Removing a Wart on Your Finger: At Home and Professionally

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Warts can go away on their own, but it can take years. Over-the-counter and home remedies can make the wart fall off or remove it in layers over time.

What are warts?

Those hard, bumpy, rough growths we call warts can happen anywhere on the body. They’re transmitted by casual contact, so they’re most common on the hands, fingers, face, and feet.

Warts come from human papilloma viruses (HPV). There are over 100 types of HPV, and only a small number of those viruses cause warts. Below we look at the types of warts most likely to happen on your fingers and 12 different ways to remove them.

Hands and fingers are particularly vulnerable to infection. There are several types of warts which occur in these areas. Knowing which kind of wart you have can help you in treating it. The most likely types you could find on your fingers include:

Common warts

This is the kind of wart you’re most likely to get on the backs of your hands and fingers. They range in size from very tiny, like a poppy seed, to pea-sized. Common warts have a rough, scaly texture, and are hard to the touch. They vary in color and can be white, tan, pink, grey, or flesh-toned. Sometimes, tiny clotted blood vessels that look like black dots can be visible in a common wart.

Butchers’ warts

These warts look like common warts and were historically found in people who regularly handle raw meat and fish without gloves, hence the name. It’s not known if the virus that causes these warts is inherently found in animals, or if raw animal products are a good conduit for people to transmit the virus to each other.

Flat warts

While most common on the face, flat warts are another type of wart which may occur on the backs of hands and the lower arms. They are very tiny in size. Flat warts can appear in small-to-large clusters, looking like many tiny pinheads. These types of warts are smooth to the touch, flat on top, and slightly raised. They can be flesh-toned, pinkish, or yellowish-brown in color.

Palmar warts

Palmar warts are sometimes caused by picking at plantar warts, the type most commonly found on feet. If these warts appear in a cluster, they are referred to as mosaic warts. Palmar warts can sometimes hurt. They’re usually the size of a pea and vary in color from flesh-toned to pink, or dark brown.

Periungual and subungual warts

Periungual warts appear around fingernails and subungual warts occur under fingernails. Both start out tiny, around the size of a poppy seed, but grow in size. These warts also tend to spread, forming clusters. They may be more likely to occur in people who bite their nails and hangnails.

If left untreated, these warts can spread deep under the nail bed, causing fungal infection and permanent damage. Periungual and subungual warts require professional treatment to remove, and may be harder to eliminate than other types of warts.

There are a lot of different techniques for removing warts. Warts can also clear up on their own without any treatment, but that may take months or years. Warts in children tend to dissipate more readily than warts in adults.

If you choose to let a wart heal on its own, try not to touch it. This may spread the virus to other parts of your body or to other people.

No matter how they’re removed, warts may reoccur after they have gone away.

The best treatment method for wart removal is determined, in part, by the type of wart you have. There are a number of professional and at-home remedies that are effective for wart removal.

At-home wart removal

Common warts on the backs of the hands and fingers can often be treated at home. Here are seven options for at-home wart removal:

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid may be the most effective topical wart-removal treatment. It’s available over-the-counter in several forms, including as a concentrated liquid, gel, or adhesive pad. It’s also available in varying strengths. Before using, talk to your doctor about the type and strength of salicylic acid you should use.

For best results, soak your wart in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes first, to soften it. Then, file away the dead skin on top using a nail file or pumice stone. Make sure to stop filing if you feel any discomfort. Next, apply the salicylic acid according to your doctor’s directions, or the directions on the package.

It may take several weeks for the wart to fall off. Stop using salicylic acid if your skin becomes irritated, swollen, or painful.

Duct tape occlusion

It may sound unconventional, but duct tape can be effective at removing warts on the hands and fingers. It may work by removing the wart, layer by layer, over the course of several weeks.

Place a small piece of duct tape on your wart and leave it in place for three to six days. Remove the tape and gently scrape the wart down with a nail file or pumice stone, leaving it exposed to air for around twelve hours. Reapply the duct tape and repeat this process until the wart is gone completely.

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a mild acid that may help to burn off the wart while attacking the virus. Create a mixture of two parts apple cider vinegar and one part water. Soak a cotton ball in the mixture and apply to the wart. Tape or bandage it in place overnight. Repeat nightly until the wart is gone.

