How To Get Rid Of Plantar Warts On Feet Naturally
Kushneet holds a postgraduate degree in biotechnology from Kingston University, London, and is an ISSA Certified Specialist in Fitness & Nutrition with 2 years of experience. Her scientific background, coupled with her passion for writing, propelled her towards content writing.
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Are you suffering from plantar warts? Have you been using mainstream medications to treat the condition, but to no avail? Don’t you wish for those nasty little warts to magically disappear? There more than a hundred types of warts caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), and each affects different individuals differently depending on their immunity and strength.
If you are seeking a home remedy to tackle plantar warts, you have come to the right place. This post talks about 14 amazing home remedies that can help treat the condition. To know more, keep reading.
In This Article
What Are Plantar Warts?
Plantar warts are also called as verrucas and are warts that grow on the feet (1). They are not harmful but are certainly not easy on the eyes (2). Those suffering from plantar warts don’t feel confident outdoors, especially on beaches or in pools because they don’t want the whole world to see their warts. This is why, despite being harmless, verrucas need quick treatment.
How Do You Get A Wart? What Causes Plantar Warts?
Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). When exposed to this virus in unhygienic surroundings, such as swimming pools, the virus infects the skin and causes outgrowths on the feet, which are called plantar warts.
How To Get Rid Of Plantar Warts On Feet
Here Is How To Remove Plantar Warts Naturally
1. Salicylic Acid For Warts
You Will Need
- Salicylic acid ointment/gel
- Warm water
- Emery board or brush
What You Have To Do
- Before you apply the ointment or gel, wash the affected area with warm water and scrub with an emery board or a brush. This will loosen the dead callus tissue, and the medication will easily penetrate the warts.
- Follow the instructions mentioned on the package and apply it accordingly.
How Often You Should Do This
Initially, the application might irritate the skin. However, keep on applying it at regular intervals. It may take more than a month to get rid of a big wart, so continue the treatment until the wart is fully treated.
Why This Works
Try out over-the-counter salicylic acid preparations that are easily available in the pad, gel, liquid, or ointment form to treat plantar warts. It disintegrates the upper layer of skin that has been infected by the virus. The mild irritation that it causes on application can also heighten the body’s immune response to the virus (3).
2. Nail Polish For Plantar Warts
You Will Need
- Clear nail polish
- Warm water
- Towel
What You Have To Do
- Wash the affected area with warm water and pat it dry.
- Apply a layer or two of the nail polish directly on the wart and leave it on for a few hours.
- Remove the nail polish and let the area breathe for a few minutes. Then, reapply the nail polish.
How Often You Should Do This
Continue reapplying until the wart falls off.
Why This Works
Applying nail polish will restrict the air that is available to the affected area. This will cause death of the affected skin cells and the virus as well.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar For Plantar Warts
You Will Need
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- Cotton ball
- Gauze or tape
What You Have To Do
- Soak the cotton ball in the ACV and place it on the wart.
- Leave the cotton ball on the wart and secure it using a piece of tape or gauze.
- Leave it on for a few hours.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this treatment every day for a week or two. You will see some swelling or soreness in the region, but there is no reason to worry. The wart will come off naturally on its own eventually.
Why This Works
Apple cider vinegar is the first choice for treating plantar warts. Although it does not kill the virus, its high acidic levels attack the wart and kill its physical existence. Slowly, the skin peels off naturally (4).
[ Read: How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar For Treating Warts? ]
4. Tea Tree Oil For Plantar Warts
You Will Need
- Tea tree oil
- Duct tape
- Cotton ball
What You Have To Do
- Place a few drops of tea tree oil on a cotton ball.
- Using a duct tape, stick the cotton ball onto the wart and leave it on for several hours.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat twice every day.
Why This Works
Due to its antiviral and antiseptic properties, tea tree oil is an effective treatment for verrucas (5).
5. Oregano Oil For Plantar Warts
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon oregano oil
- 8 teaspoons olive or coconut oil
- Duct tape (optional)
What You Have To Do
- Dilute the oregano oil in the carrier oil.
- Apply a few drops on the wart and leave it on.
- You can cover the area with duct tape for faster results.
How Often You Should Do This
Apply this oil mixture four to five times in a day.
