Warts can be very unsightly and, as in the case of plantar warts, can even be painful. Though there are over the counter remedies available to help minimize the time that a person has to endure a wart’s presence, natural treatments for warts are among the best remedies as they are inexpensive, convenient, effective, and completely safe to use. By having a clear understanding of what causes a wart and knowing how to naturally treat one, a person can avoid costly doctor’s visits and restore their skin’s health naturally.

The definition of a wart is as a growth or lesion that can appear on any part of the. Caused by a virus in the human papilloma virus family, a wart is an infection that invades the skin through an open abrasion, which is often so small that it is unnoticed before the wart’s appearance. A wart can grow for several days before it is recognized.

Most warts last between a few weeks and several months and go away on their own. Warts may be treated with over the counter medications that contain acids, which erode the skin on the warts and causes them to eventually dissolve. This method is not recommended for genital warts, as tissue damage can result.

Some seek medical treatment to speed the skin’s recovery, which is usually done via cryosurgery (freezing) or by laser surgery depending upon the severity of the wart. With remodies available via over the counter options, more than a single treatment is usually required before the wart is entirely dealt with. Also, infection can recur if the original virus is still present on the skin or if a person comes in contact with the virus again.

On the other hand, natural treatments for warts are readily available and are easy to use. One of the most sucessful methods is using a piece of duct tape in removing the wart. Using this technique, the wart may be left covered with tape for a period of six days. After the six day cycle, the tape can be removed, the wart soaked and then scrubbed with a pumice stone (to exfoliate the skin on the wart) before drying the area thoroughly and reapplying more duct tape for another six day period. This method can be repeated several times with each cycle eroding the wart.

More than one type of tape can be used for this process in the same way. For instance, covering the wart with a band-aid is another useful, effective way to reduce its presence and may be more ascetically pleasing than duct tape. The band-aid can also be removed every six days and as much of the wart as possible should be scrubbed away in between changings.

Other natural treatments for warts include the following:

• Applying a banana peel to the wart and securing it with tape

• Daily applications of apple cider vinegar directly to the wart

• Daily applications of tea tree oil help reduce the wart and ward off the invading infection

• Rub the wart with a raw potato several times each day to speed recovery

Needless to say, the best strategy in dealing with warts is to entirely avoid them in the first place. This is best accomplished by maintaining a healthy immune system that protects the body against infection and disease. A healthy diet that avoids processed foods, white sugar, white flour, artificial flavorings, chemical additives, and food coloring is best.

Along with avoiding unnatural foods, a diet that focuses on fresh, natural fruits and vegetables helps to keep the immune system operating at its best, as does proper rest and exercise.