How to Naturally Treat Warts with Garlic

Warts can be a nuisance and cause embarrassment for anyone affected, especially when they appear in visible areas. On the other hand, warts are quite common and generally don't pose a major health concern. You can try treating warts with garlic or other natural remedies. If these methods don't work, over-the-counter treatments can be an option. However, it's important to seek medical attention if you're unsure whether it’s a wart, if the wart causes pain or discomfort, or if you have underlying health concerns.

Test for skin reaction. Garlic is a popular home remedy for common warts. Fresh garlic is most effective, though garlic juice can also be used. Before applying it to a larger area, test a small patch of skin to check for sensitivity. Some people may experience a rash when exposed to fresh garlic. While the rash is usually not harmful, it can be uncomfortable.

• If this occurs, you can still use garlic, but the rash may persist. If you decide to continue with garlic, apply crushed garlic on the skin for an hour at a time. It may take longer to remove the wart.
• A study on the effects of garlic in treating warts in children found that 100% of the warts disappeared with no significant side effects, aside from complaints about the garlic smell and a case of mild skin irritation. Another study using garlic extract lipids for treating warts and calluses on 42 patients of various ages showed that 100% of the wart cases completely healed.
• Allicin, the main antiviral compound in garlic, is believed to be effective in treating warts, although more research is needed to confirm this conclusion.

Clean the area with warts. Before applying garlic, clean and dry the wart-affected area. Wash your hands thoroughly, then cleanse the wart area with warm water and soap. Pat the skin dry with a soft towel.

• Wash the towel that has come into contact with the wart using hot water and soap. You can also use bleach to ensure all wart-causing viruses are eradicated.

Apply garlic to the wart. Crush a garlic clove using the flat side of a knife or cut it in half. Rub the crushed garlic or the cut surface of the garlic onto the wart so that the garlic juice is absorbed into the skin.

Cover the area where garlic was applied. After applying crushed garlic to the wart, cover it and the wart with a bandage or adhesive tape, if preferred. Avoid applying garlic to healthy skin.

• Ensure that the skin where garlic is applied has no cuts or open wounds. Garlic can cause a burning sensation, and the wart virus may spread.

Repeat the treatment steps. The garlic treatment won't show immediate results, so you will need to repeat the process daily. Clean and dry the wound again. Apply fresh crushed garlic or the cut surface of a garlic clove to the wart. Cover both the wart and the garlic, always using a new bandage.

• You may also use adhesive tape to bandage the wound. While tape helps keep the wart dry, it could irritate surrounding skin.
• Continue this treatment daily for at least 3-4 weeks.
• In most cases, after about 6-7 days, you will notice the wart shrinking. It may appear shriveled after removing the bandage and cleaning off the garlic. The wart will also likely fade in color.
• If there are no signs of improvement, you should consult a doctor to check for any underlying issues.

File away the skin over the wart. You can use a nail file to gently file away the skin over the wart. Place the wart area over a sink. Wet the wart, then use the rough side of the file to gently rub the surface and edges of the wart. Afterward, use the smoother side of the file to repeat the filing process. Clean the skin and continue applying crushed garlic.

• Do not rub too hard to avoid causing bleeding. Be cautious not to let the file touch healthy skin.
• If the wart is on the bottom of the foot, you can rest your foot on the edge of a bathtub or a plastic container.
• Be sure to wash the filed area thoroughly. Clean everything in the sink or bathtub to avoid re-infection.
• Dispose of the nail file after use.

Use onions. Like garlic, onions are also effective for treating warts. Crush one-eighth of a medium onion. Apply the onion to the wart and cover it with a bandage or adhesive tape if preferred. Use fresh onion every day and always apply a new bandage.

• Just as with garlic, use a nail file to gently file away the skin from the wart after each onion application.

Soak the wart in vinegar. Vinegar, which contains acetic acid, is believed to disrupt the cell membrane, and the acidic environment helps eliminate the virus. Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and place it on the wart. Secure it with adhesive tape. You can leave it for 2 hours to 2 days. Repeat if necessary.

• File the wart's skin using a disposable nail file after each vinegar treatment.

Use dandelion. The sap from dandelions contains certain compounds known to treat warts, including antiviral substances that destroy infected cells. Pick one or two dandelions from a grassy area, snap the stems, and squeeze the sap onto the wart. Cover it with a bandage or adhesive tape and leave it for 24 hours. Repeat as needed.

• Use a disposable nail file to file away the skin on the wart between dandelion sap treatments.

Apply banana peel. Banana peels contain enzymes that help break down cell membranes. Place the inner side of the banana peel on the wart, then cover it with a bandage or adhesive tape and leave it overnight. Repeat when necessary.

