Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Using home remedies
• Part 2 of 3: Experimenting with alternative therapies
• Part 3 of 3: Medical treatments
• Tips
• Warnings

Plantar warts, known by the medical name verruca plantaris, are small, benign growths on the sole of the foot. They are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can enter the body through a tear or abrasion in the sole of the foot and affect the surrounding skin. Unlike the fleshy warts that grow in other areas, verrucas are usually flat, covered with calluses, and painful to the touch. Like all warts, they are contagious and more common in people with weakened immune systems and those who often walk barefoot in public areas such as showers and locker rooms. Getting rid of verrucas can be tricky, especially if you only want to use home remedies, but there are several effective methods.

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Part 1 of 3: Using home remedies

1. Use a pumice stone. Because a verruca hurts mainly because of the layer of callus on top (a thickened layer of skin), you can relieve the symptoms by rubbing the area. A pumice stone is an inexpensive, natural option for removing dead skin and calluses, but keep in mind that you cannot completely get rid of the wart as most of it is under the skin. Soak your feet in warm water for 15-20 minutes to soften the callus before using a pumice stone to exfoliate the skin.
   • People with diabetes or peripheral neuropathy should not use a pumice stone to exfoliate the feet because they have less sensation in the skin that can damage surrounding tissue.
   • Most verrucas are not dangerous and don't require treatment, especially if they don't hurt - they often go away on their own.
2. Apply an agent containing salicylic acid. Another way to remove calluses from the wart is to apply salicylic acid, available at a drugstore or pharmacy. Salicylic acid is a keratolytic, which means that it dissolves the stratum corneum; keratolytics also remove / irritate healthy skin, so be careful when applying the liquid, gel or ointment. Before applying salicylic acid (twice a day), soak your feet in warm water and file away the callus with a pumice stone or foot file to help it absorb into the wart. It can take several weeks to get rid of a verruca with salicylic acid, so patience is a virtue.
   • Products with salicylic acid sometimes contain dichloroacetic acid or trichloroacetic acid.
   • Plantar warts usually grow on the ball or heel of the foot, areas where you feel the most pressure.
   • A well-known characteristic of verrucas is that they contain tiny black dots, caused by dried blood coming out of the small blood vessels around the wart.
3. Spread apple cider vinegar on it. There are many health claims for apple cider vinegar, one of which is that it is said to help against different types of warts. Apple cider vinegar is high in acetic acid, which has antiviral properties (it kills HPV and other viruses). However, acetic acid also irritates healthy tissue, so be careful when applying it. Dip a cotton ball in vinegar and apply it to the wart, cover with a band-aid overnight and change it the next day. It may take several days for you to see improvement.
   • White vinegar also contains acetic acid, but it seems to have less of an effect on warts than apple cider vinegar.
   • Other natural substances with antiviral properties that you could experiment with include tea tree oil, oregano oil, and fresh garlic.
4. Cover the verrucas with duct tape. There are many reports claiming that applying duct tape regularly can help verrucas, although it is still a mystery how it works. But because it costs little, is very easy and is harmless, you can give it a try. Clean the sole of your foot with rubbing alcohol and stick a piece of duct tape firmly to the verruca. Let the tape sit for 24 hours, then replace it with a clean piece and repeat for two to six weeks.You can use this method in conjunction with other natural antivirals listed above.
   • There is no scientific evidence to support the effect of duct tape on verrucas.
   • There are people who report that other non-porous tape such as electrical tape also works against verrucas.

Part 2 of 3: Experimenting with alternative therapies

1. Strengthen your immune system. Since verrucas are the result of a viral infection (HPV), it may be a sign that your immune system was not strong enough (at least temporarily) to fight the virus. So focus on strengthening your immune system if you want to get rid of verrucas naturally. For example, see a dietitian, naturopath, Chinese medicine practice, or chiropractor to give your immune system a boost. Sleep more (or better), eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, consume less sugar (especially soft drinks), drink less alcohol, quit smoking and take good care of your body if you want a stronger immune system.
   • Supplements that can strengthen your immune system include vitamins C and D, zinc, echinacea and olive leaf extract.
2. Consider homeopathic treatment. Homeopathy is an established approach to a variety of symptoms and conditions in people of all ages, based on taking minute amounts of natural substances that actually act at the vibrational level. Make an appointment with a homeopathic doctor, or buy the right homeopathic remedies at the health food store or natural pharmacy.
   • Recommended substances for verrucas include: thuja occidentalis, podophylline, sodium muriaticum and nitricum acidum.
3. Smoke out the wart. While it may sound crazy, an ancient Chinese method of treating warts uses a "smoking box" filled with smoke from the burnt leaves of Populus euphratica (poplar). This treatment method appears to be just as effective as conventional therapies, such as cryotherapy. The Populous euphratica is a type of poplar that is found in many parts of the world, especially China and the Middle East. When the leaves are burned, smoke is released which has antiviral properties (salicylates).
   • Find or buy Populus euphratica leaves, dry them and set them on fire in a controlled environment. Let them burn for a few minutes, then cover them to extinguish the flames from lack of oxygen. Keep your foot about 6 inches from the smoldering leaves and let the smoke soak in your foot for at least 15 minutes, where the wart is.
   • Be careful not to burn the soles of your feet by making sure the flames are out and by keeping your foot too close to the petals.