Why This Works
Oregano oil exhibits antiviral activity against the human papillomavirus. This is due to a key component called carvacrol that is present in this essential oil (6).
6. Coconut Oil For Plantar Warts
You Will Need
- Virgin coconut oil
- Cotton swab
What You Have To Do
1. Clean the affected area and also lightly warm up the coconut oil.
2. Apply the oil generously on the plantar wart with the cotton swab. Massage the area so that the oil is absorbed well.
You can also place a few drops of the oil on a sandpaper and scrub the wart with it for a few minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
Reapply the oil a few times in the day.
Why This Works
Coconut oil inhibits the growth of the virus and heals the skin simultaneously (7, 8).
7. Turmeric For Plantar Warts
You Will Need
- 1-2 teaspoons turmeric powder
- Water
What You Have To Do
- Mix enough turmeric and water to form a thick paste.
- Apply this paste on the plantar wart and leave it on for about 30 minutes.
- Rinse with plain water.
You can rub a small slice of lemon on the area to get rid of the yellow tinge of the turmeric leaves.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this thrice a day.
Why This Works
This remedy can get rid of even those stubborn warts that don’t respond to the other remedies. Turmeric is used topically to treat many skin problems and infections because of its antiseptic properties. Turmeric also has healing properties and will not let the wart leave behind an ugly scar (9).
8. Foot Soak For Plantar Warts
You Will Need
- 1/4 cup Epsom salt or sea salt
- A large basin
- Warm water
- Pumice stone
What You Have To Do
- Choose a basin or bowl that can fit your feet.
- Pour warm water into it and add either the Epsom salt or the sea salt and mix well.
- Soak the affected foot in this for about 20 minutes.
- Scrub and exfoliate the wart gently to remove the dead skin.
How Often You Should Do This
Use the foot soak remedy twice a day.
Why This Works
Both Epsom salt and sea salt work well in removing plantar warts. They both have antiseptic properties and will eventually eliminate the infection-causing virus after repeated application. The salt soak will also detoxify your feet and relieve stress and pain (10).
9. Lemon Oil For Plantar Warts
You Will Need
Lemon essential oil
What You Have To Do
- Apply a few drops of lemon essential oil to the wart.
- Lift your feet so that the oil doesn’t rub off before it dries.
If you cannot find lemon essential oil, bruise a few pieces of lemon peel and drop them in a carrier oil like olive oil. Use it like lemon oil after a day of soaking.
How Often You Should Do This
Apply lemon oil three to four times in a day.
Why This Works
Lemon essential oil is good for treating verrucas. This antiseptic can help treat warts without surgical intervention (11).
Caution: Use lemon essential oil only on the wart. Ensure that it doesn’t get on to the surrounding areas as it may lead to skin irritation.
10. Thyme Oil For Plantar Warts
You Will Need
- Thyme oil
- Band-aid
What You Have To Do
- Apply a drop or two of the essential oil on the wart and cover it with a band-aid.
- Leave the band-aid on for a few hours.
- Remove the band-aid, clean the area, and reapply the oil.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this every few hours until the wart heals.
Why This Works
Thyme oil is rich in monoterpenes, and has been shown to effectively kill the herpes virus in a laboratory setting. This antiviral property can be used to treat verrucas (12).
11. Black Salve For Plantar Warts
You Will Need
- Black salve
- Gauze
- Duct tape
What You Have To Do
- Apply a layer of black salve on the wart and cover it with the gauze. Use the tape to hold the gauze in place.
- Check the wart after a day or two.
- Wash the area and repeat the application of the salve.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat the above steps until the wart falls off on its own. Do not worry if the wart appears to be at its worst. It may look like that just before it is ready to detach itself from the foot.
Why This Works
Derived from the bloodroot plant, black salve is commonly used to remove warts, skin tags, and moles. Bloodroot possesses immune-modulating properties that enhance the body’s response to the viral infection (13). Another key ingredient of black salve is activated charcoal that has antiviral effects on the wart (14).
12. Garlic For Plantar Warts
You Will Need
- 1-2 garlic cloves
- Duct tape
What You Have To Do
- Cut thin slices of garlic and place them on warts. Keep them in position using duct tape.