You can shop for apple cider vinegar on Amazon.

Lemon juice

Lemon juice should always be diluted before use. The method is similar to apple cider vinegar. A study in the India Journal of Dermatology indicated that the citric acid in lemon juice was as effective as tretinoin topical cream at wart removal, and it produced less side effects.

Garlic extract

Garlic contains antiviral properties, thanks to a compound it contains called allium sativum. Place crushed garlic directly on the wart, and cover. Reapply daily, until the wart is gone. You can also file down the wart with a pumice stone prior to replacing the garlic each day.

Clear nail polish

This folk remedy is thought to work by smothering the wart. Try painting the wart with clear nail polish every other day for two weeks.

Liquid butane spray

This over-the-counter medication is sprayed onto the wart, killing the tissue and freezing it off. It can be painful for some people, and is not always as effective as professional freezing techniques.

If you have several warts or if your wart is painful, see a doctor. You should also seek medical treatment if your warts don’t improve with home treatment or if they spread.

Professional wart removal

Some warts on the fingers or hands may require professional treatment. Periungual and subungual warts should always be examined by a doctor. If you have many warts on your hands, it may be difficult to treat them on your own.

Here are five professional wart removal options:

Immunotherapy

Your doctor may inject antigens, such as Candida, into the wart to generate an immune reaction. Discomfort, swelling, and redness may occur.

Electrodessication and curettage

This procedure is done under a local anesthetic. It sends electrical currents into the wart, killing off its blood supply. Your doctor can then snip off the wart.

Cantharidin

Cantharidin is a chemical that causes a blister to form under the wart. It is painted onto the wart, and left to penetrate it for several hours. Later, your doctor will be able to remove the wart. This treatment can be painful for some people.

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy uses liquid nitrogen, which is either injected or applied onto the wart, freezing it off. This treatment is sometimes done in conjunction with salicylic acid treatments.

Laser therapy

Your doctor may use a pulsed-dye laser to cauterize the blood vessels in the wart. This kills the tissue and causes the wart to fall off. Scarring may sometimes occur.

A:

Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

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Your hands are constantly experiencing the world around you through touch. This may put them in contact with the HPV viruses which cause warts.

Warts tend to grow or thrive in warm, moist places. The viruses that cause warts are also able to live outside of the body, so we can pick them up from common surfaces such as gym rooms and showers.

Simply being exposed to a wart virus or coming into contact with one doesn’t mean you’ll get warts. You’re more likely to be exposed by having broken skin, like cuts and scrapes.

Here are some ways you can help prevent warts:

• Avoid touching warts on other people and on yourself.
• Cover any minor cuts or scrapes on your hands.
• Keep your hands clean.
• Maintain healthy habits in crowded areas, such as public transportation vehicles.
• Avoid biting your nails or the hangnails that can form around them.
• Wear shoes or sandals in public showers and pool areas.

If you do get a wart, treat it immediately to stop it from spreading.

Key points

• Warts are caused by HPV viruses and spread through casual contact, especially if you have broken skin. Being exposed to these viruses does not mean that you will automatically get a wart.
• People with compromised immune systems may be more likely to get warts, but anyone can get them.
• Many types of warts can be treated at home and other warts require a doctor’s care.
• The viruses that cause warts cannot be cured, but warts can often be successfully removed and your immune system can work to get rid of the infection.

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Easy Home Remedies for Wart Removal

By Dr Smita Barode +2
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Last updated: Jun 21, 2023

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Table of Contents

1

Introduction: 

What is that hard bump-like growth on my palm, you might wonder, looking at a wart. A wart is a growth seen on the skin of hands, feet, face, genitals and knees. It is caused by a virus, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), and is contagious. Warts are small, bumpy heaps on the skin.¹ Mostly, symptoms are not present, however, in a few rare cases there might be pain in the area where the wart is present. In more than half of the cases warts resolve on their own, leaving behind just a small scar. Depending on the area of their presence and their internal arrangement of cells, they are classified into various types.² 

What Causes Warts? 

