The human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly its most contagious strains, are what cause genital warts. This is a highly contagious virus spread to individuals through direct contact with the virus. Genital warts is a sexually transmitted disease and can be prevented using prevention measures like ‘Condom’
Genital warts are small, soft growths on genital organs that resulted due to unprotected sex and may cause discomfort, itching, and pain. Genital warts can affect both men and women but they are more prevalent in women. The HPV, a virus causing genital warts may lead to cervical cancer in women, so it is better to stay alert if you get an HPV infection.
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Is Witch Hazel Good for Warts?
Witch hazel is a popular home remedy for treating genital warts and a scientific study found that the ‘Tannins’ which found in witch hazel can help to fight against the HPV 16 – a high-risk strain that causes genital warts. [01]
It also helps to temporarily relieve the itching and discomfort of the skin.
Tannins exhibit antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activities and help to combat the microbial infections. They have strong anti-oxidant action which is one of the primary reason people use it for various skin problems.[02][/thrive_text_block]
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Witch hazel tree looks similar to the hazelnut and bears the nice yellow colored fragrant flowers. It is a large deciduous shrub and a native plant of North-America.
It has several active compounds that show various health properties like astringent, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. Also, it works as a vasoconstrictor, which means it can narrower the blood vessel which helps in healing the skin ailments. Few clinical studies show that witch hazel can reduce the inflammation and soothe the skin when applied topically. [03] [04]
Like many other useful essential oils, witch hazel is popularly used for skin ailments across the globe. Usually, it doesn’t irritate the sensitive skin tissues which might be the one reason why people prefer to apply it over genital warts. Though witch hazel is not irritating over the sensitive skin, it is not advisable to apply it inside the anus or vagina.
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How to apply witch hazel to remove warts?
- Wash and clean the wart and surrounding area with lukewarm water and let it dry.
- Once the wart and surrounding area become dry, take a few drops of witch hazel oil/extract on a cotton swab and apply over the head of the wart.
- Wait for a few minutes and see if you get any allergic reaction or itching.
- Wash it out after 20 minutes.
- If you don’t get any allergic reaction, repeat the procedure twice a day for a few days otherwise contact your doctor.
Usually, witch hazel is anecdotally used to treat genital warts, it can be used to treat common warts, warts on hand, feet, and face. Be careful while applying it over facial warts, as it might get into the eyes and may cause irritation.
To get a better result for plantar warts, soak your feet in the warm water for 20 to 30 minutes before applying the witch hazel to plantar warts.[/thrive_text_block]
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References:
[01] Tannins from Hamamelis virginiana Bark Extract: Characterization and Improvement of the Antiviral Efficacy against Influenza A Virus and Human Papillomavirus. Linda L. Theisen, Clemens A. J. Erdelmeier, Gilles A. Spoden, Fatima Boukhallouk, Aurélie Sausy, Luise Florin, Claude P. Muller. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088062.
[02] Tannins and human health: a review. Chung KT, Wong TY, Wei CI, Huang YW, Lin Y. doi: 10.1080/10408699891274273
[03] Anti-inflammatory efficacy of topical preparations with 10% hamamelis distillate in a UV erythema test. Hughes-Formella BJ, Filbry A, Gassmueller J, Rippke F. doi: 10.1159/000049400
[04] Chularojanamontri, L., Tuchinda, P., Kulthanan, K., & Pongparit, K. (2014). Moisturizers for Acne: What are their Constituents?. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, 7(5), 36–44.