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‘Crazy’ duct tape hack will help get rid of common warts, dermatologist reveals
If you have an annoying wart on your hands or feet, this dermatologist’s hack could be the key to getting rid of it.
The small lumps aren’t harmful and usually go away on their own eventually, but they can be a little embarrassing.
Dermatologist’s duct tape wart hack
Speaking on TikTok, Dr Aamna Adel explained that all you have to do is put a square of duct tape over the wart to get rid of it. The thick silver tape, which is coated with plastic, helps to heal the wart faster by starving it of oxygen.
“This one might sound a bit crazy but duct tape is not just for packing your boxes,” she said. “You can actually use this to treat viral warts.”
The method is approved by the NHS, who recommend cutting a piece of duct tape as close to the size of the wart as possible and sticking it over the top. You leave it in place for six days and replace it straight away if the tape falls off.
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At the end of six days, you remove the tape, soak the area in warm water and gently rub the wart with a pumice stone or emery board (nail file) to remove any dead white skin. Leave it overnight without any tape then start the six-day duct tape process again.
Keep repeating this for as long as necessary and the wart should disappear more quickly than if the duct tape wasn’t used.
This recommendation is based on a 2002 study which found that duct tape was “significantly more effective” than cryotherapy for treatment of the common wart. Cryotherapy is when extreme cold is used to freeze the wart off.
Of the 51 participants all with common warts, 25 were treated with duct tape and 25 were given cryotherapy. 22 of the duct tape group vs just 15 of those treated with cryotherapy had their warts completely healed.
Warts and verrucas are caused by�a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV) and are spread between people via contaminated surfaces or through close skin contact, MedlinePlus explains.
More crazy DIY skincare hacks
In the same video, Dr Adel said you can use Vicks VapoRub, which is usually used to relieve cough and cold symptoms, to heal dry and flaky toenails. This is caused by toenail fungus, and VapoRub is anti-fungal.
She recommended applying it once again to any affected fingernail or toenail and said: “Trust me, that is gonna clear it.”
Lastly, if you get scaly patches around your nose, that’s not dry skin. It’s a condition called seborrheoic dermatitis which can be cleared by something you probably already have in your bathroom – anti-dandruff shampoo!
It’s a common�skin condition that causes a scaly rash on oily areas of the body like the scalp and�nose, the American Academy of Dermatology explains, and using the shampoo as a face wash a few times a week will clear it up in no time.
Dr Aamna Adel is an NHS Dermatology Registrar who got her medical degree (MMBS) from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry and completed a Dermatology Speciality Certificate Examination (SCE). She is also a member of the British Cosmetic Dermatology Group (BCDG).
