Is There a Natural Way to Remove Warts?

Q. My son has a wart on his finger since age 2. He is now 8 and also has a large one on his toe. Recently he began complaining they are painful. I found information on the internet regarding using banana peels and also apple cider vinegar...nothing worked. What do you suggest? -Dawn

A: Warts are small growths caused by the HPV (human papilloma viruses). They can spread if picked or touched. There are many approaches to treating warts. Some of the most effective include:

Aloe Vera gel - has antibacterial and antiviral properties. Dab Aloe Vera gel on the wart 2-3 times daily until it disappears.

Teatree oil - dab on wart 2-3 times daily until it disappears.

Crush a garlic clove and, avoiding the surrounding skin, apply it on the wart. Cover it with a bandage for 24 hours to hold it in place. The wart should fall off within a week.

Try one treatment at a time (not all at once) - hopefully you will not have to try more than one.