Skin warts are fairly common. Most people will have one at some point in their lives. These harmless raised bumps, which form mainly on the hands and feet, are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). There is no cure for HPV, so treatment is aimed at removing the wart.

Modern treatments for warts include:

  • freezing off the warts (cryotherapy)
  • topical creams containing salicylic acid
  • laser therapy
  • surgical removal

However, treating warts can be costly and painful. Sometimes it requires multiple treatments. Even with a successful wart treatment, the warts can come back or spread to other areas of the body.

How does apple cider vinegar treat warts?

Vinegar has been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of different ailments, from stomach aches to poison ivy and diabetes.

The idea that apple cider vinegar can be used to treat warts has withstood the test of time. In general, apple cider vinegar is believed to work for warts in the following ways:

  • Vinegar is an acid (acetic acid), so it can kill some types of bacteria and viruses on contact.
  • The vinegar burns and slowly destroys the infected skin, causing the wart to fall off, similar to how salicylic acidTrusted Source works.
  • The irritation from the acids stimulates your immune system’s ability to fight the virus that caused the wart.

How would you use apple cider vinegar to treat warts?

The most recommended method for treating a wart with apple cider vinegar is fairly simple. You just need a cotton ball, water, apple cider vinegar, and duct tape or a bandage.

  1. Mix two parts apple cider vinegar in one-part water.
  2. Soak a cotton ball in the vinegar-water solution.
  3. Apply the cotton ball directly on the wart.
  4. Cover with tape or a bandage, keeping the cotton ball on the wart overnight (or for longer if possible).
  5. Remove the cotton ball and bandage or tape and discard.
  6. Repeat every night until the wart falls off.

Another method involves creating a solution for submerging your hands or feet:

  1. Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and water in a bucket or large container.
  2. Submerge the area affected with warts for about 15 minutes each day.
  3. Rinse the skin with water when you’re done.

Other treatments

One possible treatment is the application of cantharidine. This substance causes the skin under the wart to blister so that the wart comes off. This treatment must be done in a doctor’s office.

The American Academy of Dermatology also recommend the following treatments for warts:

Salicylic acid

Products containing salicylic acid are available over the counter or online. When applied to damp skin on a daily basis over several weeks, the acid can destroy skin cells on the wart.

Always follow the instructions from the manufacturer. Usually, a person can follow these steps:

  • Soak the wart for around 10 minutes, using warm water.
  • Gently rub the wart with an emery board or pumice stone.
  • Once the wart has softened, follow the instructions on the packet to apply the acid. The acid may cause mild stinging.
  • Eventually, the wart should peel off.

Freezing

A wart can be frozen off using a freezing spray. This procedure can be done at the doctor’s office, but wart-freezing sprays are also available over the counter.

These sprays should create a blister around the wart, which will eventually fall off. Alternatively, a doctor can remove it with a laser or scalpel.

Duct tape

Another home remedy some people use for wart treatment is the application of duct tape. Apply duct tape over the wart and change it every few days.

While it is unclear whether this works, it is possible that it causes the skin cells of the wart to come off.

When to see a doctor

If a person uses the apple cider method to treat their wart, they should watch the skin around the wart carefully for signs of a chemical burn on the skin.

Signs a person should discontinue their treatment and see a doctor include:

  • bleeding
  • cracked, open areas of skin
  • severe pain from the treatment site
  • severe swelling

If a person experiences anything they did not expect related to their wart treatments, they should contact their doctor.

Is there any research to back up these claims?

Unfortunately, there is little scientific proof that apple cider vinegar is reliably effective for treating Skin warts . One studyTrusted Source showed that vinegar can kill harmful pathogens in a laboratory.

Vinegar is also sometimes used as a household disinfectant or as a way to preserve food.

Despite some evidence showing vinegar might be an effective treatment in certain instances, scientific researchTrusted Source doesn’t support the use of vinegar to fight infections in people, either when applied topically to the skin or ingested.

Is apple cider vinegar safe to put on warts?

Vinegar is a weak acid, containing between 4 and 8 percent acetic acid. However, even weak acids can cause chemical burns.

There have been reports — one in a 14-year-old girlTrusted Source and another in an eight-year-old boy — of apple cider vinegar causing chemical burns when applied directly to the skin and covered with a bandage.

You should exercise extreme caution when applying apple cider vinegar directly to your skin. It’s likely you will feel mild irritation or a burning sensation.

