Will Duct Tape Remove Warts?

If you suffer from warts and are struggling to find an effective but inexpensive way to remove them, you may be able to duct tape warts for easy removal.

Effectiveness of Duct Tape

Plantar warts are skin lesions caused by different forms of the HPV virus. For the people who have these warts, removal can be both painful and very expensive, requiring multiple trips to the dermatologist. The most common way to remove warts has been a visit to the dermatologist to have the warts removed cryogenically (freezing). A recent study, however, has determined that duct tape is actually more effective at removing plantar warts than cryogenic treatment.  Consequentially, it may be worth giving duct tape a try.

How to Treat Your Wart with Duct Tape

• Thoroughly clean the area around the wart as well as the wart itself.
• Apply a small piece of duct tape to the area of the wart. Your skin may become slightly irritated from the tape.
• Replace the tape every week, or more often if needed. The oil and sweat from your skin may make it difficult for the tape to stick.
• After one week, remove the tape and soak the wart area in warm water. Gently rub with a pumice stone or emery board.
• Repeat this process for up to 8 weeks.

Why Does Duct Tape Work?

Most likely, duct tape effectively removes plantar warts because it seals the wart effectively from air, making it difficult for the wart to thrive.  The tape also may cause the body to increase its immune system reaction to the area.  No one really knows why it works, but at a cost of around $1.80 for a roll of duct tape as compared to a $300 average visit to the dermatologist, the method is certainly worth trying.

In the most recent scientific study, duct tape (not the clear kind but the silver kind that contains rubber) was found to have a better than 80% success rate compared to just over 60% for cryogenic treatment.  The biggest downside to the duct tape method is that the tape can irritate the skin around the wart.

As with any home remedy, if you have other medical complications, do not use the duct tape method without consulting with your personal physician.  While this method has worked for many people, cases vary and only you can determine your medical condition.