How to Treat Warts Naturally with Garlic

Warts can be troubling and embarrassing for anyone, especially when they appear in highly visible locations. On the other hand, warts are very common and usually aren’t a major health concern. Try garlic or other natural remedies for warts, and if that doesn’t work, you can use over-the-counter remedies. However, you should seek medical attention if you are not sure if it is a wart, if the wart is causing pain or discomfort, or if you have certain health problems.

Table of Contents

Treatment of warts with garlic

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Test skin reaction. Garlic is a home remedy for common warts. Fresh garlic is most effective, but you can also use garlic juice. Rub the garlic over a small area of your skin first to test it out to see if your skin is sensitive to garlic. Some people may develop a skin rash when exposed to fresh garlic. The rash is not usually dangerous but can be uncomfortable.

If this happens, you can still use garlic, but the rash may continue. If you decide to use garlic, you should only apply crushed garlic on your skin for 1 hour at a time. It may take longer for the wart to be removed.
A study on the effects of garlic in the treatment of warts in children showed that 100% of the warts disappeared and no significant side effects occurred, except for complaints of garlic smell and one case of irritation. light skin. Another study used lipids extracted from garlic to treat warts and calluses. A study of 42 patients with different ages showed that 100% of cases of warts completely recovered.
Allicin, the main antiviral component in garlic, is believed to be effective in treating warts, although there are not many studies to support this claim. ^{[1] XResearch SourceSilverberg, NB (2002). Garlic cloves for verruca vulgaris. Pediatric Dermatpogy, 19(2), 183.}^{[2] XResearch SourcesDehghani, F., Merat, A., Panjehshahin, MR, & Handjani, F. (2005). Healing effect of garlic extract on warts and corns. International Journal Of Dermatpogy, 44(7), 612-615.}

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Clean the skin with warts. Before applying garlic, you need to clean and dry the skin with warts. Wash your hands, then wash the wart area with soap and warm water. Dry the skin with a towel.

Wash the towel that came in contact with the wart with hot water and soap. You can also use bleach to be sure to kill any virus that causes the wart. ^{[3] XResearch Sources}

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Apply garlic on the wart. Crush a clove of garlic with the flat side of the blade or cut the clove in half. Rub crushed garlic or the cut side of a garlic clove on the wart to allow the garlic juice to penetrate the skin. ^{[4] XResearch Sources}

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Bandage the area where the garlic has been applied. Apply crushed garlic to the wart, then cover the garlic and wart with a gauze bandage, or tape if desired. Avoid applying garlic to healthy skin.

Make sure the garlic area does not have any cuts or open wounds. Garlic can burn the skin, and the wart virus can spread. ^{[5] XResearch Sources}

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Repeat the treatment steps. Garlic therapy is not effective immediately, and you will have to repeat the treatment steps daily. Wash and dry the wound. Apply crushed fresh garlic or cloves to the wart. Cover both the wart and the garlic, and remember to always use a fresh bandage.

You can also use tape to cover the wound. Adhesive tape helps keep the wart dry, but can irritate other areas of skin. ^{[6] XResearch Sources}
Do this therapy daily, continuously for at least 3-4 weeks.
Most cases of garlic wart treatment begin to notice the wart shrinking within 6-7 days. You may see a wrinkled wart after removing the dressing and rinsing the garlic. The wart will also be lighter in color than before.
If there are no signs of improvement, you need to see your doctor to see if there are other problems.

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File the skin over the wart. You can use a nail file to file away the skin on the wart. Leave the wart area above the sink. Wet the wart and use the rough side of the nail file to gently rub the surface and edges of the wart, then use the smoother side of the nail file to repeat the process above. Rinse the skin and continue to apply the crushed garlic.

Do not rub it so hard that it causes the skin to bleed. You also have to be careful not to let the nail file stick in contact with healthy skin.
If the wart is on the soles of your feet, you can rest your feet on the edge of a tub or plastic basin.
Remember to wash the area you just filed. Rinse everything in the sink or tub to prevent reinfection.
Throw away the nail file bar after use. ^{[7] XResearch Sources}

Use other natural remedies

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Use onions. Similar to garlic, onions also work to treat warts. Grate 1/8 of a medium-sized onion. Apply the onion to the wart and cover it with a gauze or bandage if you like. Apply fresh onions every day, cover with a new bandage.