A kind of virus, called the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) causes warts. These viruses reside in the upper layers of the skin, but may even be found in the deeper layers. There are many types of HPV, but only a few can cause warts. When the defence mechanism or immunity of our skin cells is lowered, this virus is able to enter the skin cells to cause warts. They are commonly seen in people who have low immunity (may be due to certain diseases or medication) and in those who handle meat. It is rarely seen in infants, but is common in school-going children around the age of 12-16 years.² 

Warts may be caused: 

1. When we directly come in contact with warts on other people¹ 
2. If we come in contact with surfaces which have been infected by the wart like utensils, pens, tables, doorknobs, etc¹ 
3. From a nail picking and cuticle picking habit¹ 
4. While shaving, if we use unsanitary razors or share personal devices¹ 
5. Sexual intercourse with people infected by this virus, especially if they have genital warts¹ 

Symptoms of Warts: 

As there are different types of warts, they have different appearances and textures. Generally, warts appear as a combination of one or more of these following features: 

• Colour: skin coloured, brown, grey or black¹ 
• Surface: flat ¹ 
• Texture: rough¹ 
• Shape: dome-shaped¹ 

Also Read: Natural Home Remedies for Ringworm

Home Remedies for the Removal of Warts: 

Not a great addition to your appearances, there are a bunch of home remedies that have been used successfully by people to remove warts. A few of them are listed below. These anecdotes stated have little to no scientific evidence but have been seen to be effective when used by people, so exercise caution when you use them, don’t go overboard if they don’t work like they are expected to! 

1. Apple cider vinegar:

Apple cider vinegar is found to be useful to remove warts. It should always be diluted before use, as it is extremely acidic in nature. You can use it by mixing some water and apple cider vinegar. This mixture can be applied to the wart using a cotton ball and covering the area with a bandage for a few hours, allowing it to soften the wart.  

2. Aloe vera:

Aloe vera leaf can be used by cutting it open and scooping out the gel from it. You can then apply the gel to the wart. Some people have found this home remedy to be quite useful. Aloe vera is good for the skin and is used to treat a variety of skin ailments, from burns to cuts and bruises. Therefore, it is also used in the treatment of warts.  

3. Banana peel:

Banana peel is being used by people for the removal of warts since many years.  You can use it by taking a piece of the banana peel, taping it over the wart and leaving it overnight while you sleep. Make sure that the inner side of the peel touches the skin. Using it daily might be helpful, though there is no real scientific evidence, there’s no harm in trying it as well!  

4. Orange peel:

Another fruit peel to try. The orange peel is to be applied by rubbing it against the wart daily. The wart seems to change colour, darken and fall off when this is done daily. This might require some time, about two to three weeks for the wart to fall off.  There’s no scientific evidence for this remedy as well, but who knows, maybe the acidic nature of the orange might help you get rid of your wart! 

5. Clear nail polish:

The application of clear nail polish onto the wart is in attempt to suffocate it. Though there is no evidence of its effectiveness, the nail polish forms a layer on the wart and prevents the spread of the virus from the wart to other places. It can be applied a few times daily. You can try this remedy out and see if it works for you. 

6. Duct tape:

This is one of the popular home remedies to treat warts. You can cut out a small piece of duct tape and stick it on the wart. This is left for three to six days and can be removed after that. After removing the duct tape, the wart is to be soaked in water and scrubbed using pumice stone or Emery board. For the next few hours it should not be covered, it should be left alone. NOTE: This method should be used cautiously if your skin is sensitive.  

7. Bee propolis:

Bee propolis, a sticky substance produced by bees, contains natural products like beeswax, plant extracts, etc. This may be really effective in removal of warts. It is usually available in the market and can be applied over the wart followed by bandaging it. 

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8. Garlic:

Garlic is being used since ages to treat various skin related conditions. Therefore, its application in the treatment of warts is no surprise. We can use it by mixing a crushed garlic clove with water, applying it and bandaging it. Another way of using it is directly rubbing garlic over the wart.  

