Tips for Getting Rid of Genital Warts at Home

Genital warts are one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. Caused by a strain of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), genital warts are small bumps of flesh that often appear in clusters on the genital region. Cases of genital warts have risen considerably in recent years and although you can easily be treated at a sexual health or genitourinary clinic, you might want some tips for getting rid of genital warts at home to save the embarrassment of being examined by a doctor.

How can I be certain you have genital warts in the first place?

Genital warts look like any other warts, except they appear on or around the genitals. The warts are usually small to begin with, but they can grow over time, and in people with a compromised immune system, genital warts can resemble large cauliflower-like protrusions. Some people only have one or two warts; others have multiple crops of warts. Some warts are flat in appearance; others are raised with a bumpy appearance. Even experts sometimes have trouble identifying genital warts, but one common way of testing a skin protrusion to see if it is a wart is to apply white vinegar to the area: an HPV wart will turn white.

Warts caused by the HPV virus are not painful, but they can be itchy, and if you do not have them treated you will pass on the HPV virus during future sexual encounters. Visiting a clinic or doctor is one way of treating genital warts, particularly if you are at all certain you actually have the virus. However, if you ARE certain you have been infected, there are tips for getting rid of genital warts at home you can try.

There are many genital wart treatments available online, but there are also several home remedies for treating the visible symptoms of the HPV virus.

1. Over the counter freezing treatments for verucas and warts can also be used for the treatment of genital warts. They work via the application of a controlled dose of liquid nitrogen to the wart, which kills it and causes it to fall off after 7-10 days. These treatments normally take two or three goes to be effective and each wart will need to be treated separately. They are also not suitable for warts on the more delicate areas of the vulva or penis, but can be very effective for warts on the upper thigh area.
2. Some people have found success treating warts on the genital area with duct tape. It might sound like a crazy home treatment for warts, but try covering the wart with a small piece of duct tape and leaving it for a week. This starves the wart of oxygen and eventually it will shrivel up and die.
3. Tea tree oil is a popular natural remedy for many things, including warts. Tea tree oil has powerful antiseptic qualities and when applied directly to a wart on a daily basis, you should find the wart eventually dies and drops off.
4. Application of apple cider vinegar can be used to get rid of warts in the genital region. Soak a cotton pad in apple cider vinegar and tape it over the wart or warts. Leave over night and repeat daily for as long as it takes the warts to fall off. Be warned, however, apple cider vinegar burns the skin and can be very painful if used in a more sensitive area such as the testicles or vulva. It can help to alternate ACV treatments with the application of Vitamin E cream to promote healing.
5. Essential lemon oil and aloe vera gel can also be used in the same way as apple cider vinegar.
6. Echinacea is a powerful natural remedy for the treatment of all kinds of skin problems, including warts. Try taking an Echinacea supplement daily to assist in the healing of the area.
7. Banana skin can be used to treat warts. Tape a piece of banana skin over the wart, yellow side up, and leave overnight for at least a week. The surrounding skin will be unaffected and eventually the warts should fall off.
8. Another method for removing larger and more prominent warts is to tie a piece of cotton around the base of the wart and leaving it in place until the wart dies and falls away.