• Additionally, banana peel contains carotenoids, which are precursors to Vitamin A. Vitamin A has antiviral properties.
• File the wart’s skin with a disposable nail file between treatments using banana peel.

Try using fresh basil. Basil contains certain antiviral compounds believed to have the ability to eliminate the virus that causes warts. Crush a fresh basil leaf and apply it to the wart. Secure the basil leaf with gauze or adhesive tape and leave it for 24 hours. Repeat as needed.

• File the surface of the wart with a disposable nail file between treatments.

Clean the skin. Regardless of the therapy you choose, always wash and dry your hands before and after touching the wart. It's important to avoid letting healthy skin come into contact with over-the-counter medications. These treatments typically work within a few days. If the wart doesn’t shrink or change within 6-7 days, consult a doctor for advice. You may need a stronger treatment.

Use salicylic acid. Salicylic acid works by breaking down and killing HPV-infected cells without affecting normal cells. You can purchase salicylic acid products such as Compound W or Dr. Scholl's Clear Away in patch or liquid form at pharmacies. Wash and dry the wart area. Apply the patch or liquid to the wart as directed. Repeat daily until the wart disappears. This process may take 2-3 months.

• Avoid letting the medication come into contact with surrounding healthy skin.
• For better results, consider soaking and filing the surface of the wart to allow deeper absorption of the medication.
• Your doctor may prescribe a stronger concentration of salicylic acid.

Use cryotherapy. Over-the-counter cryotherapy treatments use ethyl ester and propane to freeze the wart. Essentially, the treatment freezes the wart, kills the virus-infected skin cells, and causes the wart to slough off. Cryotherapy products like Compound W's Freeze Off or Dr. Scholl's Freeze Away are available at pharmacies. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. This therapy can take up to 2 months to show results. According to the FDA’s warning, the medication is highly flammable.

• A recent study indicated that cryotherapy could effectively treat warts within 2 months.

Try using duct tape therapy. This is a home remedy that many claim is effective for treating warts, even though the exact mechanism behind it remains unclear. Some people believe that the adhesive contains a substance that helps break down the skin cells, causing the outer layer to peel off when the tape is removed. To use this method, purchase silver duct tape and place a small piece over the wart. Keep the tape on for 6-7 days, then remove it and soak the wart in water. “File clean” the wart using a disposable nail file.

• Leave the wart exposed overnight or for 24 hours, then reapply the tape for another 6-7 days. Continue the treatment for up to 2 months.
• You can apply onion or garlic juice to the wart before applying the duct tape.
• A study has shown that duct tape therapy is actually more effective than cryotherapy.

Identifying a wart. A wart is a type of skin growth caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Warts can appear anywhere on the body, but they generally only affect the outermost layer of skin. The most common type of wart usually develops on the hands and soles of the feet.

Understanding HPV transmission. The HPV virus can easily spread 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 spread through sharing towels, razors, and other personal items that have come in contact with the wart.

• Some individuals are more prone to warts. You are at a higher risk for warts if you have a weakened or inefficient immune system.

Recognizing wart symptoms. Warts typically appear as raised, rough patches of skin, although some may appear flatter and smoother. They come in various shapes and sizes. Most warts are painless, but warts on the soles of the feet can cause difficulty walking. Warts on the fingers can also become uncomfortable due to frequent movement and irritation.

• In most cases, a doctor can diagnose warts based on their appearance and location without the need for a biopsy.

See a doctor if the wart is painful, bleeds, changes shape, or becomes bothersome. While most warts are symptom-free, it's important to seek medical advice if the wart becomes painful, itchy, or disruptive to your daily activities. A doctor can confirm whether it’s definitely a wart and recommend treatments to remove it quickly.

• For instance, a wart on your finger might interfere with activities like writing, making it hard to grip a pen.
• Warts that change shape, such as increasing in size, altering texture, or color, might indicate skin cancer, so it’s best to get a check-up.

• You can use any of the methods in this article to treat warts on the soles of your feet. Soaking your feet in warm water with a mixture of one part vinegar and four parts water can also help soften the wart, making it easier to remove.
• Try applying the treatments mentioned for at least 3-4 weeks to see if they are effective.
• Before attempting any of these methods, it’s a good idea to consult a doctor to confirm that the growth is indeed a common wart.
• Warts can become problematic if you have diabetes or peripheral artery disease (PAD).

• Avoid using home remedies for warts on the genital or anal areas.
• Do not apply home treatments to warts on your face.
• If warts keep recurring, or if home treatments seem ineffective, see a doctor. If you're over 55 and have never had warts, it’s important to get checked to rule out the possibility of skin cancer. You should also see a doctor if the warts spread, cause difficulty walking (such as warts on the soles of your feet), become painful or inconvenient, or show signs of infection like redness, pus, or fever.