A Comprehensive Guide to Warts: Causes and Treatments

Raised skin bumps and small clusters of overgrown skin cells are known as warts. These typically appear on fingers, hands, feet, knees, or joints, but can manifest anywhere on the body. Warts can occur at any age but are more common among children and teens. They tend to spread to other areas of the skin and are even contagious via direct contact.

There are several types of warts. Those appearing on the hands and fingers are usually painless, and they are caused by the human papillomavirus, HPV. Plantar warts occur mainly on the soles of the feet. These warts tend to grow inward instead of forming an external bump, causing pain and affecting blood vessels deep beneath the skin.

In many cases, both children and adults experience spontaneous wart disappearance without specific treatment, although this can take several months or even over a year. Natural treatment focuses predominantly on enhancing the immune system to combat the wart-causing virus. There are some effective "grandmother's remedies" worth trying.

Attach a banana peel to the wart with some paper tape. Consistently do this for two weeks to a month. Banana peel contains potent antioxidants that can eliminate the wart.

Mix one drop of natural lemon juice with one drop of tea tree oil, apply to the wart, and cover with a band-aid. It is important to repeat this daily for two to three weeks.

Combine a teaspoon of baking soda with a little apple cider vinegar to create a thick paste. Apply the paste to the warts twice daily, morning and evening.

Castor oil works on small, flat warts – soak a cotton ball in castor oil, and cover it on the wart overnight. You can add baking soda. In the morning, wash with warm water and scrub gently. The wart will gradually fall off.

Crushed basil can be applied to the wart and covered with a bandage. It's advisable to repeat the process daily for rapid improvement.

Garlic is also a good choice, though it has a strong odor. Crush garlic and apply it to the wart, cover with a bandage, and leave for at least half an hour. Garlic contains antibacterial properties, fighting viral infections.