Duct Tape Wart Removal

A wart is a type of skin infection that affects people of all ages, especially children and youngsters. As per medical terminology, a wart is termed as a viral skin infection which is caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Warts appear as abnormally-raised skin growths and usually tend to affect a person's fingers, hands, neck, feet and in some cases, the genital areas.They are generally classified as:

Common Warts: These have a rough, cauliflower-type appearance and are typically found on the fingers, elbows and knees.

Plantar Warts: They mostly appear on the soles of the feet and can be painful while running and walking.

Genital Warts: These affect the genital region and should be treated as soon as possible. Genital warts are potentially very dangerous and can cause serious complications including sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Types of Wart Treatment

Warts can be treated in a variety of ways. Some of the common wart treatment methods are:

• Cryotherapy
• Duct tape wart removal
• Surgery
• Applying Salicylic acid-based skin creams or gels
• Laser treatment
• Home skin care remedies such as applying aloe vera, various types of herbal oils, etc

Duct Tape Wart Removal Treatment

Over the years, tape occlusion or duct tape treatment has increasingly become a popular way of removing and curing warts. Although there is no scientific evidence in favor of duct tape treatment as a remedial method, medical researchers attribute its success to two possible reasons:

1. The duct tape when tightly wrapped over the wart, occludes i.e. covers the wart, and prevents it from spreading further. As a result, new cells cannot be formed and as the existing ones begin to die, the wart gradually reduces in size.
2. As the wart gets blocked by the duct tape, it has a stimulating effect on the body's immune system, which kicks into action and produces anti-bodies to counter the wart-causing virus.

Procedure:

1. Cut a piece of duct tape which is slightly bigger than the size of the wart-affected area.
2. Wrap the duct tape over the wart in such a way, that it covers the wart nice and tight.
3. Let it remain in this position for one week.
4. Gently remove the duct tape and examine the affected area. If the wart comes off with the tape, good for you! Wash the area with soap and water to remove any traces.
5. If the wart does not come off, soak the area in water and gently rub it with a pumice stone.
6. If the wart still does not come off, then dry the area and re-apply a new piece of duct tape.
7. Repeat this process until the wart eventually comes off. However, if the wart still persists for more than a period of 45 days, then it is advisable to consult a dermatologist regarding further treatment.

Advantages of Duct Tape Treatment

• It is painless and much more convenient than certain other treatment methods such as cryotherapy.
• It is much cheaper than other methods of treatment.
• This method has a relatively high rate of success among children and teenagers.

Drawbacks of Duct Tape Treatment

• It does not work as effectively in the case of adults.
• It can lead to a bit of reddening of the skin due to continuous pressure and lack of aeration.
• Sometimes, it can be a slow process, requiring a great deal of patience on part of the affected person.

In comparison with other contemporary wart treatment techniques, duct tape treatment can surely be perceived as a cost-effective remedial measure for wart removal.