Does this really work?
So we know warts are skin growths that appear on the skin. Or in fact,just about anywhere on the body. Although most warts are harmless, almost all are non-cancerous;we just really don't want them there, do we?
So if you've already started researching wart removal options online, you may have come across the duct tape removal method.
Duct tape? Really?
The duct tape method is an age old a home remedy. It has all the classic aspects of a home remedy: it uses objects found at home and the treatment can be carried out at home. Since you may well already have duct tape in your possession and use it at home, you don't even need to spend any cash, making this a perfect home remedy.
If it works.
What to do
The method involves covering the wart up completely with duct tape for one week. After a week, remove the tape and soak the area with the wart, then scrub the wart with a pumice stone or a nail file. Then re-apply the duct tape for another week and repeat this process of tape, soak, file until the wart disappears.
Although the process seems easy, it does have a few minor downsides.
- Some folks won't want to go round all week with duct tape wrapped round their finger or the wrist, or plastered across their knee.
- You need to be consistent and not give up after a week.
- Other areas of skin that get covered by the tape may become irritated.
Is it effective?
There are some folks who swear it is effective and even some Dr's will recommend this method to their patients. Some studies have been done over the years on the effectiveness of the duct tape method, with curious results. It does actually seem to work and, it does not leave any scars behind.
Why does it work?
It is thought that using the duct tape over the wart can irritate the area just enough to kick the immune system up a notch, therefore helping to get rid of the wart. And of course, by soaking and filing it you are removing some of the actual tissue.
Another theory is it deprives the wart of oxygen causing the wart cells to die out.
It has been noted that warts will often disappear on their own, over time. This happens when the body’s immune system begins to find and fight them. It has been surmised that duct tape seems to help or speed up this process.
Of course, it is important to remember that different individuals react differently to different things, including certain wart removal methods. With this in mind, it's worth giving this method a go. It's cheap and your body is unlikely to react in a negative way.
Despite the proof that duct tape works as a way to remove unwanted warts, there will be people who it does not work for and the wart you have may be in an area that's too awkward to duct tape up.
No need to worry. There are a number of other natural wart removal methods that you can try; some of them are just as low-cost as duct tape and may be more effective for you.