- Alternatively, you can take a cotton wad and soak it in garlic oil. Using a band-aid, keep this pressed against the wart
How Often You Should Do This
Garlic can burn up warts in barely a few applications.
Why This Works
Garlic is an effective antiviral and antibacterial agent (15). If you are on the lookout for a remedy that acts like acid but does not burn your skin, a clove of garlic is what you need.
13. Vitamins For Plantar Warts
(a) Vitamin C
You Will Need
- Vitamin C tablet
- Lemon juice
- Bandage
What You Have To Do
- Pound the vitamin C tablet to a powdered form.
- Add a few drops of lemon juice and make a paste. If required, add some water as well.
- Apply on the warts and secure with a bandage.
How Often You Should Do This
Reapply daily until the warts disappear.
Why This Works
Studies say that vitamin C helps to kill viruses. It is rich in ascorbic acid, which works wonders on verrucas (16).
(b) Vitamin E
You Will Need
Vitamin E capsules
What You Have To Do
- Purchase vitamin E capsules from the pharmacy.
- Make a small hole in the capsule with a pin.
- Squeeze the syrupy contents of the pill on the warts.
- Smear them evenly on the verrucas.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this twice or thrice daily.
Why This Works
If you thought vitamin E only helps moisturize your skin, you would be pleasantly surprised to know that a small quantity of this vitamin is all you need to make those warts fall off. It prevents recurrent infections as well (17).
[ Read: Home Remedies To Remove Skin Tags ]
(c) Vitamin A
You Will Need
Vitamin A capsules or fish oil capsules
What You Have To Do
- Gently make a hole in the capsule and apply the oil present inside it on the plantar wart.
- Leave the oil on for a few hours.
How Often You Should Do This
Reapply vitamin A oil twice or thrice during the day.
Why This Works
Vitamin A hinders the replication and growth of HPV. It also enhances the body’s immune response. An additional benefit of using this remedy is that it will prevent scarring (18).
14. Aspirin For Plantar Warts
You Will Need
- Aspirin tablet
- Water
- Band-aid
What You Have To Do
- Dissolve the tablet in some water and apply this paste on the wart.
- Cover the plantar wart with the band-aid.
- Remove the band-aid after a few hours. Clean the previously applied paste and then re-apply some freshly made aspirin paste.
- Cover the area again with band-aid.
How Often You Should Do This
Change the paste and band-aid twice a day until the wart diminishes or falls off.
Why This Works
Aspirin contains salicyclic acid, which is a keratinolytic. It breaks down the dead skin cells that are affected by the virus and detaches them from the healthy skin (19).
Plantar warts can look very unsightly and also cause a lot of discomfort when you stand or walk. It is better to use home remedies and get rid of them at the earliest before they start spreading to other parts of the body.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plantar Wart Symptoms
The symptoms of plantar warts are as given below:
• Bumpy outgrowths on the soles of your feet that are rough and can be scaly.
• Black dots on the surface of these outgrowths.
• Tenderness in and around the affected area.
• Pain while standing and/or walking (20, 21).
Preventive Methods For Plantar Warts
Clean and healthy feet are the key to preventing plantar warts.
• Always keep your feet dry. Wear cotton socks if you tend to sweat too much.
• Do not share personal items such as socks, shoes, razors, and towels with others.
• Wear shoes or sandals in gym showers and swimming pool areas.
• Wash your feet every day after coming back home.
• Do not touch other people’s warts and do not pick at your existing warts.
• Try your best to not irritate the soles of your feet. Irritation may cause lesions to form, thus giving the virus access to the deeper skin layers.
Are Plantar Warts On Feet Contagious?
Yes, plantar warts are contagious. Wash your hands thoroughly after applying any medicine or home remedy on them.
How Does Duct Tape Get Rid Of Plantar Warts?
People across the world use duct tape to get rid of plantar warts. By sealing the wart and cutting off its air supply, the affected skin cells die and the wart falls off. This technique can be used by itself or in combination with some of the home remedies mentioned above.
Now that you know how to get rid of plantar warts on feet naturally, what are you waiting for? These remedies are not quick fixes. They indeed help in treating the stubborn and persistent warts. You may need to try more than one of these remedies before you are completely rid of the warts.
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Read full bio of Kushneet Kukreja