When to Seek Medical Help:  

You can contact your medical health provider and seek their recommendation if you notice any of the following: 

• If you notice the appearance of warts on your genitals or surrounding the rectum¹ 
• If you have warts on the lower surface of your feet and it makes walking difficult or painful¹ 
• If your warts break open frequently, as this may increase the chances of virus infection and cause spread of warts to other parts of the body¹ 
• If your warts start itching¹ 
• If they become red and swollen and you suspect that they might be infected¹ 
• If they embarrass you and you want to get it removed¹  

Conclusion: 

Warts, may or may not be harmful, usually they are harmless. They may appear on the face, hands, legs or even genitals. These warts can be removed by using certain home remedies. Though these home remedies are not all scientifically proven, they have been used effectively since ages for the removal of warts. If you notice any alarming changes in the appearance of these warts, you should seek medical advice for a better understanding and treatment. 

Also Read: Best Home Remedies for Dry Skin

Frequently Asked Questions: 

Can warts effect the kidney?

No there are no reports of warts effecting the kidney. The virus causing warts, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), mainly infects the skin.²

Are warts cancerous? 

Warts are generally benign (non- cancerous), but rarely it can be cancerous too.² 

Can warts be present on genitals? 

Yes, warts can be formed in genitals and the rectum as well. If you notice the formation of warts in these regions, kindly consult your doctor.¹ 

Are warts painful? 

Warts are usually painless, however they can cause pain in some cases, especially when they occur on the lower surface of feet, causing pain while walking.^1,2 

Is a wart poisonous? 

There are no reports stating that warts are poisonous. Warts are caused by Human Papilloma virus (HPV) which is a virus. ¹ 

Can warts spread from one person to another? 

Yes, warts are infectious and can spread from one person to another and even from sharing personal items of infected people.¹ 

Also Read: Simple Home Remedies for Tongue Ulcers

References: 

1. Warts: HPV, Causes, Types, Treatments, Removal, Prevention [Internet]. Cleveland Clinic. 2022 [cited 10 May 2022]. Available from: https://my. clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15045-warts 

2. Al Aboud AM, Nigam PK. Wart. Continuing Education Activity In: StatPearls  [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan [Updated 2021 Aug 11; cited 10 May 2022]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431047/ 

Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.

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⚡How to quickly get rid of warts with folk remedies❗

✅ For many people, warts are an extremely unpleasant thing that suddenly appears on the skin.

❎ And then the question of how to remove warts on the hands, on the face and on the body becomes very relevant.

Moreover, this can happen anywhere in the body, regardless of age, gender, specifics of work. Even a healthy, at first glance, a person suddenly discovers this neoplasm on his skin.

Causes of warts

Before deciding how to get rid of warts, it is important to understand where they come from. The main cause of warts on the fingers, toes and elsewhere is considered to be human papillomavirus (HPV), which can always be present in the human body.

But at certain moments it becomes active, especially when the body’s immunity decreases. This is manifested by the appearance on the skin of various warts, warts, papillomas.

The virus is transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person, not only through direct contact, but also through common objects. Therefore, trauma to the skin, excessive sweating of the skin and other viruses that infect the skin can provoke the appearance and growth of warts.

Sometimes warts can disappear on their own after a while, when the body gets stronger and will be able to resist the infection.

In the desire to get rid of the ugly “surprise” , many people rush to folk remedies and try to solve the problem without resorting to medicine. However, before removing warts at home, it is important to consult a doctor to rule out a more dangerous disease, such as a malignant tumor.

How to get rid of warts

Reviews of many people indicate that it is possible to remove warts with folk remedies. But do not forget that home treatment may not be safe and lead to burns, scarring, or the spread of the virus to neighboring skin areas. Therefore, it is important to take all precautions when treating wounds.

We bring to your attention the most popular tips on how to remove warts using folk methods:

How to quickly remove a wart with celandine

Regularly lubricate the neoplasm with fresh celandine juice. The procedure should be carried out at least 3-4 times a day . This is considered a good way to remove a wart at home quickly.

How to remove a wart with garlic

Similarly, warts are removed with garlic juice. Lubricate the warts with freshly squeezed garlic juice or garlic-vinegar ointment and leave overnight. To do this, mix 1 teaspoon of chopped garlic with 1 teaspoon of melted lard and 4 teaspoons of vinegar.

How to remove a wart with dandelion juice

Fresh dandelion juice works well against small and young warts, which should be dripped directly onto the affected area of ​​the skin.

