Does Clear Nail Polish Really Get Rid of Warts?

Warts are round skin elevations that develop as a result of coming into direct contact with the human papillomavirus, or HPV. The term wart is also applied to other benign skin tags such as verrucas or flesh-colored moles. While generally not dangerous, warts are considered unattractive, and a number of remedies using common household items such as tape and nail polish have been developed to remove them.

The virus that causes warts encourages the outermost layer of skin to grow and develop at a much higher growth rate than normal. It is this growth rate that leads to the development of the wart, as the skin does not have time to be shed and the cells simply pile on top of each other. Warts can occur almost anywhere on the body, from the top of the head to the soles of the feet, but they are most commonly located on the fingers and hands.

The application of clear nail polish is a popular home remedy for the removal of warts. The polish is used to cover the wart, creating an air-tight seal around the growth. This effectively suffocates the virus, causing the gradual death and shedding of the infected skin cells.

To treat your wart with nail polish, simply brush the polish liberally over the entire surface of the affected area. Allow the polish to dry completely. Reapply three times a day for two to three weeks or until the wart is gone. To ensure all sources of oxygen have been eliminated, you may also want to cover the treated area with adhesive tape. Combining the remedies can enhance the overall effect and decrease the treatment time.

Topical treatments and self-care remedies can effectively treat many types of warts; however, warts that appear on the genitals should be evaluated and treated by a medical professional.