Plantar warts, which are warts on the bottoms of your feet, can cause a lot of pressure and pain. If you're tired of feeling like you're stepping on little pebbles all of the time, try one or more of these home remedies to get rid of the warts.
Duct Tape
Many people swear by duct tape as a remedy for plantar warts. It may sound like an unlikely treatment, but since duct tape is inexpensive and safe, it's definitely worth a try. Compounds in the adhesive that makes the duct tape sticky are said to kill the virus that causes the warts, while the tape aids in peeling layers of dead skin off of the bottom of your foot. Cut out a small square of duct tape, and place it over the wart. Let it sit in place for several days, and then remove it and put a new piece of tape in its place. Within a few weeks, with any luck, the wart should "peel out" of your foot.
Salicylic Acid Pads
Salicylic acid pads work similarly to duct tape to remove plantar wars from your feet. Sold in most pharmacies, these pads look like little, round stickers. Follow the instructions on the package for use. Generally, you will need to apply the pad, leave it in place for a few days to a week, and then replace it. As with the duct tape, the pad should eventually cause the wart to peel out of your foot rather easily.
There are also salicylic acid creams and gels you can apply to plantar warts. Though these can be effective, they are more of a hassle to use than the pads since you'll have to re-apply the cream or gel once a day or more.
Zinc
Zinc can help fight the virus that causes warts, making it a useful remedy to use against them. While you can find zinc-based wart creams in pharmacies, another option is to just take a zinc supplement pill and dissolve it in a little water. Paint this mixture onto the wart with a cotton ball or a cotton swab, and repeat this process daily. In time, the wart should die, and you should be able to easily pick it out of your foot using your fingers.
At no time should you attempt to "dig" a wart out using nail clippers or another tool. This can cause injury and infection. If it does not pick or peel out easily with just your fingers, then you need to use your chosen treatment – salicylic acid, zinc, or duct tape – for a little longer to ensure the wart is completely dead before attempting to remove it again. If you're still struggling to get rid of the warts, contact a foot care professional or podiatrist for treatment.
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