There are many misconceptions about warts. They don't come from touching toads, according to herpetologist Dr. Lee Grismer from La Sierra University in Los Angeles, and they don't mean an affected person has bad hygiene. There are many purported folk remedies among the myths. Most have not been proven scientifically, but a 2002 study by researchers at the Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati showed duct tape actually cures warts.
Definition
Warts are small skin growths commonly found on the hands and feet, although they can appear on other body parts, including the genitals. The Mayo Clinic explains they are caused by the human papillomavirus, commonly referred to as HPV. They show up as irregular tan, white or flesh-toned bumps that are rough to the touch. They disappear on their own eventually, but many people choose to treat them with topical medication or home remedies like duct tape.
Procedure
The Mayo Clinic explains the 2002 Cincinnati study used a very specific procedure for treating warts with duct tape. The same procedure should be used for home treatment. A small piece of tape is secured over the wart and left in place for six days. The tape is removed, and the wart is soaked in water for a few minutes. Then it is filed down with a nail file or rubbed with a pumice stone to remove dead skin. A new piece of duct tape is applied, and the process is repeated until the wart disappears, which may take up to two months.
Effects
The exact reason for duct tape's effectiveness in treating warts is unknown. According to the Mayo Clinic, researchers believe it may irritate the growth and surrounding skin. Warts are caused by the HPV, so the irritation may stimulate the immune system to fight and suppress the virus. Warts can still return later, as long as the virus remains in the body.
Use
The Mayo Clinic explains duct tape therapy is appropriate for anyone, and it is commonly used for children who are afraid of freezing treatment or find it too uncomfortable. It is often combined with salicylic acid, which is applied to the wart before covering it with the duct tape.
Considerations
A 2007 study of warts and duct tape failed to duplicate the results of the 2002 research, according to MSN Health. The 2007 study, led by Dr. Rachel Wenner of the University of Minnesota, used older adults rather than children and young adults and transparent duct tape rather than the conventional gray kind. Gray duct tape contains rubber, which may have contributed to the earlier study's positive results by somehow irritating the skin in a way other tape cannot duplicate. Use conventional duct tape if you opt to try this cure.
