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.

A wart is defined as a skin growth that can literally appear on any part of the human body. 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 of us who suffer warts understand that they come and go, and can take anywhere from a few weeks to a good part of a year to go away on their own. There are many different treatments available for warts, and these include over the counter preperations that contain various acids that over time erode the skin component of this growth, inducing them to over time 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 popular natural remedies is using duct tape in removing the wart. With this method, the wart may be covered with duct tape for 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. The method mentioned should be repeated a number of times, with each cycle degrading 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

Many treatments are purported to work, and by applying apple cider vinegar topically 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

Of course, the strongest weapon against warts is to avoid contracting 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.