Natural remedies for warts includes the wart removal duct tape method which is based on the principal of occlusion. Occlusion is defined as a blockage or a closure. In the case of wart removal or wart treatment, this refers to keeping the wart covered. It also refers to blocking the wart virus from spreading to other parts of the body.
The most talked about occlusion method for wart removal is the use of duct tape. Duct tape is a thick tape composed of a polyethylene plastic top layer, a fiber mesh middle layer, and a strong rubber based adhesive. Because of this rather sturdy construction, duct tape is often used in repairs and to hold many things together.
Why is duct tape an option for wart removal? One theory is that the duct tape abrades the wart surface and over time shrinks it because cells are repeatedly being stripped off the wart. A second theory is that the tape causes some skin irritation in the wart region, which stimulates the bodies own immune system to attack the wart virus and cure the wart.
A brief summary of the wart removal duct tape method is given below. This is a very general procedure and the treatment times vary depending on the individual and the wart type. The duct tape wart removal procedure is a gradual method and for it to work it requires patience and adhering to the directions given below. It is most often used in conjunction with common warts. It does not always work, but seems to be a viable wart removal remedy for some.
A variation of the basic wart removal duct tape method is to combine the use of duct tape with salicylic acid. Apply this wart removal chemical to the wart at night. Let it dry for a couple of minutes and then apply duct tape to the wart. Leave the duct tape on overnight and remove in the morning. Repeat this step each night until the wart is gone.
Duct tape can play a role in healthy skin care and in particular the removal of certain types of warts. Some studies have shown that the duct tape method is more effective than cryotherapy (use of liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart). The effectiveness of duct tape wart removal in one study was actually 25 per cent greater than cryotherapy. In addition, the duct tape method produced almost no discomfort in patients compared to the pain, burning, itching, blistering, and skin damage caused by liquid nitrogen treatments.
In terms of natural remedies for warts, the duct tape wart removal method seems to be much more effective in children, teens, and young adults than individuals older than these age groups. For adults, natural remedies for warts such as the wart removal duct tape method may work, but often the wart comes back after a few months. Some believe that duct tape is not effective at all and any improvements in the wart problem were coincidental. It is likely not a method that works 100 per cent of the time, but may be worth a try.
Additional information on types of warts and other related topics is below:
common wart treatment | prevention | remedies