try these methods only prolongs the effective results you could get from our wart experts. 

5. Salicylic acid 

Available in over-the-counter treatments, salicylic acid is a relatively low-cost option for at-home wart removal that gradually peels away layers of infected skin. 

Downside: 

• It takes weeks or months of consistent application
• Misapplication can irritate the surrounding skin

As home remedies go, OTC salicylic acid boasts a high cure rate of 50%-70%.

Why professional care is the better choice

Home remedies for warts may provide occasional success, but they’re unpredictable, time-consuming, and sometimes harmful. Our Holladay Dermatology & Aesthetics team offers advanced treatments that are safe, effective, and much more comfortable.

Here are five professional wart removal options to consider:

1. Cryotherapy

This freezing method uses liquid nitrogen to destroy the wart. A blister forms, and eventually, your skin sheds the wart. Cryotherapy generally requires a few sessions.

2. Electrosurgery or curettage

We can burn some warts away using an electric current or scrape them off with a specialized tool. Both methods are highly effective and performed under local anesthesia for comfort.

3. Laser treatment

Ideal for stubborn or recurring warts, laser therapy targets and destroys the wart without damaging the surrounding skin.

4. Topical treatments 

When applied under our close medical guidance, prescription-strength solutions like cantharidin and salicylic acid are safer and more effective than OTC solutions.

5. Immunotherapy 

This method boosts your body’s immune response so it can fight the virus causing the wart. It’s a great option for persistent or resistant wart cases.

If you’re dealing with stubborn warts and tired of ineffective home remedies, call Holladay Dermatology & Aesthetics in Holladay, Utah, to schedule an appointment with our wart specialists.