Part 3 of 3: Medical treatments

1. Consider cryotherapy. Cryotherapy (performed by your doctor, dermatologist or podiatrist) involves destroying the warts by freezing them with liquid nitrogen, which is sprayed directly on the warts or applied with some kind of cotton swab The liquid nitrogen creates blisters under the wart, which then turns black and falls off a few days later. Multiple treatments may be required to get rid of the verruca, and it is not suitable for young children as it can be quite painful. That is why the doctor sometimes numbs the area before freezing the wart.
   • Cryotherapy does not leave scars when done properly. Normal skin grows over it again and the dimple that remains at the site of the destroyed wart is filled up again.
   • Never apply liquid nitrogen to a wart yourself - leave this to a doctor. There are over-the-counter products that can be bought at the drugstore to freeze warts, but they are suitable for use at home.
2. Consider a stronger skin loosening agent. Prescription medications containing salicylic acid are usually more effective than over-the-counter products because the solution is stronger. Your doctor or podiatrist will apply it to the wart, but sometimes you will also bring it home to repeat it, which will break down the wart layer by layer. Research has shown that salicylic acid is even more effective when combined with cryotherapy.
   • Because prescription salicylic acid is more potent, be careful not to put too much of it on the healthy skin around the verrucas, which can lead to red and irritated skin.
3. Ask about other topical products. A well-known agent that can be applied to warts is cantharidin, a component derived from the blister beetle. Cantharidin is a terpene - a poisonous agent that causes blisters - that burns the wart off the skin. It is often used in conjunction with salicylic acid. The doctor will apply the liquid containing cantharidin and salicylic acid to the verruca and cover it with a bandage for about a week. A blister will form and eventually fall off, but several treatments may be required before the wart is completely gone.
   • Cantharidin is deadly if swallowed and is usually not given for home use.
   • The blister formed by cantharidin usually does not leave a scar.
4. Try a laser treatment. With the advancement of new technologies, doctors can now use all kinds of lasers to remove verrucas. For example, a pulse dye laser can burn the tiny blood vessels that surround and nourish the wart, causing the wart to die and fall off the skin. Some lasers can also burn off the wart immediately, although this does require local anesthesia.
   • Laser therapy can be very expensive, and not much is known or proven about its effectiveness.
   • Laser therapy can also be painful and leave scars on the foot.
5. Talk to your doctor about surgery. If home remedies, alternative therapy, and various medical treatments have not helped, ask your doctor to surgically remove the wart. Removing a wart is just a minor procedure, in which the doctor cuts the wart with a scalpel or electrical device (called electrosurgery and curettage). Electrosurgery destroys the tissue of the wart, and curettage scrapes the dead tissue away with a small metal spoon. This procedure is painful, so the area will be locally anesthetized first.
   • When a wart is surgically removed, it sometimes leaves a scar, and it also happens that the wart comes back on the scar tissue later on.
   • Cutting the tissue around the verruca can also spread the wart to other areas of the foot, especially in people with weakened immune systems.

Tips

• Do not wear other people's shoes to prevent verrucas.
• Risk factors for getting verrucas are: frequent wounds on the feet, use of public showers and a weakened immune system due to illness or medication.
• Warts are contagious, so avoid touching other people or other body parts with them.
• Plantar warts occur in all ages, but especially in children between 12 and 16 years old.
• Protect the bottoms of your feet from cuts and wash your hands regularly.
• Consider taking 30,000 IU of vitamin A every day for 5 weeks.
• Do not scratch the skin around the wart, it will only get worse.

Warnings

• Keep a close eye on any growths or changes in the skin on your feet, as it may not be a verruca but something more serious. See your doctor if you have any concerns.