How to remove a wart with vinegar

Before you remove a wart on your finger with vinegar, you should cut a hole in the band-aid the size of the wart and stick it on your finger. Thus, it is possible to treat the affected area without injuring neighboring healthy tissues.

Mix 70% Vinegar Essence with flour to a slurry consistency. Apply the mass on the wart and leave it overnight, and in the morning remove it along with the band-aid.

How to remove a wart with an apple

Sometimes fresh juice from sour apple varieties helps in the fight against warts. Lubricate the neoplasm with this juice, which should soon darken and decrease in size, and then completely disappear.

Warts. How to get rid of warts folk methods?

Papillomas and warts are the most common skin diseases caused by human papillomaviruses (HPV). To date, scientists have identified more than 600 strains of papillomaviruses, and several dozen of them can provoke the appearance of various neoplasms. In some cases, treatment of papillomas is required, especially if there is a high risk of damage to them. For this purpose, various methods are used. Professional wart removal in Kyiv is offered by the specialists of the EDIT clinic.

Warts are a benign tumor-like skin lesion that every second person encounters. Usually, warts bring not so much physical as aesthetic discomfort to the owner. And although the growths themselves are not painful, removing them is by no means a pleasant experience. Therefore, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the list of folk methods with which in ancient times they got rid of warts.

The course of treatment for each person is individual. And it usually takes two to three weeks for a full recovery.

Vinegar tinctures

Vinegar

Mix a few drops of vinegar and a few grams of flour to form a batter. Apply cooked porridge to the sore spot, so that it does not touch healthy skin. Change the dough made with vinegar daily. In a week, the warts will disappear.

Lemon peel

The peel of two lemons is poured with table vinegar. Insist 7-8 days, periodically shaking. Strained mixture is smeared with warts several times a day until the disease subsides.

Onion

Choose a small onion. Cut out a piece from the inner scale that will cover the wart. Dip the onion in the vinegar for a few hours. Then apply to the wound overnight. In a week or two, the growth will disappear.

Salt

Dilute one tablespoon of salt in half a glass of water. Add one tablespoon of vinegar. And then they throw half the cream for two hours. Fruit porridge should be applied to the wart. It is better to fix the pulp for the whole night.

Plants

Lotions

The juice of celandine, dandelion, kalanchoe, tea tree oil helps to remove warts. In summer, it is better to use plucked plants. In winter, celandine is bought at a pharmacy.

You can make lotions from warts with any sour juice. Suitable juice of apples, aloe, tomato, mountain ash. Rub the juice of herbs on the warts until the skin turns black.

Wormwood

3 tablespoons of dry wormwood pour a glass of boiling water and infuse for two hours. The liquid is moistened with warts several times a day.

Garlic

Garlic also helps fight warts. Daily rubbing garlic warts and they eventually disappear.

Also mix 10 grams of garlic slurry with 10 grams of butter or lard. This lubricates the warts.

Other products

Dry ice

Such growths on the skin are afraid of dry ice. An ice cube should be wrapped in a cloth and applied to the warts. Hold on for as long as you have the strength. After a few sessions, the warts will disappear.

The treatment works if the warts turn black. Then it is important not to injure the wart so that it falls off by itself, along with the roots.

It should be noted that scars may remain after recovery. Each of these methods is a kind of chemical burn. In order not to damage healthy skin, use adhesive tape. Cut a hole in the plaster, the diameter of which will correspond to the wart. Stick it around the wound, and only after that, manipulate the means that eliminate warts.

It is also worth remembering that warts do not appear on their own. They signal a decrease in immunity. Therefore, take care of strengthening the immune system.

Removal of warts of any type suggests the following: if folk remedies do not help, then you should definitely consult a doctor who will professionally remove the neoplasm using modern technologies, and also tell you which drugs should be used to boost immunity and prevent new relapses. You do not need to self-medicate, as you can only harm yourself and aggravate the situation.

Treatment of warts and papillomas in the EDIT clinic

In the EDIT clinic, the removal of formations is carried out by qualified dermatologists using modern equipment. A proven and effective method is electrocoagulation. The essence of the method lies in the treatment procedure, which is carried out using a device that generates an electric current. Electrocoagulation of papillomas, moles, warts lasts several minutes and has a number of advantages.