As with garlic therapy, use a nail file to clean the skin on the wart after each application. ^{[8] XResearch Sources}

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Soak the wart in vinegar. Vinegar is dilute acetic acid, which is said to break down cell membranes, then the acidic environment will destroy the virus. Wet a cotton ball with white vinegar and apply it to the wart. Apply tape to keep the cotton pad in place over the wart. You can leave it like that from 2 hours to 2 days. Repeat if necessary.

File the skin over the wart with a disposable nail file after each vinegar treatment. ^{[9] XResearch Source}

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Use dandelion. Dandelion sap contains several ingredients that work against warts, including antiviral agents. These substances have the ability to destroy virus-infected cells. Pick a dandelion or two from the lawn, break off the branches, and squeeze the sap over the wart. Use a bandage or bandage to cover the wart. Let stand for 24 hours. Repeat if needed.

File the skin over the wart with a disposable nail file between treatments. ^{[10] XResearch SourcesHe, W., Han, H., Wang, W., and Gao, B. Anti-influenza virus effect of aqueous extracts from dandelion. Virp. J 2011, 8: 538}^{[11] XResearch SourcesYang, Y., Zhao, Y., Wang, CS, Wang, XD, and Zhang, L. [Prevalence of sensitization to aeroallergens in 10 030 patients with allergic rhinitis] . Zhonghua Er.Bi Yan.Hou Tou.Jing.Wai Ke Za Zhi 2011; 46(11): 914-920.}

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Apply banana peel. Banana peel contains a number of enzymes that break down cell membranes. Apply the inside of the banana peel to the wart, then cover it with a gauze or bandage and leave it overnight. Repeat as needed.

Besides, banana peels also contain carotenoids, also known as precursors to the synthesis of Vitamin A. Vitamin A has antiviral effects.
File the skin over the wart with a disposable nail file between treatments. ^{[12] XResearch SourcesPereira A, Maraschin M.,Banana (Musa spp) from peel to pulp: ethnopharmacpogy, source of bioactive compounds and its relevance for human health.J Ethnopharmacp. 2015 Feb 3; 160: 149-63}

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Try fresh basil. Basil contains several antiviral substances that are believed to kill the virus that causes warts. Crush a fresh basil leaf and apply it on the wart. Cover the basil leaf on the wart with a bandage or tape and let it sit for 24 hours. Repeat as needed. ^{[13] XResearch SourcesYamasaki, K., Nakano, M., Kawahata, T., Mori, H., Otake, T., Ueba, N., Oishi, I., Inami, R., Yamane, M ., Nakamura, M., Murata, H., and Nakanishi, T. Anti-HIV-1 activity of herbs in Labiatae. Bip.Pharm Bull 1998; 21(8): 829-833}

File the skin over the wart with a disposable nail file between treatments.

Using over-the-counter treatments

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Clean skin. Regardless of the treatment you use, you should always wash and dry your hands before and after touching the wart. You should limit the contact of healthy skin with over-the-counter medications. These therapies usually work within a few days. If the wart does not shrink or change within 6-7 days, you should consult your doctor. You may need another, stronger therapy.

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Use salicylic acid. Salicylic acid works by breaking down and killing HPV-infected cells without attacking normal cells. You can buy salicylic acid products like Compound W or Dr. Schpl’s Clear Away as a patch or solution at the pharmacy. Thoroughly wash the affected area and pat dry. Apply a patch or solution to the wart as directed. Do this daily until the wart disappears. This process takes about 2-3 months. ^{[14] XResearch Source}

Avoid getting the medicine on other areas of the skin.
For the acid to be more effective, soak and file the skin over the wart to allow the medication to penetrate deeper into the skin.
You can get a prescription from your doctor to buy a stronger concentration of salicylic acid. ^{[15] XResearch Source}^{[16] XResearch Source}

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Use cryotherapy. Over-the-counter cryotherapy uses ethyl ether and propane to freeze the wart. In essence, the medication freezes the wart and kills the infected skin cells and sloughs off the wart. Medicines used in cryotherapy such as Compound W’s Freeze Off or Dr. Schpl’s Freeze Away is available in pharmacies. Use according to manufacturer’s instructions. This therapy can take up to 2 months to be effective. According to the FDA warning, this drug is flammable. ^{[17] XResearch Source}^{[18] XResearch Source}

