Common warts (verruca vulgaris) are benign growths caused by the human papillomaviruses. They occur most commonly in adolescents between age 12 and 16.
Common duct tape has been touted as a product that would fix just about anything – except ducts. Now, a study has proven what many athletes and parents have known for some time: Duct tape can effectively remove common warts.
The Study
Sixty-one patients ranging in age from 3 to 22 at an army medical center were treated for warts with either liquid nitrogen (the standard medical treatment) or duct tape. After two months, 85 percent of the duct tape-treated patients were wart-free versus 60 percent who were treated with the liquid nitrogen.
How it Works
In the study, duct tape was placed over the wart for six days. The tape was then removed, and the wart was rinsed, cleaned, and scraped gently with a pumice stone or emery board. The duct tape was left off overnight. The next day, duct tape was reapplied and the six-day process was repeated until the wart came off -- usually in less than two months.
It appeared to be safe and relatively pain-free.
The study was done on young people at a pediatric and adolescent clinic, but there is no indication that it wouldn't work with older adults too.
Why Duct Tape?
Why not? Other types of tape may work, but duct tape was the only type used in the research. Some people have been using duct tape to remove warts for years, but this is the first medically supervised study that proved its effectiveness. The duct tape apparently irritates the wart and causes an immune system reaction that leads to the eventual removal of the wart. (The duct tape can also irritate the skin underneath it somewhat.)
If you or someone in your family has warts, it might be a good idea to first check with your doctor to make sure that they are the "common" type and might respond to duct tape treatment. |