If you experience a lot of pain and burning that seems to get worse over time, remove the cotton ball and rinse the area with water. When trying this remedy, make sure you are diluting the apple cider vinegar with water to help prevent burns.

You shouldn’t apply apple cider vinegar to open wounds or directly to the face and neck. Also, don’t use apple cider vinegar on a genital wart. This type of wart is different and should be treated by a doctor.

An allergic reaction is possible with any natural product. Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:

  • difficulty breathing
  • rash or hives
  • dizziness
  • fast heartbeat

The bottom line

Like many natural remedies, the evidence supporting the use of apple cider vinegar to treat Skin warts is mostly anecdotal. Since vinegar is widely available and very affordable, you might want to give it a try before moving on to a more expensive treatment. If you experience burning or pain, dilute the vinegar more before applying.

Shop for apple cider vinegar.

Don’t apply apple cider vinegar to open wounds. If your skin is burning or very irritated, rinse thoroughly with water. If you experience symptoms of an allergic reaction, or any other concerning symptoms, stop use immediately and call your doctor.

When it comes to Skin warts , you may need to try several different treatment methods before you find the right one. Your doctor or dermatologist may support trying natural remedies along with conventional treatments. Talk to your doctor to review your options.

The Amazing Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar For Treating Acne

Acne can be one of the most annoying and embarrassing things to have to deal with. It can put you in a bad mood, or even a panic if you had a special event planned. While there are plenty of lifestyle changes you can make in order to prevent breakouts from happening, it seems like there’s always the one that still slips through to ruin your day.

Apple cider vinegar can help treat your acne after its already made an appearance. It helps the breakout heal faster while also helping to eliminate scars in the process. This can be especially helpful if your acne is particularly stubborn and you get frequent breakouts. This article will cover some reasons you should consider using apple cider vinegar (ACV), as well as things to make sure you’re aware of to help make the process go as smooth as possible.

Should You Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Acne?

Using apple cider vinegar for acne can be a great idea, and there are many ways to incorporate it into your beauty routine. One reason you should consider using ACV is that it has antibacterial properties.

Acne is caused when there is a build-up of dirt, oil, or other particles in the pores of your skin. This can become infected and result in the pus that some people enjoy squeezing out of their pimples. This is actually a bad idea because not only can it spread the bacteria, but it will also keep your acne from healing quickly. The lactic acid in apple cider vinegar helps prevent this by destroying the bacteria that causes your breakout. It also helps reduce scarring for most people.

Tips for Using Apple Cider Vinegar for Acne

There are basically two different ways to use ACV for its acne-reducing benefits. You can either drink it in the morning or you can make a paste or scrub out of it and apply it directly to the affected area. The drink can be very bitter tasting by itself, so many people opt to mix it into something. For example, you could make a lemonade or smoothie drink and use apple cider vinegar as one of the ingredients.

The easiest way to topically apply the apple cider vinegar is as a toner. Mix two tablespoons into two cups of water. You can also add a teaspoon of aloe vera gel to provide further anti-inflammatory benefits. Then, simply spray this mixture on your face for the full effect.

Another way to use ACV is to mix two tablespoons with three tablespoons of baking soda. This will make a paste that you can apply. Leave it on for twenty minutes and then wash it off.

Things to be Aware of

If you are applying ACV directly to your skin for acne treatment, then there are a few things you need to be aware of. First, you should definitely do a patch test on a smaller area of skin. You can apply it to your hand or inner elbow to make sure you aren’t allergic. The last thing you want during an acne breakout is an additional allergic rash.

Another thing you need to watch out for is that you aren’t putting it on any broken skin. This could lead to additional health problems and only end up making things worse.

 

FAQ

Replace the cotton ball with a fresh one dipped in apple cider vinegar each night. The wart may swell or throb. The skin on the wart may turn black in the first 1 to 2 days, which might signal that the skin cells in the wart are dying. The wart might fall off within 1 to 2 weeks

To treat a wart, soak it for 10 to 15 minutes (you can do this in the shower or bath), file away the dead warty skin with an emery board or pumice stone, and apply the salicylic acid. Do this once or twice a day for 12 weeks.

Plantar warts are caused by a virus, as are all warts. However, the source of the virus is usually not obvious. While sometimes there is another family member in the household who has a wart, very often there is no specific contact that can be identified. Having warts does not mean that a child’s immune system is weak.