A recent study has shown that cryotherapy can be effective in treating warts for up to 2 months. ^{[19] XResearch Source}

Understanding Warts

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Identify warts. Warts are a form of skin growth caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Warts can appear anywhere on the body, but they only infect the outermost layer of skin. Common warts usually grow on the hands and soles of the feet. ^{[23] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

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Understand how HPV is transmitted. The HPV virus can be easily transmitted from one person to another. You can also spread the virus on your body if you touch a wart and then touch other areas of skin. Warts can also be spread by sharing towels, razors, and other personal items that come in contact with warts.

Some people are prone to warts. You’re more likely to get warts if you have a weakened or less effective immune system. ^{[24] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

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Recognize the symptoms. Warts are usually raised bumps on the skin, although some are flatter and smoother. Warts also come in many shapes and sizes. Warts are usually painless, but some warts on the soles of the feet can make walking difficult. Warts on fingers can also cause discomfort due to increased hand activity and more irritation of the warts.

In general, a doctor can diagnose warts based on their shape and location without taking a sample.

Distinguish types of warts. Common warts can spread to the genitals and anal area, but this type of wart is usually caused by a different strain of HPV than genital warts. Unlike genital warts, common warts are not associated with cancer risk.

You should see a doctor to make sure it’s a common wart.
If you have warts on your genitals or around your anus, you need to see your doctor to determine which strain of the virus is causing the warts. ^{[25] XResearch Sources}

When to seek medical attention?

Ask your doctor if you are not sure if a lump on your skin is a wart. You will only worsen your condition or cause potential health problems if you treat a tumor other than a wart with wart treatments. It’s best to see your doctor for diagnostic testing and to make sure the lump is a wart and is being treated properly. ^{[26] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Note that some signs of skin cancer can look like warts, so it’s important to be sure it’s actually a wart. ^{[27] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

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See your doctor if the wart causes pain or bleeding, changes shape, or causes discomfort. Most warts have no symptoms, so you should ask your doctor if a wart is painful, itchy, or bothers you with daily living. They can determine that the lump is definitely a wart and offer treatment options to quickly remove it. ^{[28] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

For example, a wart can interfere with daily activities if it grows on your finger, making it difficult to hold a pen and make it difficult to write.
Signs of a wart change include: an increase in size, change in appearance or color. If the wart changes shape, it could actually be skin cancer, so it’s best to see your doctor to get it checked. ^{[29] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

Seek medical treatment in case warts persist or spread. Some cases of warts do not respond to home remedies. If a wart persists and won’t go away, you may need medical treatment. Your doctor can help if you start to have new warts appear, whether in the same location or on other parts of your body. ^{[30] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

In rare cases, multiple warts can appear on the body at the same time. If you’re an adult, see your doctor to determine the cause. Maybe your immune system has a problem.

See your doctor if you have diabetes or a weak immune system. This is especially important if you have nerve damage from diabetes. Your doctor can monitor the wart and recommend appropriate treatment. ^{[31] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source}

If you have a weak immune system, it will be difficult for you to get rid of warts because your body is not able to fight off the virus that causes warts. Medical treatment can help in this case.
Some people have rather poor sensation in their hands and feet due to diabetes. If this is the case, you may not feel any pain or damage on the wart, which can happen if not treated properly. ^{[32] XResearch Source}

Advice

You can use every method in this article to treat plantar warts. Soaking your feet in hot water with 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water can also soften the wart and make it easier to remove.
Try applying the above methods for at least 3-4 weeks to see if it works.
Before trying any of the above methods, it’s a good idea to see your doctor first to make sure it’s a common wart.
Warts can become a problem if you have diabetes or peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Warning

Do not use home remedies for genital or anal warts.
Do not use home remedies for warts on the face.
You should see your doctor if warts keep popping up, or if home remedies don’t seem to work. If you’re over 55 and haven’t had a wart, you should also see your doctor to make sure it’s not a sign of skin cancer. In addition, you should also see your doctor if the wart spreads, the warts are located on the soles of the feet making it difficult to walk, the warts are uncomfortable or inconvenient, or if there are signs of infection such as: pain, redness, appearance of red rays, pus or fever.

Steps